The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, July 31, 1907, Image 8

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FURNITURE
A New line Just
Received
The most modern in
its structure and design.
Each piece has a' certain
individuality of its own,
and this, coupled with
the fact that it is made
strong and durable make
it all the more desirable
to Columbus people, We
want to please with our
Furniture and if you will
call we will show you
the newest things in fur
niture. We solicit your
patronage.
HENRY
MB HAMPTON
f PLACER
.fyJUNMUlPMMISItWMGte
cofimxNrjm6rACjtsausegax.
Continued from last week.
'ine omcer's brows knitted savagely.
"It begins to look as if this might be
some of our business. What hap
pened? Indians?"
"Yes."
"How far away?"
"I don't know. They caught us in
a canyon somewhere out yonder, may
be three or four days ago; there was
a lot killed, some of them soldiers. My
dad was shot, and then that night he
he got me out up the rocks, and he
lie was carrying me in his arms when
I I fainted. I saw there was blood
on his shirt, and it was dripping down
on the grass as he walked. That's
about all I know."
"Who is the man? What's his
lamer
The girl looked squarely Into the
jieuienams eyes, ana. Tor some rea
son which she could never clearly ex-
plain even to herself, lied calmly. "I
don't know; I never asked."
Sergeant Carson rose stiffly from
his knees beside the extended figure
and strode heavily across toward
where they were sitting, lifting his
hand in soldierly salute, his heels
clicking as he brought them sharply
.together in military precision.
The fellow Is getting his eyes open,
sir." he reported, "and is breathing
more regular. Purty weak vit. but
. he'll come round in time." He stared
curiously down at the girl now sitting"
up unsupported, while a sudden look
of surprised recognition swept across
his face.
"Great guns!" he exclaimed, eagerly,
"but I know you. You're old man Gil
lis' gal from Bethune, ain't ye?"
"Yes," she acknowledged simply,
"bat he's dead."
"Never mind, little girl," the lieu
tenant said, with boyish sympathy. "I
knew Gillis, and, now the sergeant has
spoken, I remember you quite welL
Thought all the time your face was -familiar,
but couldn't quite decide where
I had seen you before. So poor old
Gillis has gone, and you are left all
alone in the world! Well, he was an
old soldier, could not have hoped to
live much longer anyway, and would
rather go fighting at the end. Well
take you back with us to Bethune, and
the ladles of the garrison will look
after you."
The recumbent figure lying a few
yards away half lifted itself upon one
elbow, and Hampton's face, white and
haggard, stared uncertainly across the
open space. For an Instant his gaze
dwelt upon the crossed sabers shield
ing the gilded "7" on the front, of the
lieutenant's scouting hat, then settled
apoa the face, of the girl. With one
hand pressed against the grass he
pushed himself slowly up until he sat
fronting them, his teeth clinched tight,
his gray eyes gleaming feverishly in
their sunken sockets. '
"HI be damned if you will!" he said,
hoarsely. "She's my girl now."
CHAPTER V.
A New Proposition.
To one in the least inclined toward
jfastidiousness,' the "Miners' Home at
Glenoid would scarcely appeal as" a
desirable place for long-continued res
idence. But such a one would have
COLUMBUS
MEAT MARKET
We invite all who desire choice
teak, and the very beet cuts of
all other meats to call at our
market oa Eleventh street We
aba handle poultryaad fsh and
oysters teseacoa.
S. E. MARTY & CO.
No.L-tfcdajabus.Neb.
Zi.-m'
iferZM
--?"l
GASS
had small choice In the Batter, as It
chanced to be the only hotel there.
