,4 era
CTVy
(Copyright,
MoClurt
i
CHAPTER XL
I
The Fight In ths Dark.
Had tht room been filled with men
Keith could have restrained himself
ro longer. Whatever her past might
fe, this woman appealed to him
strangely; he could not believe evil
of her; he would have died If nerd
e In her defense. But as It was, the
ugly boast of Hawley gave confidence
Sn the final outcome of this struggle In
the dark, even a possibility of escape
for them all. The gambler, assured of
being confronted merely by ft frail
and not overscrupulous woman, had
ventured there alone; had stationed
Ms men beyond sound; had doubtless
Instructed tliein to Ignore any noise
of struggle which they might overhear
within. It was these very arrange
ments for evil which now afforded op
portunity, and Keith crept forward,
ednrt and ready, his teeth clenched,
tils hands bare for contest. Even al
though he surprised his antagonist. It
waH going to be a fight for life; he
ftnew "Clack Bart," broad-shouldered,
quick as a cat, accustomed to every
form ot physical exercise, desperate
nnd tricky, using either knife or gun
recklessly. Yet tt was now or never
Jot all of them, and the plainsman felt
Bio mercy, experienced no reluctance.
He reached the table, and stralgbA
Tiod up, silent, expectant. For an nv
utatit there was no further sound; no
evidence of movement In the room.
Hawley, puzzled by the silence, was
listening Intently In an endeavor to
thus locate the girl through some
ruHt.ling, some slight motion. A knife,
knocked from the table, perhaps, as
the slipped softly past, fell clattering
to the floor,' and the gambler leaped
Instantly forward. Keith's grip closed
like iron on his groping arm, while be
shot one flat out toward where the
man's head should be. The blow
glanottd, yet drove the fellow back
ward, stumbling against the table, and
Keith closed in, grappling for the
throat The other, startled by the
unexpected attack, and scarcely real
ising even yet the nature of his an
tagonist, struggled blindly to escape
the fingers clawing at him, and flung
one hand down to the knife In his
belt. Warned by the movement, the
assailant drove his bead Into the gam
bler's chest, sending him crashing to
the floor, falling himself heavily upon
the prostrate body. Hawley gave ut
terance to one cry, half throttled to
his throat, and then the two grappled
fiercely, so Interlocked together aa to
make weapons useless. Whoever the
assailant might be, the gambler was
folly aware by now that he was being
crushed In the grasp of a fighting man,
and exerted every wrestler's trick,
very ounoe of strength, to break free.
Twice he struggled to his knees, only
to be crowded backward by relentless
Ioer; once he hurled Keith side
ways, but the plainsman's muscles
stiffened Into steel, and he gradually
regained his position. Neither dared
release a grip In order to strike a
blow; neither had sufficient breath
left with which to utter a sound. They
were fighting for life, silently, des
perately, like wild beasts, with no
thought but to Injure the other. The
gambler's teeth sank Into Keith's arm,
and the latter In return Jammed the
iman's head back onto the puncheon
floor viciously. Perspiration streamed
ifrom their bodies, their fingers clutch
ing, their limbs wrapped together,
their musclea strained to the utmost.
'Keith had forgotten the girl, the ne
:ro, everything, dominated by the one
'passion to conquer. He was swept by
a storm of hatred, a desire to kill, in
their fierce struggle the two had roll
ed close to the Are place, and In the
dull glow of the dying embers, he
ould perceive a faint outline of the
man's face. The sight added flame
to his mad pasHlon, yet he could do
nothing except to cling to him, Jab
bing his fingers into the straining
throat.
The negro ended the afTalr in his
own way, clawing li'tudiy at the mini
liutants In the darkness, and llmi'iy.
determining which was the enemy, he
truck the gambler with the stock of
Ms gun, laying him out unconscious.
Keith, grasping the table, hauled hlm
iwilf to his feet, gasping for breath,
certain only that Hawley was no
longer struggling. For an Instant all
was b'ank, a mist of black vapor; then
a realization of their situation came
back in sudden flood of remembrance.
Rvm yet he could see nothing, but
felt the motionless figure at his feet
"Quick," he urged, the instant he
could make himself speak. "The fel
low Is only stunned; we must tie and
gag him. Is that you. Neb? Where Is
the glrir
"I am here, Captain Keith," and he
heard the soft rustle of her dress
across the room. "What Is It I may
dor
"k ooll of rope, or some straps, with
a pleoe of oloth; anything you can
lay hands on."
