f PLACER
i-?V . . a...- " it . r ..,.i.n. Aom
'Hi5TomLhWdfrc
1C
prettier than thai, even, the way I
remember her best, with her hair all
banging down, coming to tuck me into
bed at night. Someway that's how I
always seem to see her."
The man drew a deep breath, and
snapped shut the locket, yet still re
tained it In his hand. "Is is she
dead?" he questioned, and his voice
trembled in spite of his steel nerves.
"Yes, in St. Louis; dad took me
there with him two years ago, and I
uw her grave."
"Dad? Do you mean old Gillis?"
She nodded, beginning dimly to won
der why he should speak so fiercely
and stare at her in that odd way.
He seemed to choke twice before he
could ask the next question.
-Did he old Gillis. I mean claim
to be your father, or her husband?"
"No, I don't reckon he ever did, but
he gave me that picture, and told me
she was my mother. I always lived
with him, and called him dad. I reck
on he liked It. and he was mighty
good to me. We were at Randolph
a long time, and since then he's been
post-trader at Bethune. That's all I
know about it, for dad never talked
very much, and he used to get mad
when I asked him questions."
Hampton dropped the locket from
his grasp and arose to his feet. For
several minutes he stood with his
back toward her, apparently gazing
down the valley, hia Jaw set, his dim
med eyes seeing nothing. Slowly the
color cam creeping Into his face, and
his hands uncllnched. Then he wheel
ed about, and looked down upon her,
completely restored to his old na
ture. "Then It seems that It Is just you
and I, Kid. who have got to settle this
little affair," he announced, firmly.
Til have my say about it, and then
you can uncork your feelings. I rath
er Imagine I haven't very much legal
right In the premises, but I've got a
sort of moral grip on you by reason of
having pulled you out alive from that
canyon yonder, and I propose to play
this game to the limit. You say your
mother is dead, and the man who
raised you is dead, and, so far as eith
er of us know, there Isn't a soul any
where on earth who possesses any
claim over you, or any desire to have.
Then, naturally, the whole jack-pot is
up to me, provided I've got the cards.
Now, Kid, waving your prejudice aside,
I ain't just exactly the best man in
this world to bring up a girl like you
and make a lady out of her. I thought
yesterday that maybe we might man
age to hitch along together for
awhile, but I've got a different think
coming to-day. There's no use dis
figuring the truth. I'm a gambler,
something of a fighter on the side, and
folks don't say anything too pleasing
about my peaceful disposition around
these settlements; I haven't any home,
and mighty few friends, and the few
I have got are nothing to boast about.
I reckon there's a cause for it all.
So, considering everything, I'm about
the poorest proposition ever was heard
of to start a young ladies' seminary.
The Lord knows, old Gillis was bad
enough, but I'm a damned sight worse.
Now, some woman has got to take you
In hand, and I reckon I've found the
right one."
"Goin to get married. Bob?"
"Not this year; it's hardly become
so serious as that; but I'm going to
find you a good home here, and I'm
going to put up plenty of stuff, so that
they'll take care of you all right and
proper."
The dark eyes never wavered as
they looked steadily Into the gray
ones, but the chin quivered slightly.
"I reckon I'd rather try It alone
she announced stubbornly. "Maybe I
might have, stood, it wlthvou. Bob
Hampton, but a woman Is the limit."
"I expect It will go rather hard at
first. Kid," ha admitted craftily, "but
I think you might try it a while just to
sort of please me."
"Who who Is she?" doubtfully.
"Mrs. Herndon. wife of the super
intendent of the 'Golden Rule' mine;"
and he waved his hand toward the dis
tant houses. "They tell me she's a
mighty fine woman."
"Oh, they do? Then somebody's
been stirring you up about me, have
they? I thought that was about the
way of it. Somebody wants to reform
me, I reckon. Well, maybe I won't be
reformed. Who was it. Bob?"
"The Presbyterian missionary," he
confessed reluctantly, "a nervy little
chap named Wynkoop; he came in to
eeo me last night while you were
asleep." He faced her open scorn un
shrinkingly, his mind fully decided,
and clinging to one thought with all
the tenacity of his nature.
