Abilene Daily Reporter (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 12, No. 68, Ed. 1 Saturday, September 28, 1907 Page: 4 of 12
twelve pages : ill. ; page 22 x 15 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
'1 '
!' "V '-?
i
BOB HAMPTON
OF
PLACER
TS5J
YriOPilt.
X.-A fetaebMMt t. tfte
itaaaUi Inrantry from Fart Bethuna
fi by Indians la a narrow care.
traa
Amid
ucm Tilmaelf.br tha name of Hampton.
rum an am as iiraHisr wnn iniTTM
too
U.ir ' nnif. "K.!i irSii.n- Ki
if.r;r.akiil.a daar?n"iJhrVd.V.
flau
Mid
Use.
CHAPTER It Hampton offers assist-
ance to the slrl and la at nrat apurned
because ha la known as a gambler.
CHAPTER HI.-Hampton and tha alrt
only escape from tha Indians. They fall
exhausted on tha plain.
CHAPTER IV. A company of the Sev-
enth cavalry Lieut. Brant In command
find Hampton and tha tirl on" the plains
and restore them to consclouanesa.
Hampton announces that he proposes ta
tare for tha girl.
CHAPTER V.-Hampton and the clrl
stop at tha Miners Home In OlenCald
Mfs. Duffy proprletess. Rav. Howard
wynkoop proposes that Hampton place
Ulas OlUta In care of Mrs. Herndon. Ho
consents to think It over.
CHAITER VI. Hamilton talks the fu.
ture over with Miss QUlls-the Kld7 She wws uiu uarq-uovii eyes ura ironi 01
howa him her mother'a picture and tells tho gay Occidental blazed with lights
SfS ySS&Jf ni with
Herndon. enthusiastic herders drinking deep to
chaptku. vn.-Th. Kid take up her the miccoss of their representative
raaidence with Mra. Herndon. j It Is no morovthan simple Justice to
r.rr ...... .. Tthe fair Phoebe to state that. sho was
CHAPTER VIII. Nalda the Kid ' i ..i U mi jj
nlna away from Mrs. Hcrndon's and re- M her aunt expressed It "in a dread-
loins Hampton. He induces her to go ful state of mind' Between thes'e two
tewmf to haV nolhns mor' t0 d Picturesque and typical knights of
" plain and mountain she vibrated un-
V.HA1TER IX. Hamoton nlava hla
last- came
i..5Is' . announces to
CSvel'cninciidV h' T nd thea
JE5T5?R XiT1s Phoebe Spencer ar-1
ve In Qlencald to teach Its nrat school.
CHAPTBR "XT-nri.. n. ... I
Nolda Rev. Wynkoop- etc She board
at Mrs. Herndon's.
c3HAPter xn.-Naida 'and Tjeut
fant aealn meet without his knowlna
Who aha ia. Rhti-.tntnrmm Titm n ih.
Ins Bachelor club ball In honor of Miss
Sirt-' .HV.?ShjrJ. Custefa scout. Ho re-
ports trouble brewing amon. tho Sioux i
a.rt.HAnTrE.R tJXJtY'-B;clal ' dlfflculUea
arise at the Bachelor club's ball anions-
ntcfnmmM an' borne away in the arms'
;fi-ah?u?ianerJ? tl a before. Sha of 'her hero like they do in them pesky
aeWr aashes1 r5&'fi5&UtSS'u oWIb the Kid's' alien: readin'. arid o
oauroom -with a fan for Mlu' Rnnn.
with a" fan for Miss Bpencer.
CHAPTER XV.-
Iier Identity"
-He falls to .discover
4.
CHAPTER XVX Brant accompanies
Kalda home from' the dance. On the way
Bhe Informs him as to who' she is and I
otnat she is to meet Hampton. Brant
meets Hampton with her and the men
make an appointment .to meot the' following-
morning.
CHAPTER Xvn. Brant and Hamp-
ton meet. Hampton informs the lieuten-
ant that his attentions to Nalda must
cease and proclaims an authority over
her that Justifies .the statement Brant
tells Hampton of tho presence of Silent
Murphy and the fact that Red Slavln
receives government messages for. him.