She was some moments at ft, con
tused by the darkness, and Hawley
moved slightly, hla labored breathing
rrnwtng plalnjj perceptible. Keith
ATALE OF THE PLAINS
RArtDALL PAPPISH-;
Wmem Wilderness Was Kino. EYcCtc
ILLUSTRATIONS DY UtABMBN P1CLVIU.-
If 10.)
neara ner groping toward him
and
held out his hands. She started as he
thus unexpectedly touched her, yet
made no effort to break away.
"You you frightened me a little,"
she confessed. "This has all happen
ed so quickly I hardly realize yet Just
what has occurred."
"The action has only rei'.ly begun,"
he assured her, still retaining his hold
upon her hand. "This was merely a
preliminary sMnnish, and you must
prepare to bonr your p.irt in what
follows. We have settled Mr. Ha-vle.y
for the present, mid now must d.-al
with bis gang."
"Oh, what would I hare done if you
had not been here?"
"Let us not think about that; we
were here, and now have a busy night
before us If we get away safely. Give
me the rope first. Oood! Here, Neb,
you must know how to use this not
too tight, but without leaving any play
to the arms; take the knife out of his
belt. Now for the cloth, Miss
Maclnlre."
"Please do not call me that!"
"But you said It didn't make any
difference what I called you."
"I though It didn't then, but It does
now."
"Oh, I see; we are already on a new
footing. Yet I must call you some
thing." She hesitated Just long enough for
aim to notice It Either she had no
substitute ready at hand, or else doubt
ed the advisability of confiding her
real name under present circumstances
to one so nearly a stranger.
"You may call me Hope."
"A. name certainly of good omen,"
be returned. "From this moment
shall forget Christie Maclaire, and re
member only Miss Hope. All right.
Neb; now turn over a chair, and sit
your man up against It He will rest
all the easier In that position until hie
gang arrives."
He thrust his head out of the door,
peering cautiously forth into the night,
and listening. A single horse, prob
ably the one Hawley bad been riding,
was tied to a dwarfed oot ton wood near
the corner of the cabin. Nothing else
living was visible.
"I am going to round up our horses,
and learn the condition of Hawley's
outfit," he announced in a low voice.
"I may be gone for fifteen or twenty
minutes, and, meanwhile, Miss Hope,
get ready for a long ride. Neb, stand
here close beside the door, and if any
one tries to come In brain him with
your gun-stock. I'll rap three times
when I return."
He slipped out Into the silent night,
and crept cautiously around the end
of the dark cabin. The distinct changs
In the girl's attitude of friendship to
ward him, her every evident desire
that he should think well of her, to
I geiner wun me proviueniiai opporiu-
ntty for escape, had left him full of
confidence. The gambler had played
blindly Into their hands, and Keith
was quick enough to accept the ad-
vantage. It was a risk to himself, to
be sure, thus turning again to the
northward, yet the clear duty be owed
the girl left such a choice almost Im
perative. He certainly could not drag t
her along with him on hla flight into
the wild Comanche country extend
ing beyond the Canadian. She must,
at the very leant, be first returned to
the protection of the seml-civlllzatton
along the Arkansas. After that had
been accomplished, he would consider
his own safety. He wondered if Hops
really was her name, and whether it
was the family cognomen, or her given
name. That she was Christie Maclaire
he had no question, yet that artlstis
embellishment was probably merely
assumed for tho work of the concert
hall. Doth be and Hawley could
.aesrcely be mistaken as to her Identi
fy in this respect, and. Indeed, she had
never openly denied the fact. Yet she
did not at all seem to be that kind,
and Keith mentally contrasted her
with numerous others whom he bad
somewhat Intimately known along the
border circuit. It was difficult to as
sociate her with that class; she must
nave come originaiiy rrom some exmr
lent family Bast, and been driven to
the life by necessity; she was more to
be pitied than blamed. Keith held no
puritanical views of life his own ex
periences had been too rough and
democratic for that yet he clung te
nady t0 an ,Pal of womanhood
which could not be lowered. However
Interested he might otherwise feel,
no Christie Maclaire could ever And
entrance Into the deeps of bis heart,
where dwelt alone the memory of Ills
mother.
