PLACER
ULlPAPPISifAUrmor,
WIU1 KlLlLA-'ILWIMUuni L fli
'HimicLLWdfrc
on there is a bad half-hour waiting for
those two fellows. What was it that
Murphy said?"
"That he knew the girl's real
name."
"Was that all?"
"Yes; I tried to discover his mean
ing, but the fellow became suspi
cious and shut up like a clam. Is
there anything In it?"
Hampton ignored the question.
IJeut. Brant," he said, "I am glad
we have had this talk together, and
exceedingly sorry that my duty has
compelled me to say what I have said.
Some time, however, you will sincere
ly thank me for it, and rejoice that
you escaped so easily. I knew your
father once, and I should like now
to part on friendly relations with his
WD."
He held out his hand, and scarcely
knowing why he did so. Brant placed
his own within its grasp, and as the
eyes of the two men met, there was a
consciousness of sympathy between
them.
CHAPTER XVIII.
A Slight Interruption.
The young officer passed slowly
down the dark staircase, his mind still
bewildered by the result of the inter
view. His feelings toward Hampton
had been materially changed. He
found it Impossible to nurse a dislike
which seemingly had no real cause for
existence.
Yet Brant was far from being satis
fled. Hampton had not even advanc
ed a direct claims he had dodged the
real issue, leaving the soldier in the
dark regarding bis relationship to
Nalda. and erecting a barrier between
the other two. It was a masterpiece
of defense, puzzling, irritating, seem
ingly Impassable. From the consid
eration of it all. Brant emerged with
but one thought clearly defined who
ever she might prove to be, whatever
was her present connection with
Hampton, he loved this dark-eyed, auburn-haired
waif. He knew it now,
and never again could he doubt it He
paused, half inclined to retrace his
steps and have the matter out. He
turned just in time to face a dazzling
vision of fluffy lace and flossy hair
beside him in the dimly lighted hall.
"Oh. Lieutenant Brant!" and the
vision clung to his arm tenderly. "It
is such a relief to find that you are !
unhurt. Did did you kill him?"
Brant stared. "I I fear I scarcely
compehend. Miss Spencer. I have cer
tainly taken no one's life. What can
you mean?"
"Oh. I am so glad; and Naida will I
be. tco. I must go right back and tell !
the poor girl, for she is nearly dis- !
traded. Oh, Lieutenant, isn't it the
most romantic situation that ever
was? And he is such a mysterious
character!"
"To whom do you refer? Really, I
am quite in the dark."
"Why, Mr. Hampton, of course. Oh,
I know all about it. Naida felt so bad-
jy over your meeting tnis morning j
that I just compelled her to confide j
her whole story to me. And didn't j
you fight at all?" j
"Most assuredly not," and Brant's j
eyes began to exhibit amusement; "in-I
. . . I
deed, we parted quite friendly."
"I told Naida I thought you would.
People don't take such things so seri
ously nowadays, do they? But Naida
is such a child and so full of romantic
notions, that she worried terribly
about it. Isn't it perfectly delightful
what he is going to do for her?"
"I am sure I do not know."
"Why, hadn't you heard? He wants
to send her east to a boarding school
and give her a fine education. Do you
know, "Lieutenant. I am simply dying
to see him? he is such a perfectly
splendid western character.
"It would afford me pleasure to pre
sent you," and the soldier's downcast
face brightened with anticipation.
"Do do you really think It would
be proper? But they do things so dif
ferently out here, don't they? Oh, I
wish you would."
Feeling somewhat doubtful as to
what might be the result. Brant
knocked upon the door he had just
closed, and, in response to the voice
within, opened it. Hampton sat upon
the chair by the window, but as his
eyes caught a glimpse of the returned
soldier with a woman standing beside
him. he instantly rose to his feet. j
"Mr. 'Hampton," said Brant. "I trust, j
I may be pardoned for again troubling
you, but this is Miss Spencer, a great j
aamirer or western lire, wno is desir
ous of making your acquaintance."