The Miners' Home was unquestionably
unique as regards architectural de
tails, having been constructed by sec
tions, in accordance with the rapid
development of the camp, and enjoyed
the further distinctionthere being
only two others -equally stylish Is
town of being built of sawm plank,
although, greatly to the regret of Jts
unfortunate occupants, lack of season
ing had resulted la wide cracks la
both walls and stairway, while strict
privacy within the chambers was loag
ago a mere reminiscence. Without
the Miners' Home pat up a good front,
and was In reality the most preten
tious structure gracing the single clat
tered street of Glencaid. Directly
across the street, its front a perfect
blaze of glass, 'stood Invitingly the
Occidental saloon, but the Widow Guf
fy, who operated the Miners' Home
with a strong hand, possessed an an
tipathy to strong liquor, which suc
cessfully kept all suspicion of intoxi
cating drink absent from those sacred
ly guarded precincts, except as her
transient guests imported it internally.
Mr. Hampton during the coarse' of
his somewhat erratic career had pre
viously passed several eventful weeks
in Glencaid. He was neither unknown
nor unappreciated at the Miners'
Home, and having on previous occa
sions established his reputation as a
spender, experienced little dlmculty
now in procuring promptly the very
best accommodation which the house
afforded. That this arrangement was
accomplished somewhat to the present
discomfort of two vociferous eastern
tourists did not greatly Interfere with
his pleasurable interest in the situa
tion. "Send those two fellows In here to
argue it out," he said, languidly, after
listening disgustedly to their loud la
mentations in the 'hallway, and ad
dressing his remarks to Mrs. Guffy,
who had glanced Into the room to be
again assured regarding his comfort,
and to express her; deep egret over
the unseemly racket "The girl has
fallen asleep, and I'm getting tired of
hearing so much noise."
"No, be hivings, an' ye don't do
nuthin' of thet sort, Bob," returned the
widow, good-naturedly, , busying her
self with a dust-rag. "This is me own
nouse, an- urve tended ter the lotkes
: them sort er fellers afore. There'll
be no more bother this toime. Be
soides, it's a paceful house Oi'm rua
nin', an Oi know ye'r way of sittling
them things. It's too strenurous ye
are, Misther Hampton. And what did
ye do wid the young lady, 01 make
bould to askff" '
Hampton carelessly waved his hand
toward the rear room, the door of
which stood ajar, and blew , thick
cloud of smokeN into the air, his eyes
continuing to gaze dreamily through
the open window toward the distant
hills.
"Who's running the game over at
the Occidental?" he asked, profession
ally. - "Red j3uvfn, bad cess to htm!" and
her eyes regarded her questioner with
"" Mxieiy. -unt sure bow.
Bob, ye mustn't think of playte' yit
awhoile. Yer narves are la no fit
shape, an won't be far a wake jit"
He made no direct reply, and she
hang about flapping the dust-rax an
easily. "An what did ye mane ter be dote'
wid the young gynrlT" she questioned
ax last la womanly cariosity.
Hampton wheeled stent em the
bard chair, and regarded her aalsxteg
ly. "Mrs. Guty." he said, slowly,
"you've been a mother to me, and It
would certainly he unkind not to give
yon a straight tip. Do? Why. take
care of- her, of coarse. -What also
would yon expect of one nmiiMlag
my kindly diapoaltioa and weD-knowa
motives of pailsathxepy ? Gam It ha
gatAaave riiim wttk
1
cm. for
ever
my heart? Mrs. Qmffy. I
mar the heiress to my mflHoas; Ismail
marry her of to some eastera nabob,
amd thus attain to that high posttiom
la society I am so well fltted to adora
sure, amd what else were job. ex
pectteg, Mrs. Gamy?"
"A loikely story." with a sail! of dis
belief. They tell me she's old Gillis
daughter oyer to Bethune."
"They tell yon, do they?" a suddea
gleam of anger darkening his gray
eyes. "Who tell you?"
"Sara, Bob, an' thet's anthla' ter git
mad ahoat so far as I kin see. The
story Is la iverybody's month. It wus
thlm sojers what brought ye la thet
tould most ov It bnt the lieutenant
Brant of the Seventh cavalry, no less,
who took dinner here afore he wint
back, after the dead bodies, give me
her name."