"A preacher!" her volco vibrant with
derision, "a preacher! Well, of all
things, Bob Hampton! You led around
by the nose In tat way! Did be want
you to trtnt me to Sunday schccl? A
preacher! And I suppose the fellow
expects to turn me over to one of his
flock for religious instruction. He'll
have you studying theology inside of a
year. A preacher! Ch, Lord, and you
agreed! Well, I won't go; so there!"
"As I understand the affair," Hamp
ton continued, as .she .paused for
breath, T'it"wa Lieut. Brant who sug
gested the Idea of his coming to me.
Brant knew Gillis, and remembered
you, and realizing your unpleasant sit
uation, thought such an arrangement
would be for your benefit."
"Brant!" she burst forth In renewed
anger; "he did, did he! The putty
faced dandy! I used to see him at
Bethune, and you can bet he never
bothered his head about me then. No,
and he didn't even know me out yon
der, until after the sergeant spoke up.
What business . has that . fellow got
planning what I shall do?"
Hampton made no attempt to an
swer. It was better to let her lndigna-
"Good Lord! I Haven't Been Begging
to Stick with You, Have I?"
tlon die out naturally, and so he asked
a question. "What is this Brant doing
at Bethune? There Is no cavalry sta
tioned there."
She glanced up quickly, interested
by the sudden change In his voice. "I
heard dad say he was kept there on
some special detail. His regiment is
stationed at Fort Lincoln, somewhere
farther north. He used to come down
and talk with dad evenings, because
daddy saw service in the Seventh
when it was first organized after the
war."
"Did you did you ever hear either
of them say anything about Maj. Alfred
Brant? He must have been this lad's
father."
"No, I never heard much they said.
Did you know him?"
"The father, yes, but that was years
ago. Come, Kid. all this is only an
cient history, and just as well forgot
ten. Now, you are a sensible girl,
when your temper don't get away with
you, and I am simply going to leave
this matter to your better judgment.
Will you go to Mrs. Herndon's, and
find out how you like it? You needn't
stop there an hour if she Isn't good to
you, but you ought not to want to re
main with me, and grow up like a
rough boy."
"You you really want me to go,
don't you?"
"Yes, I want you to go. It's a chance
for you. Kid, and there isn't a bit of
a show in the kind of a life I lead. I
never have been in love with myself,
and only took to it in the first place
because the devil happened to drive
me that way. The Lord knows I don't
want to lead any one else through
such a muck. So it is a try?"
The look of defiance faded slowly
out of her face as she stood gravely
regarding him. The man was in dead
ly earnest, and she felt the quiet in
sistence of his manner.
"You bet, if you put it that way,"
she consented, simply, "but I reckon
that Mrs. Herndon is likely to wish
I hadn't."
Together, yet scarcely exchanging
another word, the two retraced their
steps slowly down the steep trail lead
ing toward the little town in the valley.
CHAPTER VII.
"I've Come Here to Live."
Widely as these two companions
differed in temperament and experi
ence, it would be Impossible to decide
which felt the greater uneasiness at
the prospect immediately before them.
The girl openly rebellious, the man
extremely doubtful, with reluctant
steps they approached that tall, home
ly, yellow house outwardly the most
pretentious in Glencaid.
They were so completely opposite,
these two, that more than one chance
passer-by glanced curiously toward
them as they picked their way onward
through the red dust. Kawptoa. slen
der yet firmly knit, his Dod'y held erect
as though trained to the profession of
arms, his features finely chiselled, with
threads of gray hair beginning to show
conspicuously about the temples. His
attire of fashionable cut black cloth,
and his immaculate linen, while neat
and unobtrusive, 'yet appeared ex
tremely unusual in that careless land
of clay-baked overalls and dingy
woolens. Beside him, in vivid con
trast, the girl trudged In her heavy
shoes and bedraggled skirts, her sullen
eyes fastened doggedly on the road,
her hair showing ragged and disrep
utable in the brilliant sunshine.
Hampton himself could not remain al
together indifferent to the contrast.
''You look a little rough. Kid, for a
society call." he said. "If there was
any shebang in this mud-hole of a
town that kept any women's thirds on
sale fit to lock at, I'd be tempter! to fix
you up a bll."