Miss Spencer swept gracefully for
ward, her cheeks flushed, her hand ex
tended. "Oh. Mr. Hampton, I have so
wished to meet with you ever since I
first read your name In Aunt Lydla's
letters Mrs. Herndon is my aunt, you
know and all about that awful time
you had with those Indians. You see,
I am Nalda Gillis's most particular
friend, and she tells me so much
about you. She is such a dear, sweet
girl! She felt bo badly this morning
over your meeting with. Lieut. Brant,
fearing yon might quarrel! It. was
uch a relief to find him unhurt, but I
felt that I must see you also, so at
mm
noma
I JlL iunu
to relieve Nalda's mind entirely."
"I most certainly appreciate your
frankly expressed interest. Miss Spen
cer," he said, standing with her hand
still retained In his, "and am exceed
ingly glad there is one residing in this
community to whom my peculiar mer
its are apparent."
Miss Spencer sparkled instantly,
her cheeks rosy. "I do wish you
would some time tell me about your
exploits. Why. Mr. Hampton, perhaps
if you were to call upon me, you might
see Nalda, too. I wish you knew Mr.
Moffat, but as you don't, perhaps you
might come with Lieut. Brant."
Hampton bowed. "I would hardly
venture thus to place myself under
the protection of Lieut. Brant, al
though I must confess the former at
tractions of the Herndon home arc
now greatly increased. From my
slight knowledge of Mr. Moffat's capa
bilitles, I fear I should be found a
rather Indifferent entertainer; yet 1
sincerely hope we shall meet again at
a time when I can 'a tale unfold.' "
"How nice that will be, and I am sc
grateful to you for the promise. By
the bye, only thl very morning a man
stopped me on the street, actually
mistaking me for Naida."
"What sort of a looking man. Miss
Spencer?"
"Large, and heavily set, with & red
beard. He was exceedingly polite
when informed of his mistake, and
said he merely had a message to de
liver to Miss Gillis. But he refused tc
tell it to me."
The glances of the two men met,
but Brant was unable to decipher the
meaning hidden within the gray eyes.
Neither spoke, and Miss Spencer, nev
er realizing what her chatter meant,
rattled merrily on.
"You see there are so many who
speak to me now, because of my pub
lic position here. So I thought noth
ing strange at first, until I discovered
his mistake, and then it seemed so ab
surd that I nearly laughed outright
Isn't it odd what such a man could
possibly want with her? But really,
gentlemen. I must return with my
news: Naida will be so anxious. I am
glad to have met you both."
Hampton bowed politely, and Brant
conducted her silently down the stair
way. "I greatly regret not being able
to accompany you home," he explain
ed. "but I came down on horseback,
and my duty requires that I return at
once to the camp."
"Oh. indeed! how very unfortunate
for me!" Even as she said so, some
! unexpected vision beyond flushed her
cheeks prettily. "Why, Mr. Wynkoop."
she exclaimed, "I am so glad you hap-
pened along, and going my way, too,
I am sure. Good morning. Lieutenant;
I shall feel perfectly safe with Mr.
Wynkocp."
CHAPTER XIX.
The Door Opens, and Closes Again.
In one sense Hampton had greatly
enjoyed Miss Spencer's call. Her
" -
bright, fresh face, her impulsive
8peech. her unquestioned beauty, had
had their effect upon him, changing
for the time being the gloomy trend
0f bis thoughts,
Rllt rat,anv the Rlieht smile of
amusement faded from his eyes.
Something, which he had supposed
lay securely hidden behind years and
distance, had all at once come back
to haunt him the unhappy ghost of
an expiated crime, to do evil to this
girl Nalda. Two men, at least, knew
sufficient of the past to cause serious
trouble. This effort by Slavin to hold
personal communication with the girl
was evidently made for some definite
purpose. Hampton decided to have a
face-to-face interview with the man
himself; he was accustomed to fight
his battles in the open, and to a finish.
A faint hope, which had been growing
dimmer and dimmer with every pass
ing year, began to flicker once again
within his heart. He desired to see
this man Murphy, and to learn exactly
what he knew.