"Brant of the Seventh?". He faced
her fairly now, his face again haggard
and gray, all the alight gleam of fun
gone oat of It "Was that the lad's
"Sure, aad didat ye know him?"
"No; I noticed the 'T on his hat of
coarse, but never asked any questions,
for his face was strange. I didn't
know. The name, when yoa just spoke
it struck me rather queer. I I used
to know a Braat la the Seventh, at
he was much older; it was not this
She answered something, lingering
for a momeat at the door, bat he made
bo response, aad she passed out si
leatly, leaving him staring moodily
through the opea window, his eyes ap
pearing glased and sightless.
An hour later he was still sitting on
the hard chair by the window, a cigar
between his teeth, thinking. The low
ering sua was pouring a perfect flood
of gold across the rag carpet but he
remalaed utterly unconscious as ,to
aught save the gloomy trend of his
own 'awakened memories. Some one
rapped upon the outer door.
"Come in," he exclaimed, carelessly,
and barely glancing up. "Well, what
is it this time, Mrs. Guffy?"
The landlady had never before sees
this usually happy guest in his pres
ent mood, ana sue watched him cu
riously. "A man wants ter see ye," she an
nounced, shortly, her hand on the
knob.
"Oh, Tm In no shape for play to
night; go back and tell him so."
"Sure, aa it's aisy 'nough ter see
thet wid half an eye. Bnt this nn Isn't
thet koind of a man, aa' he's so
molghty perlite about it OI jlst cudn't
sind the lotkes of him away. It's
'Missus Guffy, me dear madam, wud
ye be koind enough to convey me com
pliments to Misther Robert Hampton,
and reqnlst him to grant me a few
minutes of his toime oa an Important
matter?' Sure, an' what do ye think
of thet?"
"Huh! one of those fellows who had
these rooms?" and Hampton rose to
his feet with animation.
The landlady lowered her voice to
aa almost inaudible whisper.
"It's the Rev. Howard Wyakoop."
she announced, impressively, dwelling
upon the name. "The Rev. Howard
Wynkoop, the Prasby tartan missionary
wouldn't thet cork ye?"'
It evidently did, for Mr. Hampton
stared at her for fully a minute In ah
amazement too profound for fit ex
pression In words. Then he swal
lowed something in his throat
"Show the gentleman np," he said,
shortly, and sat dowa to watt
The Rev. Howard Wyakoop was
neither giant nor dwarf, .hut the very
fortunate possessor of a countenance
which at once awakened confidence la
his character. He entered the room
quietly, rather dreading this interview
with one of Mr. Hamptoa's well-known
proclivities, yet la this case feeling
abundantly fortlfled in the righteous
ness of his cause. His brown eyes,
met the Inquisitive gray ones frankly,
aad Hamptoa waved him silently to
ward a vacant chair.
"Our lines of labor la this vineyard
being so entirely apposite," the Utter
said, coldly, bnt with Intended polite
ness, "the honor of your unexpected
call quite overwhelms me. I shall
have to trouble yon to speak somewhat
softly la explanation of your present
mission, so as not to disturb a young
girl who chances to he sleeping la the
roam beyond."
"It was principally upon her account
I ventured to call." Wynkoop ex
plained hi sudden confldence. "Might
r see her?"
Hamptoa's watchful eyes swept the
other's face suspiciously, and his
heads clinched.
"Relative?" he asked gravely.
The preacher shook his head.
"Friend of the family, perhaps?"