I
T CHAPTER XVni.-MIss Speneer called
on Bob Hampton. .Tells him or a. 'red-
faced atranger.inlstaltlns her for' Nalda.
.r - . .
CHAPTER XIX. Hampton Interviews
-Red Slavln. Finds that he Is an ex-
trojper In the Seventh' cavalry.- It was
Slavin's and Murphy's testimony that
more than ten years before had' convicted
Robert Nolan then a captain in the 'Sev-
enth of the murder of Maj. Brant Sr.
Hampton attempts to force a confession
;(rom Slavin. Slavln Insists It Is Murphy
;bo wants ana Murpny nas leit in a
scuffle Slavln Is killed by a knife thrust.;
CHAPTER- XXl Hamaton surrenders
to Buck Mason .marshal Mob attempts'
to capture mm. mason ana nis prisoner
scape to a hill and defend themselves.
Wob lights flro to burn them out
CHAPTER .XXI.-Brant te'lls Nalda
that he loves her. She tells him there is
an Insurmountable barrier between them
tut that she does not fully understand it
CHAPTER XXIL-Brant and his troop
rescues Hampton .and Mason from tha
'tires set by the mob. Brant carries the
unconscious gambler through the lines of
Bre
CHAPTER XXIII. Hampton Is taken
to: the hotel and Nalda comes to nurse
htm.
CHAPTER' XXIV.-Mlss Spencer has a
.humorous 'adventure with her admirers
and' then accepts the heart and hand of
Xtav. Wynkoop.
. CHAPTER XXV.-Brant !s ordered to
take the field. Before he goes Nalda tells
him she loves him but cannot become-
his wife or cannot offer an explanation.
He! Insists that ho will return to her.
CHAPTER XXIV.
The Rescue of Miss Spencer .
f While Hampton Ungored between
life and death assiduously waited
upon by Tioth Nalda and Airs. Guffy
Brant nursed his burns far more so.
rious than he' had at first supposed
within the sanctity of his tent. Glen-
cald meanWbllo recovered from its
mania of lynch law and even began
exhibiting some faint evidences of
shame over what was so plainly a
mistake. And the populace wero also
beginning tp exhibit no small degreo
of Interest in tho weighty matters
which concerned the fast-culminating
'love affairs of Miss Spencer.
Almost from her earliest arrival the
extensive cattle and mlnlne interests
of 'the neighborhood became aggres-
slTtly arrayed against each other; and
now as the fierce personal rivalry be-1
it ween Messrs. Moffat and McNeil
btw more intense mo ureaen per- certain for as Moffat moved slowly
'ceptibly widened. While the Infatua- past tho Occidental on his way home
;tJoa of Rev. Mr. Wynkoop for this a person attired In chaps and som-
.fanie fascinating young lady waa brero and greatly rosombllng McNeil
plainly to be Been his chances in the was in the back room breathing some
(race were ot seriously regarded by final InatruqUqna to a few bosom
Jthe more actfye partisans ipon either friends
;" "Novfydon't eh any o' you fellera
Tha rea-iilar natrnna nf tha Ulnar ' i1i trn ni rn-o..a .. i
Retreat were backing Mr. Moffat to a
iman while those claiming headquar-
ter at the .Occidental Were equally
ardent in tbr jypport of $h proa-
-"T" ' r - - .-
By Randall Parirish
Author of "When Wilderness was King"
'My tody of the North" etc.
r.notfl of Mr. McNeil. It must bo con'
I fesscd that Miss Spencer flirted out-
rageously and enjoyed llfo as she
qover had dono in tho cfteto oast.
- Tile Rov. Mr. Wynkoop always felt
i. . j . ..
I aeronoly confident of an uninterrupted
welcome upon Sunday evenings after
service while the othor nights of the
week were ovenly apportioned be-
tween tho two moro ardont aspirants.