He entered "the almost deserted sa
loon opposite the hotel, across the
threshold of which he had not stepped
for two years, and the man behind the
bar glanced up apprehensively.
"Red Slavin?" he said. "Well, now.
see here, Hampton, we don't want no
trouble in this shebang."
"I'm not here seeking a fight, Jim,"
returned the inquirer, genially. "I
merely wish to ask 'Red' an unimpor
tant question or two."
"He's there in the back room, I
reckon, but he's damn liable to take a
pot shot at you when you go in."
Hampton's genial smile only broad
ened, as h carelessly rolled an un
light cigar between his lips.
He walked to the door, flung it
swiftly and sl.ntly open, and step
ping within, closed it behind him with
his left hand. In the other' glittered
the steel-blue barrel of a drawn revol
ver. "Slavin, sit down!"
The terse, imperative words seemed
fairly, to cut the air, and the red
bearded gambler, who had half risen
to Ms feet, an oath upon hi Hps, sank
back lntoihla seat, staring at the ap
parition confronting him ' as if fascinated
mi i u v i i
- Mil I
"Put your hands on the table, and
keep them there!" he said. "Now, my
dear friend, I have come here in
peace, not war, and take these slight
precautions merely because I have
heard a rumor that you have indulged
In a threat or two since we last part
ed, and I know something of your im
petuous disposition. I regret the ne
cessity, but trust you are resting com
fortably." "Oh, go to hell!"
"We will consider that proposition
somewhat later." Hampton laid his
hat with calm deliberation on the
table. "No doubt, Mr. Slavin. If you
move that hand again I'll fill your sys
tem with lead you experience some
very natural curiosity regarding the
object of my unanticipated, yet I hope
no Jess welcome visit."
Slavin's only reply was a curse, his
bloodshot eyes roaming the room fur
tively. "I suspected as much," Hampton
went on, coolly. "Indeed, I should
have felt hurt had you been indiffer
ent upon such an occasion. It does
"Where
Silent
Murphy!"
credit to your heart, Slavin. Come
now, keep your eyes on me! I was
about to gratify your curiosity, and, in
the first place, I came to inquire solic
itously regarding the state of your
health during my absence, and inci
dentally to ask why you are exhibit
ing so great an interest in Miss Naida
Gillis."
Slavin straightened up, his great
hands clinching nervously, drops of
perspiration appearing on his red for
head. "I don't understand your damn
ed fun."
Hampton's lips smiled unpleasantly.
"Slavin, you greatly discourage me.
The last time I was here you exhibit'
ed so fine a sense of humor that I was
really quite proud of you. Yet, truly,
I think you do understand this joke.
Your memory can scarcely be failing
at your age. Make another motion
like that and you die right there! You
know me. However, as you seem to
shy over my first question, I'll honor
you with a second Where's Silent
Murphy?"
"You devil!" Slavin roared, "what
do you mean?"
With revolver hand resting on the
table, the muzzle pointing at the gi
ant's heart, Hampton leaned forward,
utterly remorseless now, and keen as
an Indian on the trail.
"Do you know who I am?"
The horror in Slavin's eyes had
changed to sullenness, but he nodded
silently.
"How do you know?"
There was no reply, although the
thick lips appeared to move.
"Answer me, you red sneak! Do
you think I am here to be played
with? Answer!"
Slavin gulped down something
which seemed threatening to choke
him, but he durst not lift a hand to
wipe the sweat from his face. "If
if I didn't have this beard on . you
might guess. I thought you knew me
all the time."
Hampton stared at him, still puz
zled. "I have certainly seen you some
where. I thought that from the first.
Vhere was it?"
"I was in D Troop, Seventh cav
alry." "D Troop? Brant's troop?"
The big gambler nodded. "That's
how I knew you. Captain," he said,
speaking with greater ease, "but I
never had no reason to say anything
about It round here. You was allers
decent 'nough ter me."
"Possibly" and it was plainly evi
dent from his quiet tone Hampton had
steadied from his first surprise, "the
boot was on the other leg. and you
had some good reason not to say any
thing." Slavin did not answer, but he wet
his lips with his tongue, his eyes on
the window.-
"Wrho is the fellow Murphy?"