"No, Mr. Hampton. My purpose la
comiag here Is perfectly proper, yet
the request was aot advanced as a
right but merely as a special priv
ilege." A moment Hampton hesitated; then,
he arose and quietly crossed the room,
holding open the door. Without a
word being spokea the minister fol
lowed, sad stood beside him. For
several minutes the eyes of both men
rested upon the girl's sleeping form
Have thet Man far Leas. Qe, Be
fore I Feraet Ysjh- Cleth."
and upturned Tfaee. Them Wyakoop
drew silently back, aad Hamptoa
closed the door noiselessly. -
"Wen." ha said, teaalrtegly. "what
moss all this mesa r
"Let as alt dowa agate." said the
mtelster. "aad I wfll try to make .my
mare to mtece wards, mar do I aetteva
'lmummSHl
mVmnxafiflnK mnxanxaWn" HH hH
BawanKmwiJnnuawWBlmnw J
paHaEr
IffiSSrHuullmuP''
f ' nnxanxflnxaavBflnnxaflH&V
" -mmMmfWpE A
you to be the kbit ar a
resaacf s if t dM. I mar say
thing that wfll aot sound pleasant bat
in thekcanse of my if aster I cannot
hesitate. Yoa are aa older man thaa
I. Mr. Hamptoa; your experience la
Ufe has doubtless beea much broader
thaa mine, aad it may even be that in
point of education you are likewise
my superior. Nevertheless, as the
only mtelster of the gospel residing In
this commuaity It Is beyond question
my plate duty to speak a few words to
yon la behalf of this young lady, and
her probable future. I trust not to be
offensive, yet cannot shirk the require
ments of my sacred office."
The speaker paused, somewhat. dis
concerted perhaps by the hardening of
the lines in Hampton's face.
"Go on," commanded Hampton,
tersely, "only let the preacher part
slide, aad say just what you have to
say as man to man."
"I prefer to do so," he continued.
"It will render my unpleasant task
much easier, and yield as both a more
direct road to travel. I have been
laboring oa this field for nearly three
years. Wham t flrst came here you
were pointed oat to ma as a most dan
gerous maa, amd ever since then I
hare constaatly beea regaled by the
'stories of your exploits. I have known
you merely through such unfriendly
reports, and came mare strongly preju
diced against yoa as a representative
of every evil I war against We have
never met before, because there
seemed to be nothing in common be
tween us; because I had been led to
supiiose yoa to be an entirely different
man from .what I bow believe you
are."
Hamptoa stirred' uneasily in his
chair.
"8hall I paint la exceedingly plate
words the picture given me of you?"
There was no response, but the
speaker moistened 'his lips and pro
ceeded firmly. "It was that of a pro
fessional gambler, utterly devoid of
mercy toward his victims; a reckless
fighter, who shot to kill upon the least
provocation; a mam without moral
character, aad from wiiom any good
action was impossible. That was what
was said about you. Is the tele true?"
Hampton laaghed unpleasantly, his
eyes grown hard amd ugly.
"I presume It aaast be," he admitted,
with a quick side glance toward the
closed door, "for the girl out yonder
thought about the same. A most ex
cellent reputation to establish with
oaly ten years of strict attendance to
business."
Wynkoop's grave face expressed his
disapproval.
"Wall, te my 'present judgment'that
report was not altogether true," he
went on clearly and with greater con
fidence. "I did' suppose you exactly
that sort of a nana when I first came
into this room. I have not believed
so, however tor n single moment
since. Nevertheless, the naked truth
is certainly had enough, without any
necessity far oar resorting to romance.
You mny Ueceive others by an assump
tion of recklessness, but I feel con
vinced your true nature is not evil. It
has been warped through some cause
which Is none of my business. Let us
deal atoae with facts. You are a gam
bler... a professional gambler, with all
that that implies;, your life is, of neces
sity passed among the most vicious
and degrading elements of mining
camps, and yoa' do not hesitate even
to take human He whea te your judg
ment it seems necessary to preserve
your ova, Under this veneer of 'law
lessness you may Indeed, possess a
warm heart Mr. Hampton; you may
be a good felaow, but you are certain
ly not a model1 character, even accord
ing to the liberal code of the border."
"Extremely Mad of you to enter my
rooms uataviaed. aad furaish me with
this list of moral deficiencies." ac
kaowledged'tha other with affected
carelessnesa "But thus far you have
failed to tell me anything strikingly
new. Am I to understand you have
some parttcnlar object te this ex
change of amealtles?"