On Monday Wednesday and Friday
evenings tho Miners' Retreat was a
scene of wild hilarity for it was then
that Mr. Moffat was known to ho com-
fortably seated In tho Hcrndon parlor
relating gruesome tales of wild moun-
tain adventure which paled the cheeks
of his fair and entranced listener. Then
on Tuesday Thursday and Saturday
nights when Mr. McNeil rodo gallant-
ly in on his yellow bronco bedecked
in all tho pioturesquo paraphernalia of
itho boundless plains revolver swing-
I' . ..'-.. ' n. . ." . ...
jlncr nf fhlfrh nlo wfrin anmlipnrn short.
fthln tn mnltn rinllherntA rtin!nn "WTiUn
;intn.in i uJ . in'nntoi
late' ono Wednesday night Moffat
tramped heavily intothe Miners' -Retreat
and called Long Pete Lumley
over Into a deserted corner of tho bar
room.
"Well Jack" the latter began ex-
I PectanUy "hev ye rallly gottho cinch
on that cowboy at last hey?" .
xiern it all Fete I'm blamed If I.
know; leastwise I ain't' got no 'sure
prove-up. I tell ye thet girl's Just
about the toughest 'piece o rock I ever
had any special call to assay. Ye see
it's this way. She's got some .dura
down oast notion that she's got ter be
I reckon 1'vo got tor rescue her!"
"Rescue her from whut; Jack?"
"Well ye see Pete maybo I'm part-
ly to blame. -.I've sorter been cnter-
talnin' her nights with some stories
regardln' road agents an' things o'
thet sort while so fur as I kin larn
thet blame chump of a McNoll hes
been flllln her up .scandalous with. In-
juns until she's plum got 'em on the
train. And nqw I reckon .as how It's
got ter be Injuns."
"Whut's got p- be Injuns'?"
i vVJr thet outfit whut.runs off'vith
her of course. J reckon you' fellera
will stand in all right ter help pull mo
out o' this hole?" ' -
(.long Pete nodded. ..
' "Well.Pete thls'is 'bout whut's go."!
;ter be-done es near ea T kin flgger It
out. xou picKouf mayDe nair a.aozen
good fellers who kin keep their moutba
hhe'tan' make Injuns out of 'em.. Then
you iay.fer her say 'bout next Wednes
day out In them Carter woods when
she's comln' home from school. -Vti.
kinder naturally happen 'lon& by acci
dent-'bout the head.'o' the gulch an'
Jump (ln an' rescuo her. Sabe?"
Lumley gazed at his companion with
oyes expressive !of admiration. ";By
thunder if you haven't got a cocoanut
on ye Jack! Lord but thet ought to
get her a nyln'! Any ahootjn'?''
"Sure!" Moffat's face exhibited a
faint smile at these words of praise
"it wouldn't be no great shucks of a
rescuo without an' ths hes got ter be
the real thing. Only I reckon' ye bet-
ter shoot high so thar' won't be no
hurt done"
When the two gentlemen parted a
few moments later the conspiracy was
fully hatched all preliminaries cor
rected and the gallant rescue of Miss
Spencer assured. Indeed there is
some reason now to believe that this
"Ml" Speneer Phoebe It Is Only 1
" spencer pnoebe it is only 1
Mr- Wynkoop."
desirable result was. rendered doubly';
-w- w pxt luifcQV mo lliUD juuiy
in ehr-lively Just afore she eh
glta ter thet thick; hunch eh under-.
brush yfhar the trail sorter eh
djops down Inter Ihe rayjne. An you
L'A-.J$Atfi TlaHiaV .
BaaBBBBBBaaMHwrui " ."
JSalPSks3Ste3r. "
VDaaBaSaaaBBBaC.' K mi it x
BaaaaaaaaaaWr.Ji ttL NM-
IPrm
MA1IL1J(C JA1L1 BirOXI
- :
chumps wan'ter eh Kit vorselvea ub
so sho can't filpe any of yo pft eh
In tlila yoro oh road-agent ftdt I
toll yr aftbr what thet oh Jjoffat8
bin a-phmpln Inter hor she's Just got
ter bo eh roscuqd an' in blame good
style or eh it ain't ho go."