He found the other horses turned
Into the corral, and was able, from
their restless movements, to decide
they numbered eight. A Are, nearly
extinguished, glowed dully at the
farther corner of the enclosure, and
he crawled close enough to distinguish
the recumbent forms of men sleeping
about tt on the ground. Apparently
no guard had been set, the fellows be
lng worn out from their long ride, and
confident of aafetly In this Isolated
pot. Besides, Hawley had probably
assumed that duty, and told them to
get whatever sleep hey could. How
',ee ii? or i;if rm.i, opptwii oe
side their tire, and Keitn dare not
venture upon roplu any of their
ponies, or leading them oflt past
where they slept. There n'.leht
be clippers in the cabin with which he
could cut the wires, yet if one of the
gung awoke, and discovered the herd
absent. It would result in an alarm,
and lead to early pursuit. It was far
saf, r to use their own ponies. He
would lead Hawley's horse (juletlT
through the water, and they could
mount on the other shore. This plan
settled, he went at It swiftly, riding
the captured animal while rounding
up the others, and fastening the three
to stunted trees on the opposite bank.
Everything within the cabin remained
exactly as he had left It, and he briefly
explained the situation, examlng Haw
ley's bonds again carefully while do
lng so.
"He'll remain there all right until
Ms men find him," he declared, posi
tively, "and that ought to give us a
good six hours start. Come, Miss
Hope, every minute counts now."
He held her arm, not unconscious of
Its round shapeliness, as he helped her
down the rather steep bank through
the dense gloom. Then the two men
Joined hands, and carrying her be
tween them, wailed the shallow
stream. The horses, not yet sufficient
ly rested to be frisky, accepted theif
burdens meekly enough, and. with
scarcely a word spoken, the three rode
away silently Into the gloom of the
i'To Be Continued.
Combine the Two Classes.
From Saturday's Dally.
The Young Men's class ami the
Builders' club of I lie Presbyterian
church held a meeting in their
rooms at the church lust evening.
This meeting was in the nature
of a social affair, and was known
as a peanut feed, although early
the buys took their departure,
there was some business matters
transacted. The principal amuse
ment was derived from an indoor
game of baseball and created just
as much interest and enthusiasm
annum the boys as a game out of
doors. The boys played a game
of TJ innings and the score was
to 3. Following this most
strenuous game of base bat'
the boys participated in all sorts
of stunts caluculated to make the
evening one of a genuine good
time. During this lime they also
indulged in eating peanuts, apples
and drinking plenty of ice water.
Just previous to the close of
this delightful evening's enter
tainment the hoys held a business
session, during winch lime tliey
decided to combine the Young
Men's class and the Builders' club
into one class nnd that it would be
known us the Builders' club. The
Young Men's class was an or
ganization, which had for its
object athletics, while the Build
ers' club was for social purposes.
The combination of these two
classes will be an organization for
both athletic and social purposes
and will make a much stronger
class than either the Young Men's
class or the Builders' club have in
the past. Mrs. C. C. Parmele hav
ing resigned as teacher of the
Builders' class, which the boys re
gretted very much, Mr. W. A.
Robertson has been elected as
j leader of the combined classes,
j T1( ilovs ..leeled the follow-in
ollicrs: President, Ralph Larson;
vice president,
retary and
While.
Byron Arries; sec
treasurer, Harry
Officers Selected.
Last Saturday evening the di
rectors of the Eagle Farmers'
Elevator company held a meeting
at the hall to attend to some
business for the company, and
tliey selected tile lollowing
officers for the ensuing year:
President Fred Muenchau.
Vice President George Oberle
Secretary Will Crabtree.
Treasurer J. I). Allen.
Immediately after lh' directors'
meeting a meeting of the stock
holders was held for the purpose
of approving the list of officers
selected, which was done by a un
animous vote of the meeting.
Under the guidance of such ex
cellent officers the Farmers' Ele
vator company is sure to prosper.
No definite action has been taken
yet as to whether they will build
an elevator or buy out one of the
elevators already established here.
Another business meeting will be
held tomorrow evening. Eagle
Beacon.
First Football Game.
From Saturday's Dally.
The football game yesterday be
tween the seniors-freshmen and
the juniors-sophomores was a
walkaway for the former team, the
score being 3fi to 0, with only
three-quarters of the game play
ed. Noble, who was playing half
back for the defeated team, was
put out by a tackle, but the hurt
was only a temporary one. It was
reported after the game that he
was seriously hurt, but he was
only stunned for a few minutes.