"Most aasuredry. It Is to ask If such
a person as yoa practically confess
yourself to be homeless, associating:
only with the most despicable and
vicious characters, and leading so un
certain and dtsaepatable a life can be
fit to assume charge of a girl, almost
a woman, and mould her future?"
For -a loag, breathless momeat
Hampton stared Incredulously at bis
questioner, crushing his cigar between
his teeth. Twice he started to speak.
but literally choked back the bitter
words, burning ken lips, while an un
controllable admiration for the other's
boldness began to. overcome bis first
fierce anger.
"By God!" he-exclaimed at last rls
iag to his feet and pointing toward the
door." "I have shot men for less. Go,
before I forget jmur cloth. You little
impudent fool! See here I saved
that girl from death, or worse; I
plucked her from the very mouth of
hell; I lite her; aba's got sand; so far
as I know there Is not a single soul
for her to turn to for help te all this
wide world. And you. you miserable,
snivelling hypocrite, you Ifttle creep
ing Presbyterian parson, you want me
to shake her! What sort of a wild
beast do yew suppose I am?"
Wynkoop had taken one hasty step
backward, impelled to it by the fierce
aager biasing from those stern, gray
eyes. But now ha paused, and, for
the oaly time cm record, discovered
the conventional language of polite so
ciety. Inadequate to express bis needs.
"I think," he sakf. scarcely realizing
his owa words, "yoa are a damned
fooL-
Iato Hamptoa's eyes there leaped a
light apoa which other men had looked
before they died. the strange mad
gleam one sometimes sees te fighting
anlmsfj. er amid thevfierce charges of
war. His hand swept instinctively
backward, closing; apoa the butt of a
revolver beaeetm his. coat and for oae
second be who had dared, such utter
ance looked oa death. Then the hard.
lines aoout'tne man s mown sortenea.
the Angers clutching the weapon re
laxed, aad Hampton laid one opened
haad npom. the minister's shriakiag
shoulder..
"Sit dbvjm,", ha said, his voice un
steady from so suddea a' reaction.
"Perhaps perhaps I don't exactly understand.-
For a faU minute they sat thus took-
tmm l . n......t v -- I
dteuahu; UgMt Ilka two prlze-flahters f
meeting, for the first time wlthta the I
f1 nM Tm y ti1 r"-v t '
aegteafag their physical
Hamptoa,. with a teach ef Ms eM am
aacity of manner, was flrst to break
the silence.
"So yoa think I am a damned fool.
Well, we are te pretty fair accord as
to that fact althoagm mo erne before
has ever ventured to state It quite aa
clearly te my presence. Perhaps yoa
will kindly explain?"
The preacher wet his dry lias wMm
his tongue, forgetting himself wham
his thoughts began to crystallise teto
expression.
"I regret havteg spokea as I did."
he began. "Such language ta act my
custom. I was Irritated because of
your haste te rejecting my advances
before hearing the propositioa I
to submit I certainly respect
evident desire to he of assistance to
this young woman, nor have I the
slightest intention of interfering be
tweea yoa. Your act te preservteg
her life was truly a noble oae, and
your loyalty to her interests siaee is
worthy of all Christian praise. Bat
I believe I have a right to ask, what
do yoa intend for the future? " Keep
her with you? Drag her about from
camp to camp? Educate her amoag
the contaminating potsoa of gambling
holes aad dance-halls? Is her home
hereafter to be the salcaa and the
rough frontier hotel? Her Meal of
manhood the quarrelsome gambler,
aad of womanhood a painted harlot?
Mr. Hamptoa, you are evidently a maa
of educatioa. of early refinement; yoa
have known better things; aad I have
come to yoa seeking merely to sM yoa
in deciding this helpless young wom
an's destiny. I thought I prayed, yoa
would be at oace interested te that
purpose, and would comprehend the
'reasonableness of my position."