"He was corporal in that same
troop, sir." The ex-cavalryman drop
ped insensibly into his old form of
speech. " He knew you too, and we
talked it over, and decided to keep
still, because it was none of our affair
anyhow."
"Where is he now?"
"He left last night with army dis
patches for Cheyenne."
Hampton's eyes hardened percepti
bly, and his fingers closed more tight
ly about the butt of his revolver. "You
lie, Slavin! The last message did not
reach here until this morning. That
fellow is hiding somewhere in this
camp, and the two cf you have been
trying to get at the girl. Now, damn
you. what is your little game?"
The big gambler was thinking hard
er then, perhaps, than he had ever
thought in his life before. He knew
Hampton would kill him if he needed
to do so, but he likewise realized that
he was not likely to fire until he had
gained -the Information he was seek
ing.. If he. only knew how much infor
mation the other possessed it would
be easy enough. ' As he did not, he
must wield his weapon blindl7.
Is
"You're makin' a devil of a fuss
over little or nothin'," he growled,
simulating a tone of disgust. "I ain't
never bed no quarrel with ye, except
in' fer the way ye managed ter skin
me at the table 'bout two years ago.
I don't give two screeches in hell for
who you are; an besides, I reckon you
ain't the only ex-convict a-ranging Da
kota either fer the matter o' that. No
more does Murphy. We ain't no
bloomin' detectives, an' we ain't buck-,
in' in no business o' yourn; ye kin just
bet your sweet life on thet."
"Where is Murphy, then? I wish to
see the fellow."
"I told you he'd gone. Maybe he
didn't git away till this mornin", but
he's gone now all right. What in
thunder do ye want o' him? I reckon
I kin tell ye all that Murphy knows."
For a breathless moment neither
spoke, Hampton fingering his gun ner
vously, his eyes lingering on that bru
tal face.
"Slavin," he said at last, his voice
hard, metallic. "I've figured it out,
and I do know you now, you lying
brute. You are the fellow who swore
you saw me throw away the gun that
did the shooting, and that afterwards
you picked it up."
There was the spirit of murder in
his eyes, and the gambler cowered
back before them, trembling like a
child.
"I I only swore to the last part.
Captain," he muttered, his voice
scarcely audible. "I I never said 1
saw you throw "
"And I swore," went on Hampton,
"that I would kill you on sight. You
lying whelp, are you ready to die?"
Slavin's face was drawn and gray,
the perspiration standing in beads
upon his forehead, but he could neith
er speak nor think, fascinated by
those remorseless eyes, which seemed
to burn their way down into his very
soul.
"No? Well, then. I will give you, to
day, just one chance to live one, you
dog one. Don't move an eyelash!
Tell me honestly why you have been
trying to get word with the girl, and
you shall go out from here living. Lie
to me about it, ,and I am going to
kill you where you sit, as I would a
mad dog. You know me, Slavin now
speak!"
So intensely still was it, Hampton
could distinguish the faint ticking of
the watch in his pocket, the hiss of
the breath between the giant's clinch
ed teeth. No wretch dragged shriek
ing to the scaffold could have formed
a more pitiful sight, but there was no
mercy in the eyes of the man watch
ing him.
"Speak, you cringing hound!"
Slavin gripped his great hands to
gether convulsively, his throat swell
ing beneath its read beard. He knew
there was no way of escape. "I I
had to do it! My God, Captain, I had
to do it!"
"Why?"
"I had to, I tell you. Oh, you devil,
you fiend! I'm not the one you're af
ter it's Murphy!"
For a single moment Hampton star
ed at the cringing figure. Then sud
denly he rose to his feet in decision.
"Stand up! Lift up your hands first,
you fool. Now unbuckle your gun
belt with your left hand your left, I
said! Drop it on the floor."