"Oh you rest easy 'bout all thoti
Dili" chimed in Sandy Winn hla
black eyes dancing in anticipation of
pomlng fun. "We'll git up tho orn-
arjest outfit whut ovo'r hit tho pfke"
The long shadows of tho lato after-
noon wero already falling across tho
gloomy Carter woods while tho- rod
sun sank lower bohjnd old Bull moun-
tain. Ilov. Howard Wynkoop who for
moro than an hour past had boon vain-
ly dangling a Ashing lino abovo tho
dancing; gators of Clear' crooks now
reclined dreamily on tho soft turf of
tho high bank his. oyes fixed Upon
tho distant sky lino. His thoughts
wero on tho flossy hnlr and animated
faco of tho fair Miss Sponcor who ho
momentarily expected would round
tho edgo of tho hill and so deeply did
he becomo sunk in blissful reflection
as to bo totally oblivious to every
thing but her approach
Just abovo his secret resting place
whero tho great woods deepen and
the gloomy shadows Ho darkly all
through the- long afternoons a small
party of hideously painted savages
skulked silently in ambush. Sudden-
ly to tholt strained ears was borne
tho sound of horses' hoofd antl then
all at oncej a woman's volco rang out
In a slnglo shrill startled cry.
"Whut Is up?" questioned tho. 'lead-
ing savage. Hoarsoly.. "Is ho a-doln'
this little Job nil by blsself?"
"Dunno" answered the 'follow next
him flipping his quirt uneasily; "bu'I
reckon as how It's her as squealed an'
we'd better bb gltting in ter hev our
Bhare o' the fun'
Tho "chief.V with an oath of disgust
dashed forward and his band surged
after. .Just below them and' scarcely
JO feet away a half-score of roughly
clad heavily bearded men yere .clus-
tered in tho .center of the trail two of
their number' lifting the unconscious
form of a fainting woman upon a
horse. '
"Corvera's gang by gosh!" panted
tho leading savage. "How did they
git yere?" '
"You bet!"1 She's up agin the real
thing" ejaculated a voice beside him.
"Let's ride 'em oft the earth! "Whoop i"
With wild yells to awaken fresh
courage the whole band plunged head
long down the sharp decline striking
tho surprised "road agents" with a
force; and suddenness which sent half
of them sprawling. Revolvers flashed
uouinouu ouuuio IUU5 uui UUICUI U1US
clinched each other striking savage
blows. Lumlby grasped the leader of
the other party -by the hair 'and en-
deavored "to beat him over the" head
with his revolver butt. Even as he
uplifted his hand to Btrlke the man's
beard fell off. and the two flercecom- L
oaiants paused as tnougn thunder-
struck. '
"Hold on yore boy! " yolled.Lumleyl
"This yere Is som)blame Jok'di These1
fellers is Bill McNeil's gang.V r
"By thunder! it'll ain't Pete Lum-
.ley" ejaculated the other: "Whut did
ye bit me fer ye long-legged mlnin'
Jackass?" i (
The 'explanation was never uttered
put from the' surrounding gloom :.of
underbrush a hatless disheveled indi
vidual on foot suddenly daBhed into.
the. center of that hesitating' ring of
horsemen. With skillful twist of hit
foot he sent a dismounted road agent
spinning over backward and managed
to wrench a revolver from' his handy
-There was a blaze of red flame a
cloud of smoke six sharp reports and
a wild stampede .of frantic horsemen.
Then Rev. Howard Wynkoop flung
the empty gun disdainfully down into'
the dirt; atepped directly across the'
motionless outstretched body; and
knelt humbly beside a slender white-
robed figure lying close against tho
fringe of bushes. Tenderly . he lifted
the fair head to his throbbing bosom
and gazed directly down info the
white unconscious face. Even as; he
.looked her ejtes unclosed her body
'trembling within his arms. ;
. "Have no fear" he Implored read-
ing terror in tho expression of her
face. '"Miss Spencer Phoebe It la
only I Mr. Wynkoop.
"Oh Howard Mr. Wynkoop It la
all so strange so bewildering; my
neryes are so shattered! But it has
taught mo a great great lesson. How
could I have over been so blind? J
thought Mr. Moffat and Mr. McNeil
-wero Buch heroes Bnd yet now in thla
nour or aesperato porll It was you who
flow gallantly to my rescue! It Is you
who are the true wostern knight!"
And Mr Wynkoop gazed down Into
those grateful oyes and modestly con-j
icaaeu i iruo.
CHAPTER XXV.