Hamptoa sat silent gazing out of
the window, his eyes apparently oa
the lights now becoming dimly visible
te the saloon opposite. For a consid
erable time he made no move, and the
other straighteaed back 1a his' chair
watching him.
"Well!" he 'ventured at last "what
is your proposition?" The question
was quietly asked, but a slight tremor
in the low voice told of repressed feel
ing. "That for the present at least you
confide this girl teto the care of some
worthy woman."
"Have you any such te mind?"
"I have already discussed the mat
ter briefly with Mrs. Herndon. wife of
the superintendent of the Golden Rule
mines. She is a refined Christian lady,
beyond doubt the most proper person
to assume such a charge la this camp."
Hampton flung his sodden cigar butt
out of the window. "Ill talk it over
to-morrow with with Miss Gillis," he
said, somewhat grufily. "It may be
this means a good deal more to me
than you suppose, parson, but I'm.
bound to acknowledge there is consid
erable hard sense in what you have
just said, and I'll talk it over with the
girl."
Wynkoop held out his hand cordial
ly and the firm grasp of the other
closed over his Angers.
"I don't exactly know why I didn't
kick you downstairs," the tetter com
mented, as though still te wonder at
himself. "Never remember being quite
so considerate before, but I reckon
you must have come at me te about
the right way."
If Wyakoop answered, bis words
were Indistinguishable,, but Hamptoa
remained standing te the opea door
watching the missionary go dowa the
narrow stairs.
"Nervy little devil." he acknowl
edged slowly to himself. "And maybe,
after all. that would be the best thing
for the Kid."
CHAPTER VI.
"To me or Net to
They were seated rather close togeth
er upon the steep hillside, gazing silent
ly down upon squalid Glencaid. At such
considerable distance all the dull shab
blness of the mining town had disap
peared, and it seemed almost ideal,
viewed against the natural bachgrouad
of brown rocks and green trees. Every
where was loneliness, no sound telling
of the labor of man reached them,
and the few scattered buildings far
below resembliag mere doll-houses.
They had conversed only upon the
constantly changing beauty of the
scene, or of incidents connected with
their upward 'climb, while moving
slowly along the trail through the
fresh morning sunshine. Now they
sat in silence, the young girl, with
cheeks flushed and dreamy eyes aglow,
gazed far off along the valley, the
maa watching her curiously, and won
dering .how best to approach his task.
Observing her now, sitting thus in
total unconsciousness of his scrutiny,
Hampton made no attempt to analyze
the depth of his interest for this waif
who had come drifting teto his life.
Even to his somewhat prejudiced
eyes she was not an attractive crea
ture, for she possessed no clear con
ception of how to render apparent
those few feminine charms she pos
sessed. Negligence and total uncon
sciousness of self, coupled with hick
of womanly companionship and guid
ance, had left her altogether 1a the
rough. He marked now the coarse
ragged shoes, the cheep patched skirt
the tousled auburn hair, the sunburnt
cheeks with a suggestion of freckles
plainly visible beneath the eyes, snd
some of the fastidiousness of .early
days caused him to shrug his shoul
ders. Yet underneath the .tan there
was the glow of perfect young health;
the eyes were frank, .brave, unflinch
ing; while the rounded chin held a
world of character te its firm con
tour. Somehow, the sight of this
brought back to him that abiding
faith te her "dead gameaess" which
had first awakened his sdmlration.
"Kid," he ventured at last "yoa
were talking while we came ap the
trail about how we'd do this and that
after awhile. Yoa don't suppose I'm
going to have say useless-girl like
yoa hanging around oa to me, do
She glanced quickly about at
as though such unexpected expressions
startled her from a pleasant reverie.
"Why, I I thought that was the way
yoa planned it yesterday," aha ex
claimed, doubtfully.