There was an unusual sound behind,
such as a rat might have made, and
Hampton glanced aside apprehensive
ly. In that single second Slavin was
upon him, grasping his pistol-arm at
the wrist, and striving with hairy
hand to get a death-grip about his
throat. Twice Hampton's left drove
straight out into that red, gloating
face, and then the giant's crushing
weight bore him backward. He fought
savagely, silently, his slender figure
like steel, but Slavin got his grip at
last, and with giant strength began to
crunch his victim within his vise-like
arms. There was a moment of su
perhuman strain, their breathing
mere sobs of exhaustion. Then Slavin
slipped, and Hampton succeeded in
wriggling partially free from his death
grip, it was scarcely an instant, yet
it served; for as he bent aside, swing
his burly opponent with him, someone
struck a vicious blow at his back; but
the descending knife, missing its
mark, sunk instead deep into Slavin's
breast.
Hampton saw the fiash of a blade, a
portion of an arm, and then the
clutching fingers of Slavin swept him
down. He reached out blindly as he
fell, his hand closing about the de
serted knife-hilt The two crashed
down together upon the floor, the
force of the fall driving the blade
home to the gambler's heart.
CHAPTER XX.
The Cohorts of Judge Lynch.
Hampton staggered blindly to his
feet, looking down on the motionless
body. For a moment the room ap
peared to swim before his eyes, and
he clutched at the overturned table
for support. Then, as his senses re
turned, he perceived the figures of a
number of men jamming the narrow
doorway, and became aware of their
loud, excited voices. Back to his be
numbed brain there came with a rush
the whole scene, the desperation of
his present situation. He had been
found alone with the dcud man. Those
men, when they came surging in at
tracted by the noise of strife, had
found him lying on Slavin, his hand
clutching the knife-hilt. He ran his
eyes over their horrified faces, and
knew instantly they held him the mur
derer. The Bhock of this discovery steadied
him. He realized the meaning, the
dread, terrible meaning, for he knew
tbe west, Its fierce, implacable spirit
of vengeance, its merciless code of
lynch-Iaw. The vigilantes of the min
ing camps were to him an old story;
more than once he had '. witnessed
their work, been cognisant of their
power. This was no tlm to parley or
to hesitate. He grabbed the loaded
EEiaiLAEDS
M MMH
IH FE
gjj
r:A strictly prohibits
the sale of alum
baking powder
So does France
4
4
4
So does Germany
The sale cf alum foods
has been made illegal in Washington and the District of Colum
bia, and alum baking powders are everywhere recognized as
injurious. jQ yourscf agajnst aUm,
when ordering baking powder.
n
Sot; pfatoitj
rd be very- sure you get Royal.
doyal is the only Baking Powder made from Royal Grape
Cream of Tartar. It adds to the digestibility and whole-
someness or the lood.
r r
r
The County
fcs tf Giienl litirest Selectel
Loviisville
From tbe Courier.
Born, to Mr and Mrs. Fred Wegner,
Friday, Feb. 7, a girl.
Louisville alwaps keeps up with the
times. We've a case of smallpox.
C. W. Spence was down from Have
lock over Sunday visiting with his
family.
Wm. Wade continues to load clay
from his bank on the Noyes farm south
west of town.
Mrs. William Erickson and son Floyd
are here from Atkinson, Neb., visiting
with her sister, Mrs. Henry Ahl.
Richard Kraft and sister, Miss
Martha, left Monday for Lincoln to
take a course in the Cotner University.
Arthur and Jim Masters, the Misses
Eller and Dora Eager constituted a
theatre party who drove to Plattsmouth
Monday evening to see the Land of Nod
at the Parmele theatre.
Chas. Ahl has purchased a farm in j Charlie has purchased land and they
northwestern Kansas and loaded a car J will make their future home. Fred
containing stock, implements and house- I Manners will tend the farm they vacate,
hold goods and started for his newj . Frank w Lorenz, our new hardware
home this week. His family will follow j marif hag purchased the L. F. Lang
in a few weeks, or as soon as Charley J horst resjdence property on West Hill,
gets his house in readiness. j possession to be given March 1st, We
Suffering and Dollars Saved I understand the consideration was
E. S. Loper, of Manila, N. Y., says: !
"I am a carpenter and have had many
severe cnts healed by Bucklin's Arnica
Salve. It has saved me suffering and
dollars. It is by far the best healing
salve I have ever found." Heals burns
sores, ulcers, fever sores, eczema, and
piles. 25c at F. C. Fricke & Co's drug
store. Union
From tbe Ledger.