The Parting Hour.
To Lieut. Brant theso. proved days
Of bitterness. Ho had called twice
upon Hampton both times finding tho
wounded man propped up In bed very
flJf.ahlenroperjy gratotul for servlcos
rendered yet avojdlng all reference to
tho. ono disturbing elemont between
thorn.
Onco ho bad accidentally mot Nalda
but their brief conversation left him
more deeply mystified than ever and
later she seemed to avoid hlra alto-
gether. One day bo deemed her but
an idle coquotte; the next a warm-
hearted woman doing her duty brave-
ly. Yet through it all bor power over
him never slackened.
The. end of this nervous Btraln came
in tho form pf an urgent dispatch re-
calling N troop to Kort Abraham Lin-
coln by forced marches The com-
mander felt no doubt as to the full
meaning of this message and the sol-
dier in him .made prompt and Joyful
response. Brant had learned of the
consolidation of the hostile savages.
Incited by Sittlna Bull luto the faat.
ncss of the Big Horn ran;ejt ho was
aATUMUY 8JUT12MIIEX 27 1W7.
-. u-
aware that ti6n. Cook was already a j
vanclag northward' from the Nebraska
line. NoW he realised that ho was to
be a part of this chosen fighting fordo
and hs heart responded to tho sum
mons as to a bugle call In battle.
lhBtantly tho little camp Was 'astir
tho men - feeling the enthusiasm- of
their ofllCGra. With nrnn&ratlftna Well
. in hand Brant's thoughts vcored once
ngain toward Nalda. Ho r9do down to
tho Hcrndon houso with grave faco
and sober thought Ho recalled long
tho plainly fUrnlshod room Into which
Mrs. Herndon ushored him to await
tho girl's appearance the formal look
of tho old-fashioned hair-cloth furni-
ture tho prim Btrlpod papor on the
walls the green shades at tho win-
dows tho clean rag carpet on tho floor.
ThO vory Btiffness chilled him loft
him 111 at enso. Then ho heard the
rusflo of Naida's skirt and turned to
meet hen Sho was pajo from her
weeks of 'nursing and ngltatod for fear
of what this unexpected call might
portend. Yot to his thought sho ap-
peared calm her manner restrained
Nbr could anything' bo kinder than her
first greotlngr the frankly .extended
hand tho words expressive of. wel-
come. f "Mr. Wynkoop Informed mo a fow
minutes ago that you had at last re-
ceived your orders for tho north" sho
said her lips slightly trembling. T'
wpndered If you would leavo without
a word of farowell."
He bowed low. "I do nOt under-
stand how you could' doubt for I havo
(Shown my deep interest in you even
from tho first. If I havo lately seemed
to avoid you It has only been becauso
I believed you wished It so."
There was an embarrassing pause
ns though neltHer know how to got
through tho interview
"No doubt you aro rejoiced to be
sent on active service again" sho snldi
at last. x
"Yes both as a soldier and as a
man Miss Nalda. I am. glad to get
Into tho field again with my regiment
to doi my duty under the flag and I
am equally rejoiced to have something
occur1 which will tend to divert my
thoughts. 1 "had not intendedtosay
anything of this kind but now thai I
am with you I simply cannot restrain
tho words. "ThlB past.month has been
I believe the hardest I. have over been
compelled to live through. You sim-
ply mystify me bo that I alternately
hopo and despair. Your methods aro
cruel!" .
"Mine?" and she gazed at him with
parted lips. "Lieut Brant what can
you mean?. What is it I have done?"'
"It may cbavo been only play to Vou
and so easily forgotten" he went on
bitterly. "'But that' Is a dangerous
game very certain1 to hurt some one.
Miss Nalda your faco- your leyes.even'
your lips almost continually tell mo
one thing; - your words another. I
know not whlcH to trust I never
meet you except to go away baffled
and bewildered."
VYou wish to know thff truth?"
"Ay and for all time! Are you
; false or true? Coquette or woman?
Do you simply play with hearts for
idle amusement or is there some true
purpose filling your actions?"
3ho looked directly at him her
hands clasped her breath' almost
sobbing between tho parted lips. At
first she could' not speak. "Oh you
hurt me .so" she faltered at last "I
did not suppose you could ever thinle
that I I did not mean it; ohtrulj?