Mrs. George Hartung
Platte wa9 in town today.
of La
AS v LIG
S3
FOR COUNTRY HOWES!
x
n
0
; t ! " ML
JOIH1K1
Plattsmouth, Nebraska.
LOCAL NEWS
From Friday's Dully.
fl. B. Ti k of Union was
in
town yesterday visiting friends.
C. H. Taylor, county attorney,
went to Omaha this afternoon on
business.
Born Thursday morning, Sep
tember 1 i. to Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Green, a nine-pound boy.
Mrs. John Wiles and son,
F.veretl, and daughter, Bessie,
have been isiting relatives and
friends in Malvern, Iowa, for the
past. Week.
Mrs. C. A. Ilawls and Mr. and
Mrs. J. W. Holmes returned from
Omaha yesterday, accompanied by
Miss Anna Keenan, who will visit
here.
Miss Josephine Johnson of Lin
coln came down yesterday for a
brief isit, at the home of her
grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Jos
eph Johnson. She returned home
today.
Ernest K. Wurl returned this
morning from Long Beach. Cali
fornia, where he has been for
some time. lie will leave in the
near future for that (dace, where
he will go into the garage busi
ness.
From Saturday's Daily.
F. C. Weber went to Omaiia Nil's
morning.
W. F. Wilson of Ahl.ind was a
visitor hen- today.
Phil Becker returned from
Blooinliehl. Mo., yesterday.
W. A. Fowler of Ashland was in
town today on business.
K. I. Campbell of Omaha was
here today on business.
Miss Minnie Preis was a visitor
in imalia today.
A. M. Arries went to Omaha this
morning mi business.
Mrs. T. E. Jennings was. a
visitor in Omaha today.
Miss Ethyl Ilaynie w-nt to
Omaiia this afternoon.
Miss Agnes Foster went to
Omaha this afternoon.
Mrs. O. C. Hudson went lo the
metropolis this afternoon.
Mrs, Mary Heinpel returned
from Lincoln this morning.
Mrs. E. M. Pribble returned
from Louisville this morning.
I Miss Mary E. Foster went lo
Louisville today on business.
Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Forbes and
son went to Omaha this afternoon.
Mrs. James Brady and Miss
Nettie Moore went to Omaha to
day. J. I). Toll left for Boulder,
Colo., this afternoon for a visit
there.
Ed Fricke returned this morn
ing from a camping trip near
Tekatnah.
T. Thompson and wife of Lin
coln were in town today, guests
at the Riley.
Mrs. J. Cleveland returned to
Omaha today, after visiting Mrs.
George Slioeman.
Mr. and Mrs. Floyd llainey re
turned to Lincoln today, after
visiting Ben Rainey.
Mr. and Mrs. R. Hampton went
to Glenwood this morning lo visit
friends during the day.
Mrs. John Carney came in from
Omaha this morning to visit her
sister, Mrs. A. E. Carney.
Miss Blanche Robertson return
ed from South Omaha yesterday
3c
SBbMsHSjsMpjr SSSVhTSKS
This style of lighting makes gas just as you
use it at the jets or stove and no faster.
The entire machine is automatic in opera
tion and requires no attention whatever except
to occasionally put in carbide and water, and
that takes only a few minutes of your time and
will last from two to three weeks at one filling.
BAUER,
THE
arc
to spend Sunday with her parents.
Mrs. E. Ptak went to Omaha this
afternoon.
Mrs. John Halstrom went to
Omaha this morning for the day.
Mrs. A. A. Shore was a visitor
in Omaha today, going up on No.
15.
Mrs. J. V. Hill of Pacillc Junc
tion was over on business vester
day. Henry Tiekolter and sister,
Olga, went lo Oiaha this morn
ing. Mrs. John Bajek and daughter,
Lillian, were visitors in Omaha
today.
Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Warga went
to Omaha this morning to visit
friends.
Mr. and Mrs. O. V. Bailey went
to Omaha on the 8:16 a. m. Bur
lington today.
Miss Julia Murray took the I
morning Burlington train to
Omaha today.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Broese
went to Omaha this morning to
spend the day there. '
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Snaberger
went to Omaha this morning to
spend the day there.
Mrs. J. H. Brown of Murray re
turned last evening from Omaha
by way of Plattsmouth.