Chas. Wilkens, the Plattsmouth cigar
saleman and base ball enthusiast, was
in town yesterday.
Fred Clark and wife have cause to re
joice, because a fine Uttle boy baby re
gistered at their home last Friday,
Jan. 31.
Mrs. Lee Applegate arrived home
Monday from Cedar Rapids, Neb.,
where she visited Roe Baker and family
a few weeks.
Jesse K. Pell and wife are happy on
account of a recent addition to their
family circle, a new daughter born
Wednesday, Jan. 29.
John S. Buck of Colfax, Wash., who
Vna Vfm visitincr Viis relatives anr I
friends here, left yesterday for Hot j
c c n Ko v,;0 .;ffl i,,c v,OCn i
, i . . . . , . j I
taking treatment, and in a few days ,
they will return to their home on the
Pacific coast.
Agent L. R. Black was billed to "bad
order shops" Sunday, having a severe j
cold that knocked him off duty for a day
but Tuesday morning he bobbed up
wearing his smile that won't rub off
and cannot be duplicated by any other
man.
G. N. LaRue and wife have sold to
Mary Ella Davis for $830 lots 8 and 9
in block 2, being the lots where the
blacksmith shop stands on the north
side of -main street.
John Chalfant and son Dan de
parted Tuesday for the blue grass
country down in '01d Kentuck," in
tending to spend about two weeks with
relatives at Lexington and in other
oarts of the state.
mmn mm
dake::3
Exchanges
fria & Colssis if Ccnttrjcnrtti
9
Elmwood
From tbe Leader-Echo.
E. B. Lambert resigned his position
as clerk with L. E. Langhorst Monday
evening. He has not yet decided what
he will do.
On Tuesday evening, Feb. 18th,
Crescent lodge No. 91, Knights of
Pythias, will celebrate the 45th anniv
ersary of the order. All members and
their wives are cordially invited.
A. Bickert has been quite sick the
past week with la grippe. Mrs. Bick
ert, although improving, is still confined
to her bed.
For a consideation of $3800.00 L. F.
Langhorst has purchased the former
Dr. Hobbs property. The residence,
barn and five lots were purchased by
Mr. Langhorst.
Charlie Groves and family will move
to Cambridge, Neb., next week where
$3200.00.
Miss Jennie Justice and Miss Sadie
Justice, of Nebraska City, were here
this week to assist in caring for their
sister, Mrs. Owens. At present writ
ing we are pleased to report Mrs.
Owens some better.
Nehawkai
(From the Rrlstr.)
David C. Tucker arrived Tuesday
from his home near Alva, Oklahoma,
for a visit to his relatives. He reports
good times there, likes the county very
much.
Professor De Bolt from Murdock,
was here on Saturday attending the
teachers meeting, and was so interest
ed in the work of some of the teachers
that he remained over Sunday.
Mrs. Rebecca Alford left on Friday
of last week for Oskaloosa, Iowa, where
she will enter the hospital for treat
ment by Dr. Wilcox. She was ac-
companied by her son Robert as far as
i Omaha.
John, Stuart, William and Alex
ouh were Passengers for Lincoln on
Monday morning. The boys were all
together at a reunion at the home of
& c,
istuart on aunaay ana went up on a
business trip together.
Zach Shrader returned from Furnas
county Monday morning where he had
been taking out a carload of feeder
cattle. He reports a pretty rough
piece of weather last Friday and Satur
day. L. C. Todd went to Omaha last
Thursday to attend a sale of short horn
cattle and purchased three pedigreed
cows with calves. They arrived last
Saturday, and they were what yoa
would call "beauts."
Morris D. Pollard blew in Wednesday
morning, coming from Vermont by the
way of New Orleans. He expects to
stop about three weeks. It looks nat
ural to see "Cully" circumambulating
the streets of Nehawha.
, -