Keith of the Border

He remembered staring vaguely about the little room, still illumined by the flames, only half comprehending, and then the reaction from his desperate struggle with the elements overcame all

m," she said quietly, and for the first tim

!" he exclaimed, as tho

-and

inia-the negro was an old

he black, now sitting u

if you do not object, we will eat here together. I have also been almost as long without food. It wa

he negro, yet somehow, for the moment, they made no adequate impression on him. Like a famished wolf he began on the coarse fare, and for ten mi

ly, "with no thought except for myself. Hunger was m

yes s

whom I feel even a little confidence-that nothing e

es full of interest,

but that the boy was hiding because of some trouble he had lately gotten into, and that I should have to proceed very carefully so as not to lead the officers to discover his whereabouts. This gentleman was engaged in some business at Carson City, but he employed a man to bring me to this place, and promised to get Fred, and meet me

innocent candor of the girl, and feeling thankful that he

Mr. Hawley was from my own State, and knew many of our old friends. That was why I

Haw

n whom I met

ss in Carson City, but I don't seem

anently; only to compl

r? I may possibl

eyes dropping, until complet

set, and-and deserted. That was part of the trouble which caused him to hide. He enlisted under

you would m

en of the Santa Fé Trail-a point to which they could ride when hard pressed, certain of hiding here in safety? He began to suspect this, but, if so, who then was this Hawley, and with what object had he sent this girl here? Every way he turned was to confront mystery, to f

stations of a big ranch on which Fred was employed, an

stage coach? How did

es," her voice faltering slightly,

tie Ma

d then, when I found he actually knew Fred, I didn't think of anything else, only how fortunate I was to thus meet him. Surely

arson City. Could it be that he had now, accidentally, stumbled upon the rendezvous of the gang? He was not a man easily startled, but this thought sent his heart beating. He knew enough to realize what such a gang would naturally consist of-deserters, outlaws, rustlers; both Indians and whites, no doubt, combined under some desperate leadership. Gazing into the girl's questioning eyes he could scarcely refrain from blurting out all he suspected. Yet why should he? What good

and I confess I fail to comprehend its full meaning. It is hardly likely your friends will show up to

to the support of her hands. There was silence except for the crackling of the fire, until Neb m

he said soberly, "so long as Massa

you known

one knowed Massa Jack when he wan't more'n dat high. Lawd, he sh

a servant, and yet felt

l he claims to be-a

st de same. I was done born on de ol' Co'nel's plantation, and I reck'n dar wan't no finer man ebber libed. He was done killed in de wah. An' Massa Jack he was a captain; he rode on hossback, an' Lawdy, but he did l

ased when Keith came in again, cl

" he explained, as if in answer to the questioning of the brown eyes gravely uplifted to his face. "I see there is quite a corral at the low

n who brought me he

ng to trust your

ds extended. He took them into his

y, "I am going to tru

lau

have been talking with t

d her face, but her ha

ia, sah," burst in Neb indignantly. "I sho' don't want nob

n, gazing into one another

lories; if one can't have a future, it is some source of pride to have a past to remember. But now

other room," she answered, "and a short, sawed-off

invest

artment she held the lamp in aid of their search. "There is the revolver on the wall, and the g

on her face, revealing the clearness of her skin, the dark shadows of her lashes.

ing of a hurry. I'll tell