"Oh, yesterday! WelL yoa see.
terday I was sort of dreaming;
r n wli awaka. aad. Vwm
elded. KM. that for year own goed.
aa my veen. ve got
JULY WAS A
For businett with us. We
haTe a line of odds and ends
that most move in August,
to make room for our Fall
Stock and our prices will
move them. Both Phones.
U1.EBT.EIIG
HERRICK
A suddea gleam of fierce resentment
leaped into 'the dark eyes, the un
restrained glow of a passion which
had never known control. "Oh, yoa
have, have yoa. Mr. Bob Hamptoa?
You have about decided! Well, why
don't you altogether decide? I don't
think I'm down on my knees begging
you for mercy. Good Lord!. I reek
cm I can get along all right without
yoa I dM before. Just what hap
pened to give you such a change of
heartr
"I made the suddea discovery." he
said, affecting a laziness he was fsr
from feeling, "that yoa were too Bear
being a youag woman to go traipsing
around the country with me. living at
shacks, aad having no company but
gambling: sharks, sad that class of
cattle."
"Oh, did yoa? What else?"
"Only that oar tempers doa't ex
actly seem to jibe, and the two of
"I Think Yea .Are
as caa't he bosses la the same ranch."
She looked, at him contemptuously,
swinging her body farther around oa
the rock, and sitting stifny. the color
on her cheeks deepening through tre
sunburn.- "Now see here. Mister Bob
Hamptoa. you're a fraud, aad you
know it! Didn't I understand exact
ly who yoa was, sad what was your
business? Didn't I know you wns a
gambler, and a 'had maar Didat I
tell yoa plain enough out yonder"
aad her voice faltered slightly "just
what I thought about you? Good Lord!
I havea't beea begging to stick with
you, have 1? I just dMa't know
which way to tura 'to. after dad was
killed, and you sorter hung on to me.
sad I let It go the wsy I supposed you
wanted it But I'm not particularly
stuck on your style, let me tell yon,
and I reckon there's plenty of ways
for me to get along. Oaly first I pro
pose tc understand what your little
game is. You don't throw down your
haad like that without some reason."
Hampton sat ap, spurred Into in
stant admiration by such Independ
ence of spirit "You grow rather good
looking, Kid. when you get not. but
you go at. things half-cocked, aad
you've got. to get over it That's the
whole trouble you've never beea
trained. andI wouldn't make much of
a traiaer for a high-strung Ally like
you. Ever remember your mother?"
"Mighty little; reckon she must
have died when I was about Ave years
old. That's her picture."
Hamptoa took te his haad the old
fashioned locket she held out toward
him, the long chain still clasped about
her throat sad pried opea the stiff
catch with hia knife blade. She bent
down to fasten her loosened shoe,
aad whea her eyes were uplifted sis
gaze was riveted upon the face te the
picture.
"Mighty pretty, wasn't she?" she
asked, with a sudden girlish interest,
bending forward to look, regardless of
his strained attitude. "Aad she was
prettier than that even, the way I
remember her best, with her hair all
hanging 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 la his haad. "Is Is she
dead?" he questioned, and hia voice
trembled ta spite of his steel nerves.
"Yes. te St Louis; dad took me
there with him two years ago. aad I
saw her grave."
"Dad? Do yoa meaa old Gillis?"
She Bodded, beginning dimly to won
der why he shouM speak so fiercely
and stare at her te that odd way.
He seemed to choke twice before he
cohM ask the next question.
"DM he oM Gillis. I mean claim
to be your father, or her husband?"
"No, I doa't reckon he ever did. but
ha gave me that picture, sad told me
she wss my mother. I always lived
with aim, aad called him dad. I reck
oa he Mked It aad ha was mighty
good to me. We were at Randolph
at Bethaaa. That's all .1
M. far dad never talked
a Damned Feel." I
vary ansa, aad he asad ta gat mad
whea I asked him eaestieaa."