"We'!, I'm glad of it." she respond
ed, nrlnily. "I hope I look so blame
t3U.rh that woman won't say a civil
word to us. You can bet I ain't poin
to strain myself to please the likes of
bor."
"You certainly exhibit no symptoms
of doing so," he admitted, frankly.
"But you might, at least, have washed
your face and fixed your hair."
She flashed one angry glance at him,
stopping in the middle of the road, her
head flung back as though ready for
battle. Then, as if by some swift
magic of emotion, her expression
changed. "And so you're ashamed of
me, are you?" she asked, her 'voice
sharp but unsteady. "Ashamed to be
seen walking with me? I know you
are! But I tell you, Mr. Bob Hamp
ton, you won't be the next time. And
what's more, you Just don't need to
traipse along another step with me
now. I don't want you. I reckon I
ain't very much afraid of tackling this
Presbyterian woman all alone."
She swung off fiercely, and the man
chuckled softly as he followed, watch
fully, through the circling, red dust
cloud created by her hasty feet. The
truth Is, Mr. Hampton possessed trou
bles and scruples of his own in con
nection with this contemplated call.
He had never met the lady, but he re
tained some memory of the husband
as having been associated with a stren
uous poker game at Placer, in which
he also held a prominent place, and
it would seem scarcely possible that
the wife did not know whose bullet
had turned her for some weeks into a
sick nurse. A cordial reception could
hardly be anticipated, and Hampton
mentally braced himself for the worst.
It was a cheerless looking house,
painted a garish yellow, having star
ing windows, and devoid of a front
porch, or slightest attempt at shade
to render its uncomely front less unat
tractive. Had the matter been left at
that moment to his own decision, this
glimpse of the house would have
turned them both back, but the girl
unhesitatingly pressed forward and
turned defiantly in through the gate
less opening. H followed in silence
along the narrow foot-path bordered
by weeds, and stood back while she
stepped boldly up on the rude stone
slab and rapped sharply against the
warped and sagging door. A moment
tiiey stood thus waiting with no re
sponse from within. Once she glanced
suspiciously around at him, only to
wheel back Instantly and once more
apply her knuckles to the wood. Be
fore he had conjured up something
worth saying the door was partially
opened, and a rounded dumpling of a
woman, having rosy cheeks, her hair
iron-gray, her blue eyes half smiling
in uncertain welcome, looked out upon
them questloningly.
"I've come to live here," announced
the girl, sullenly. "That is, if I like It."
The woman continued to gaze at her
as if tempted to laugh outright, then
the pleasant blue eyes hardened as
their vision swept beyond toward
Hampton.
"It is extremely kind of you, I'm
sure," she said at last. "Why is it I
am to be thus honored?"
The girl backed partially oft the
doorstep, her hair flapping in the wind,
her cheeks flushed.
"Oh, you needn't put on so much
style about it," she blurted out. "You're
Mrs. Herndon, ain't you? Well, then,
this is the place where I was sent; but
I reckon you ain't no more particular
about it than I am. There's others."
"Who sent you to me?" and Mrs.
Herndon came forth Into the sunshine.
"The preacher."
"Oh, Mr. Wynkoop; then you must
be the homeless girl whom Lieut.
Brant brought in the other day. Why
did you not say so at first? You may
come in, my child."
There was a sympathetic tenderness
apparent now in the tones of her
voice, which the girl was swift to per
ceive and respond to, yet she held
back, her independence unshaken.
With the quick intuition of a woman.
Mrs. Herndon bent down, placing one
hand on the defiant shoulder.
"I did not understand, at first, my
dear," she said, soothingly, "or I
should never have spoken as I did.
Some very strange callers come here.
But you are truly welcome. I had a
daughter once; she must "have been'
nearly your age when God took her.
Won't you come In?"
While thus speaking she never once
glanced toward the man standing in
silence beyond, yet as the two passed
through the doorway together he fol
lowed, unasked. Once within the plain
ly furnished room, and with her arm
about the girl's waist, the lines about
her mouth hardened. "I do not recall
extending my Invitation to you," she
said, coldly.
He remained standing, hat in hand,
his face shadowed, his eyes picturing
deep perplexity.