I dld not mean It! You forget" how
:young I am; how' very llttle-I know
of the world and Uts ways. Perhaps I
havo not even realized bow deeply in
earnest you were haye deceived my-
self Into believing you 'were merely
wnuslng yourself with me .Why in'-'
deed should I. think otherwise?"
"I love you" he said vwlth simple
honesty. "I seek.youformy wlfeJ'
She startedat these frankly spoken
words her hands partially concealing
fher face her form trembling. "Ohr I
wish you hadn't said that! It 1s not
becauso I .doubtyou any longer; not
that I fall to appreciate ail you offer
mo. But it Is -ao hard to appear un-
grateful .to give nothing in return for
ao vast a gift" r
"Then it Is true that you do not
lore me?"
The blood flamed suddenly up Into
her face but there was no lowering of
the eyes no. shrinking back. She was
too honest to play the coward before
him.
"I shall not attempt to deceive you"
she eald with a slow Improsslvenesa
instantly carrying conviction. J'Thls
has already progressed bo far that I
now owe you completo frankness.
Donald Brant now and always Uvlrig
or dead married or single wherever
life may take us I Bhall Jove you;"
Their eyes were meeting but she
held up hor hand to restrain him from
the one step forward.
"No no; I havo confessed the truth;
I havo opened freely to you the great
secret of my heart With it you must
be content to leave mo. There is noth-
ing moro that I can give you absolute-
ly nothing. I can never be your wlfo;
I hope for your snko and mine that
wo never meot again."
Brant' stood like a statue his face
grown white Ho did not in the least
doubt her full meaning of renuncia-
tion. "You will at least tell me why?" It
waa all that would come to his dry
lips.
She Bank back upon 'the sofa as
though the strength had suddenly de-
serted her body her oyea shaded by
an' uplifted hand. ;
"I cannot tell you. I have po wordB
no courage. You will learn some day
from others and be thankful that I
loved you well .enough o resist temp-
tation. But tho reason cannot come
to you from ray lips."
He leaned forward half kneeling at
t feet ud she permitted htm to
clasp her bauds within both hU own
"Tell me at least this (s it some one
In? Is. it Hampton?"
Bne smiled at him through a mint
of tears a smile tho sad sweetness of
which hb would novor forget "In tho
dnsa you mean no. No living man
stands between ' us not oven Bob'
Hampton"
"Does ho know why this cannot bo?'
"Ho does know but I dbiibt if ho
will ever roveal his knowlodgo) cer-
tainly -not to you. Ho has not told mo
all oven id tho hour when bo thought
himself dying. I am convinced of that
It Is not because ho dislikes you
Lieut Brant but becauso' ho know his
partial rpvcalment of tho truth was a
duty ho owed us both."
"Yon la.vn mn ro cnmhlfltelv In tho
lark" ho8ald; ''is there no possibil
ity that this mysterious obstaclo can
. over bo removed?"
"None. It is boyond earthly power
thoro lies botweon us the shadow of
a ddad man." v
Ho stared at her as If doubting her1
sanity
"A dead mnnt Not Glllls?"
''No it is not Glllls. I havo told
you this much so that you might com-
prehend how Impossible It is for us
to chhngo our fate ft Is irrevocably
fixed. Pleaso dp not' question mo any
more: I cannot bear It!"
Brant roso to his feet and stood
looking down upon her bowed head
her Blender flguro shaken by sobs.
"Nalda as you have asked it I will
go; but I go bettor stronger becauso
I havo heard your lips say you lovo
mo. I am going now my' sweetheart
but if I live I Bhall cpmo again. I
know nothing of what you mean about
a dead man being between us but I
shall know when I coma back for
dead or alive no man shall remain be-
tween me and the girl I love."
"ThlB this Is different" she sobbed
"different; it Is beyond your power."
"I shall never believe so until I
have faced It for myself hor will I
oven say gopd-by for under God I am
coming oacK to you.'
Ho turned slowly and -walked away.
As his hand touched the latch of tho
door ho paused and looked longingly-
back i
"Nalda."
. She glanced up at him.