. Hamate eeaaed taa tecket fame
UCORB RREAKER
evj"B"-'-a-
p aad arose
I several minutes he
to his feet
he stood with
back toward her. apparently
dowa the valley, mis jaw set his dim
med eyes seeing nothing. Slowly the
color came creeping teto his face, aad
his hands unclinchea. Then he wheel
ed about, and looked down apoa mar.
completely restored to his oM na
ture. "Then It seems that it Is Jest yea
and I. KM, who have got to settle this
little affair." he nnnounced, firmly.
Til have my say ahoat It aad then
yoa cam uncork your feelings. I rath
er imagine I havea't very much legal
right te the premises, but Tve got a
sort of moral grip oa you by reason of
having palled you out alive from that
canyon yonder, aad I propose to piny
this game to the IteOt. You say your
mother is dead, aad the maa who
raised yoa is dead.. and, so far as cith
er of us know, there isn't a soul any
where oa earth who possesses any
claim over you, or any desire to have.
Then, nnturally. the whole jackpot is
up to me, provided I've got the cards.
Now, Kid. waving your prejudice nsMe.
I ain't just exactly the best maa te
this worid to bring up n girl like yoa
aad make a lady out of her. I thought
yesterday that maybe we might mam
age to hitch along together for
awhile, but I've got n different think
coming to-day. There's no use dia
flguring the truth. I'm a tmaMmr
something of a fighter on the side, aad
folks don't say anything toe pleasing
about my peaceful disposition around
these settlements; I havea't say heme.
and mighty few friends, and-the few
I have got are nothing to boast shunt,
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.
low mjotu snows, om Gillis
enough, but I'm a damned sight wc
Now, some womaa has got to take yoa
te hand, aad I. reckon I've found the
right one."
"Goin' to get married. Boh?"
"Not this year; it's hardly heeessa
so serious as that; hut 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 aad
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
migni nave stood It with you. Boh
Hampton, but a womaa is the limit"
"I .expect it will go rather hard at
first-Kid." he admitted craftily, "hat
I thteh yoa 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 GoIden Rule' mine;"
and he waved his hand toward the dis
tent houses. "They tell me she's a
mighty fine woman."
"Oh. they do? Then somebody's
beea 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 ha
reformed. Who was it. Bob?"
"The Presbyterian missionary." ha
confessed reluctaatly, "a nervy little
chap named Wyakoop; he came la to
see me last night while you ware
asleep." He faced her opea score aa
sbrinkingly, his mind fully decided.
and clinging to one thought with all
the tenacity of his nature.
"A preacher!" her voice vibrant with
derision, "a preacher! WeN. of all
things. Bob Hampton! You led around
by the nose in teat way! DM he waat
you to Kiag me to Sunday school? A
preacher! And I suppose the fellow
expects to tura me over to oae ef hie
flock for religious testructioa. Hell
have you studying theology inside ef a
year. A preacher! Ch, Lord, and yam
agreed! Well. I won't go; so there!"
"As I understand the affair," Hamp
ton continued, as she passed far
breath, "it was Lieut Brant who
gested the idea of his coming ta.
Braat knew GlUIs. snd remembered
yoa, sad realizing your unpleasant ait-
nation, thought such an arraagemeat
'wouM he for your benefit"
"Brant!" she burst forth ta renewed
snger; "he dM, dM he! The natxv
lacea eaaay i used to
see him at
ueinune. an yoa eaa bet he
bothered his head about me then. No.
aad he dMa't evea know me out yon
der, until after the sergeant spoke ap.
What business has that fellow got
planning what I shall do?"
Hamptoa made bo attempt to am
swer. It was better to let her teeiama
tloa die oat aaturally, aad so he asked
a question. "What Is this Brant doing
at Bethune? There Is no cavalry sta
tioaed there."
She glanced ap quickly. Interested
by the saddea change in his voice. 1
heard dad say he wss kept there am
some special detail. His regimeat hi
stationed nt Fort Lincoln, somewhere
further-aorta. Ha used to
To be aaatteaea
I
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