"For the intrusion I offer my apol
ogy." he replied, humbly; "but you
see I I feel responsible for this young
woman. She sort of fell to my care
when none of her own people were
left to look after her. I only came to
show her the way, and to say that I
stand ready to pay you well to see to
her a bit, and Bhow her how to get
hold of the right things."
"Indeed!" and Mrs. Herndon's voice
was not altogether pleasant. "I under
stood she was entirely alone and
friendless. Are you that man who
brought her out of the canyon?"
Hampton bowed as though half
ashamed of acknowledging the act.
"Oh! then I know who you are," she
continued, unhesitatingly. "You are a
gambler and a bar-room rough. I
won't touch a penny of your money. I
told Mr. TTynkbop that I shouTun"l.Iut
that I would endeavor to do my Chris
tian duty by this poor girl. He was to
bring her here himself, and keep you
away."
The man smiled slightly, not in the
least disconcerted by her plain speech.
"Probably we departed from the ho'.el
somewhat earlier than the minister
anticipated." he explained, quietly, his
old ease of manner returning in face
of such open opposition. "I greatly re
gret your evident prejudice, madam,
and can only say that I have more con
fidence in you than you appear to have
in me. I shall certainly discover some
means by which I may do my part In
shaping this girl s future, but in the
meanwhile will relieve you of my un
desired presence."
He stepped without into the glare
of the sunlight, feeling utterly care
less as to the woman who had affront
ed him, yet somewhat hurt on seeing
that the girl had not once lifted her
downcast eyes to his face. Yet he had
scarcely taken three steps toward the
road before she was beside him, her
hand upon his sleeve.
"I won't stay!" she exclaimed, fierce
ly, "I won't, Bob Hampton. I'd rather
go with you than be good." .
His sensitive face flushed wlih de
light, but he looked gravely down into
her indignant eyes. "Oh, yes, you will,
Kid," and his hand touched her rough
ened hair caressingly. "She's a good,
kind woman, all right, and I don't
blame her for not liking my style."
"Do do you really want me to stick
it out here. Bob?"
It was no small struggle for him to
say so, for he was beginning to com
prehend just what this separation
meant. She was more to him than he
had ever supposed, more to him than
she had even been an hour before, and
now he understood clearly that from
this moment they must ever run far
ther apart her life tending upward,
hia down. Yet there was but one de
cision possible. Then he answered,
"This is your best chance, little girl,
and I want you to stay and fight it
out."
Their eyes met, each dimly realte
Ing, although in a totally different way,
that here was a moment of important
decision. Mrs. Herndon darkened the
doorway and stood looking out.
"Well, Mr. Bob Hampton." she ques
tioned, plainly, "what is this going to
be?"
He glanced toward her, slightly lift
ing his hat, and promptly releasing
the girl's clinging hand.
"Miss Gillis consents to remain," he
announced shortly, and, denying him
self so much as another glance at his
companion, strode down the narrow
path to the road. A moment the girl's
eyes followed him through the dust
cloud, a single tear stealing down her
cheek. Only a short week ago she had
utterly despised this man, now he had
become truly more to her than any
ons else in the wide, wide world.
Then Mrs. Herndon came forth quietly
and led the girl, now sobbing bitterly,
within the cool shadows of the house.
ff onpiu
mm
fnp
mm
.A
fMlfn)
liJ
P
IN THE FINEST CLIMATE IN AMERICA
r0,000 acres now beinp offered by The United Land Co., atbotton priceH.
The Las Vepas Grant in San Miquel county, near Las Votfas, New Mex
ico. Titles perfect. Soil black and fertile.
A free trip to purchasers of KU) acres or more, on our private hotel
cars; Jive right on the car after you join us until you return home.
All arrangements made for your comfort. Personally conducted drives
over the land in our own rigs free.
Next trip on Tuesday, January 7th. Write or wire that that we may
make full arrangements for you.
Prices $14.00 per acre cash or part cah and time on the balance.
Beautiful descriptive booklet free on application to
A. L. COLEMAN,
J. C. COLEMAN, Platisnnutli, Neb.
Special Agent for the Middle-west, 359 East 64th St., Chicago, III.