"You kissed me once; will you
again?"
Sho roso silently and crossed over to
him her handB hold out her eyes Up-
lifted to hlB own. .Neither spoke as
he drew her gently' to him andthelr:
lips met ' ; 4 . v
"Say it onco more sweetheart?"
"Donald I lpye;you.V .
A moment they Btood'thus face to
faco reading: the great lesson of eter
nity within the depths of each other's-
oyer.' Then slowly 'gently she re
leased herself from the clasp of 'hla
strong arms. -1" . -C -
"You believe in me now? You do
not go away blaming me?" she ques-
tioned with quivering lips. "
"There is no blame for you are do-
ing what you think right But I am
coming back Nalda little woman;
comingback to love and you." i
An hour later N troop trotted across
the rude bridge and circled the -bluff
on its way toward the wide plains.
CHAPTER XXVI.
Mr. Hampton Resolves. .
Mr. Bob Hampton stood in the bright
'sunshine' on the steps of the hotel hlB-
appreciative gaze wandering up the
long ausiy unoccupied street ana:
flnallly rising to the sweetfaco of the
young girl who occupied the step
1 above. As their eyes met both smiled
as if they understood each other.-
"There is nothing quite equal to
feeling well little girl'' he said gen-
ially patting her hand where It rested
on the railing "and I really believe I
am In as fine fettle now as I ever have.
been. Do you know J-bellev.e I'm per-
fectly fit to undertake' that little .de-
tective operation casually mentioned
to you a few days ago. c"ltr8 got to be
done aifd 'the sooner I get at it tho'
easier I'll feel. Fact is; I put in .a
large portion of thetnight thinking out
my plans." ' x
"I wish you would give it up all to-
gether Bob" she said anxiously. "I
'Bhall be bo dull and lonely here while
you are gone."
"I reckon you will for a fact but
Nalda it Isn't likely this little affair
will require very long; and things are
lots happier between us since my late
shooting Bcrape. When fall comes I
mean to. take you east and put you
in some good finishing school. Don't
care quite as' much about it as you
did do you?"
"Yes I think I do Bob" Sho strove
bravely to express enthusiasm "(ro
trouble is I am so worried oyer your
gotng off alone hunting after that
lman." ' .
He laughed his eyes searching hor
face for tho truth. "Well llttlo girl
ho. won't exactly bo the first I've had
call to go after. Besides this Is a
particular case and appeals to me In
a' sort of personal way. It you only
know it you're about as deeply con-
corned In tho result as J am and as for J
mo I can novor rest easy again until
tho matter Is over with.'.' i-
"It's that awful Murphy;1 Isn't It?"
"Ho'a the ono I'm starting after first
and ono sight at his right liand will
decide whether ho ia to be the last as
well."
""I never supposed you would seek
royenge llko a savage" sho remarked
quietly. "You never used to be that
way"
"Good Lord Nalda do you think I'm
low down enough to go out huhtipg
that poor cuss merely to get even with
him for trying to stick mo wlpi a
knife? Why. there aro 20 others'who
have dono as much and we have b9en
the best of friends afterwards Oh
no lasslo It means more than' that
and harks bapk many a long year I
told you I saw a mark on his hand J
would never forgot but I saw that
rmark first IB years ago. This la a
duty I owe a friend a dead friend tp
run to earth this murderer. Do you
understand new? The Cello who did
that Bhoollng up at Bethune 16 years
ago had tho samo sort of a mark et
his right hand ns this' bnb who kills
Slavln. That's why I'm after him and
when I catch up he'll cither squeal or-
dl6''' . f
"But how W you know?"
"I never told you tho wholo story
and I don't mean to now until I come v
back and can mako everything per-
fectly clear. It wouldn't do. you any
good the way things stand now and
would only mako you uneasy. But if
you do any praying over it myglrl.
prny good and hat'd that I may dla-V
cover some means for making that fel-
low squeal."
Sho mado' no rcspbnso but stood
gazing thoughtfully past him.
."Hawyou heard anything lately;
Bob about the Seventh?" she asked'
finally "Since slnco N troop left
hero?"