. Miss Nellie Folsoin returned to
Ashland this morning, after visit
ing Miss Louise Gorder.
Mrs. Henry Steinhauer and
daughter, Gladys, went to Omaha
this morning for the dav.
Miss Menola Perry, from near
Murray, was in the city t few
hours yesterday afternoon.
Miss Cora Anderson and Miss
Grace New bianch went to Omaha
on No. ir this morning to spend
the day.
Mrs. J. M. Jackson returned to'
Burlington, Iowa, this morning,
after visiting Mrs. David llawks
worlh here.
Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Libershal
and daughter, Helen, went lo Hie
metropolis this morning lo spend
I he day there.
Sam Tschirreii was a visitor in
town Friday and called at this
otlice and renewed his subscrip
tion lo this paper for another
year.
C. II. Lewis, residing west of
the city, was a visitor in town to
day. He brought a couple of
samples of very line cooking ap
ples to t his office.
Miss Margarete Porter, who is
attending Belb-vue college this
year came in on No. this morn
ing and will spend Sunday in this
city with her parents.
Mrs. C. L. Buckley, who has
been visiting her parents, Mr. nnd
Mrs. John Rotter, left today for
Milwaukee, where she will join her
husband, who is failing in health.
L'ncle John Kraeger, from near
Mynard was a Platlsinouth visitor
today, coming in for a visit, with
county seat friends and for the
transaction of business matters!
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hartford
ami family moved from the Sol
Adamson house on Washington
avenue to the Ballance property
fin South Sixth street. They are
finishing the moving task today.
I. S. White, from Murray, was
in the city today visiting with his
many friends at the county seat.
We were pleased to see that Mr.
White has greatly improved In
DC
HTIWQ
n
HARDWARE MAN
health the past few months and
begins to look like himself onc
more.
Dr. H. Greeder went to South
Omaha this morning on business,
F. C. Weber went to Omaha
on the Misouri Pacillc this morn
ing. Mrs, Emma Niius and son,
Arnold, were visitors at the me
tropolis today.
Mrs. Nettie Johnson and chil
dren went to Omaha this morninj
to spend the day.
C. Brenn returned to his home
in Jefferson county today, after
visiting relatives here.
James Bordman returned to
Harlinglon this morning, after
visiting Mr. and Mrs. Frank Graaf
here.
Mrs. N. A. Abbott and daughter,
Clara Louise, went to Lincoln this
morning to visit her mother, who
is ill at the sanitarium there.
Hon. W. II. Puis, wife and his
sister and his father, William
Puis, sr., drove in today to trans-
act some business matters at th
county seat. While here Billy
gave the Journnl a pleasant call
nnd spent n few moments in social
conversation. f
Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Harris, from
near Union, were in the city tolay
doing some shopping and visiting
friends at the county seat. Mr.
Harris paid the Journal a brief
call, telling us that the real estaU
busines in his locality is looking
up a trille at this lime. Creed ha9
developed into a full-fledged real
estate man and is making his
share of the deals of Cass county,
Joseph Lloyd of Lincoln arrived
in the city this morning for a few
days' business trip. He has soma
properly interests to look after
ami will remain for about a week
or more, lie is Hie same old Joe,
nnd it seems like olden limes to
see him on the streets of Platts
mouth again.
Major L. B. Brown of Kenosha
was in (he city today, and while
here paid the Journal ollice a brief
call. He brought us a fine sack
of eating apples to be distributed
among the printer hoys. Lig says
they were a present from the
municipal body of the city of
Kenosha.
It's a Boy, Says Fritz.
We venture lo say that about
the happiest young man in all of
Eight Mile Grove precinct is our
excellent young friend. Frit Lutz,
all ui account of the arrival of
a big baby boy at his home last
Friday evening. Both mother and
little one are getting along nicely,
and well, you ought lo have seen,
Fritz when they told him it was a
boy: he simply hollored for joy.
Will Go to Hospital.
Elward Rynoll has been suffer
ing for the past few days with ap
pendicitis, this being his second
or third nltack. nnd is proving
quite severe. He has been confined
to his bed for a few days and his
suffering has been very great. We
nre informed that he will be taken
lo the hospital in Omaha for an
operation the fore part of next
week.
News-Herald Movos.
The News-Herald plant Is being
moved from its present location
in the Dwyer building lo the
Pearlman building on Sixth street,
opposite the telephone building.