Enlarging Your Business
If you are in
business and you
want to make
more money you
will read every
word we have to
say. Are you
spending your
money for ad
vertising in hap
hazard fashion
as if intended
for charity, or do you adver
tise for direct results?
Did you ever stop to think
how your advertising can be
made a source of profit to
you, and how its value can be
measured in dollars and
cents. If you have not, you
are throwing money away.
Advertising is a modern
business necessity, but must
be conducted on business
principles. If you are not
satisfied with your advertising
you should set aside a certain
amount of money to be spent
annually, and then carefully
note the effect it has in in
creasing your volume of busi
ness; whether a 10, 20 or 30
per cent increase. If you
watch this gain from year to
you will become intensely in
terested in your advertising,
and how you can make it en
large your business.
If you try this method we
believe you will not want to
let a single issue of this paper
go to press without something
from your store.
We will be pleased to have
you call on us, and we will
take pleasure in explaining
our annual contract for so
many inches, and how it can be
used in whatever amount that
seems necessary to you.
If you can sell goods over
the counter we can also show
you why this paper will best
serve your interests when you
want to reach the people of
this community.
r
CHAPTER VIII.
A Last Revolt.
It proved a restless day, and a suf
ficiently unpleasant one, for Mr. Hamp
ton. For a number of years he had
been diligently training himself in the
school of cynicism, endeavoring to per
suade himself that he did not in the
least care what others thought, nor
! how his own career ended; impelling
j himself to constant recklessness in life
j and thought. He had thus successfully
I built up a wall between the present
and that past which long haunted his
lonely moments, and had finally de
cided that It was hermetically sealed.
Yet now, this odd chit of a girl, this
waif whom he had plucked from the
laws of death, had overturned this
j carefully constructed barrier as if It
had been originally built of mere card
board, and he was compelled again to
see himself, loathe himself, just as he
had in those past years.
One thing he grasped clearly, the
girl should be given her chance noth
ing in his life must ever again soil her
or lower her ideals. Mrs. Herndon
was right, and he realized it; neither
his presence nor his money were fit to
influence her future. He swore be
tween his clinched teeth, his face
grown haggard. The sun's rays bridged
the slowly darkening valley with cords
of red gold, and the man pulled him
self to his feet by gripping the root
of a tree. He realized that he had
been sitting there for hours, and that
he was hungry.
Down beneath, amid the fast awak
ening uise and buBtle of early even
ing, the long discipline of the gambler
reasserted itself he got back his
nerve. It was Bob Hampton, cool, re
sourceful, sarcastic of speech, quick of
temper, who greeted the loungers
about the hotel, and who sat, with his
back to the wall, in the little dining
room, watchful of all others present.
And It was Bob Hampton who strolled
carelessly out upon the darkened porch
an hour later, leaving a roar of laugh
ter behind him, and an enemy as well.
Little he cared for that, however, in
his present mood, and he stood there,
amid the black shadows, looking con
temptuously down upon the stream cf
coatless humanity trooping past on
pleasure bent, the blue smoke circling
his head, his gray eyes glowing half
angrily. Suddenly he leaned forward,
clutching the rail in quick surprise.
"Kid," he exclaimed, harshly, "what
does this mean? "What are you doing
alone here?"
She stopped instantly and glanced
up, her face flushing in the light
streaming forth from the open door
of the Occidental.
T reckon f m alone here because I
want to be," she returned, defiantly.
"I ain't no slave. How do you get up
there?"
- He extended his hand, and drew her
up beside him into the shaded corner.
"Well-" he. sai "Jell rie the,truth."
Rflonqv
is about over, but your Christ
mas shopping has just begun.
Before buying see our Holiday
Specialties:
Smoking Jackets,
Coat Sweaters,
Night Robes,
Fancy Vests,
Neckwear,
Hats,
Caps,
Mufflers,
Fancy Sox,
Gloves.
A Word to the Wise is Sufficient.
Sellers of Good Clothes.
You Don't Need a Town Crier
to
to emphasize the merits of your business or an
nounce your special sales. A straight story told in
a straight way to the readers of this paper will
quickly reach the ears of the thoughtful, intelligent
buying public, the people who have the money in
their pockets, and the people who listen to reason
and not noise. Our books, will show you a list of
the kind of people you appeal to. Call and see them at this office.