Ho answered with woll-slmulated'
carelessness "No; but it. is most like-
ly thoy aro well Into tho game by this .
timo. Crook's column I have Just
heard was. overwhelmingly attacked
on tho Rosebud and forced to fall
back. That leaves the Seventh to-
tako tho brunt of It and thero is going
to bd hell up north presently or I've '
forgotten all I Over know about In-
dians BUt como little girl as I said
I'm quite likely to bo off beforo night
provided I am fortunate enough to
strike a fresh trail. Under such condi-
tions you won't mind my kissing you
out hero will yod?"
Sho held Up her llps'nnd ho touched
them softly -With his own. Her eyes
wero tear-dimmed. "6h-Bob I hate
so to let you. go" she sobbed cling
"Donald I Uovo You."
Ing to him. "No onecould haye been
more to mo than .you have 'been and
you are all I have left. in the' world.
Everything I care for goes away;from
me. Llfp is so hard so hard!". .
"Yes .little girl ;I.knew" and th
man stroked her hair" tenderly his
own vbice. faltering. "It's all hard; X
learned that sad lesson long ago but
I've tried to make it a little bit easleu
for you alnce we first came together.
Still I don't see how I can' possibly
help this. I've beenhunting after that
fellow a long while' now a matter of
15 years over a mighty dim trail and
it would be a mortal sin to pormlthho
to get away scot-free. Besides if thla
.affair only manages to turn out right
I can promise to make you the hap-
piest girl in America. 'But Nalda
dear don't cling to me so; it is)not at
all llko you to break down In this fash-
ion" and ho gontly unclasped her
hands' holding her - away from btar
: while ho continued to gaze hungrily
into her .troubled face
"Sometimes I feel just llko a cow
ard Bob. It's the" woman of it; yet
truly I wish to do Whatever you be
Hove to bo best. But Bob Ineed you
sO much and you will come back'
won!t. you? I shall be so lonely here
for -tor you are truly all I have in the
world."
With one quick impulsive motion
he pressed her to hlmpasslonately
kissing the tears from hor lowered
lashes unable longer- to conceal tho
tremor that shook bis own voice.
"Never never doubt it. lassie. It will
ribt take.m.e long and if I live I come
straight back."
He watched her slender white-
robed figure aB it passed slowly down
the deserted street Onco only she "
paused and waved back to him and he
returned Instant response! althoucb:
scarcely realizing the act '
"Poor llttlo lonely girl! Perhaps X
ought to have told her the wholo in
fernal Bfory but I simply haven't got
the nerve tho way It reads now. If
I can only got It straightened out It'll
bo different."
Mechanically ho thrust- an unlighted
cigar between his teeth and descend-
ed tho steps to all outward appear-
ance the same reckless audacious
Hampton as of old.
Tho military telegraph occupied one-
half of tho small tbnt next tho Minora'
Retreat and the youthful operator In-
stantly recognized HIb' debonair visi-
tor. "Woll Billy" was Hampton's friend-
ly greeting "are they keoplng you fair-
ly busy with 'wars and rumors ot
wars' these dayB?"
"Nuthln1 doln Just now"- -was tho
cheerful reply "Everything goln' ter
Cheyenne. Tho Injuns are glttin
themselves bottled up in the Big Horn
country."
"Oh. that's it? Then maybe you
might manage to rush a message
through for me to Fort A. Lincoln
without discommoding Uncle Sam?"
and Hampton placed a coin upon the
rough table
"Sure; write it out."
"Hero it is; now get it off early my-
lad and bring the answer to me over
at the hotel. There'll be another yel-
low boy waiting when yoti come."
The reply arrived some two hour
later .
Fort A. Uacoln June IT !.
Hampton Qlencald:
Seventh 'gone west; probably YaHow-
stone. Ijrant with t)tm. Murphy vov-
ijwimcm l-uui ui wnevenne w at una; or.
". BiTTON. cmmaMilM
n
4
7?
1
rV
iff
r
'&
H
"Trf
jr.m
aVTU
'
f. j-
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Shook, L. B. Abilene Daily Reporter (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 12, No. 68, Ed. 1 Saturday, September 28, 1907, newspaper, September 28, 1907; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth333227/m1/4/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Abilene Public Library.