Evening star., 1897-05-15
nisht-ssung the eyes and nostrils Of the

n1,shsn:tuns n1sans,: tn. eyes and nostrils of the
II was perhaps. from such cause as this
the the voice OF the boy from the crib beside
him crying, "Mamma! Mammal Taking
the child In his arms, he comforted him,
showed him the flint dawn already veil
Ing with color the ghostly pallor of the
Sierras. As they looked at 1t great star
sn9t forth from its brethren and fell. 1t
some seconds to slip along the slopes of
Black Spur. cleaning through the trees
like chariot Of fire. It pleased the child
buggy ha IT yss icss ss a Sd o9 ad i
pleased the father to encourage the boys
fancy. And talking thus in confidential
whispers, they fell asleep once more. the
1ather-h1mself child in so many things
holding the smaller and Trailer hand in his.
They did not know that on the other side
OF the Divide" the wife and mother.
side Of her scared, doubling and desperate
accomplice, was flying down the slope on
her night-long road to ruin. Still less did
they know that. with the carly singing
the tran as the dust-stained buggy dashed
past him, glanced at 1t with puzzled air.
uttered quiet whistle Of surprise, and
then. wheeling his horse. gayly cantered
after it.
Chapter v.
In the exercise of his arduous profession,
Jack Hamlin had sat up all nigh. in the
Magnolia saloon of the Divide an6 as it
was rather early to go to bed. he had. after
his usual habit, shaken off the sedentary
attitude and prepared himself for sleep ty
a fierce preliminary gallop In the woods.
Besides. he had been q large winner, ana
on those occasions he generally Isolated
himself from his companions to avoid fool
fsh alterations with inexperienced play
ers. Even in fighting Jack was fastidious,
and did not like to have his stomach for
real difficulty distended and vitiated by
small preliminary indulgencss.
He was just emerging from the wood in
to the high road when buggy dashed
past him containing man and woman.
The woman wore a thick veil; the man
was almost indistinguishable from the
dust The glimpse was mornentary, but
dislike has a keen eye, and in that glimpse
Mr.. Hamlin recognized Van Loo. The sit
uation was equally clear. The bent heads
and averted faces. the dust collected in the
heedlessness of haste. the early hour-in-
dicatilg night-long fight-all made 1t
plain 10 him that Van Leo was running
away with some woman. Mr.. iiamlin had
no moral scruples, but he had the ethics Of
sportsman. which he knew Mr.. Van Loo
was not. Whether the woman was an in
nocent school girl or an actress. ne was
satisfied that Van Loo was doing a mean
thing meanly. Mr.. Hamlin also had Il taste
for mischief, and whether the woman
or was not fair game. he knew that for
iilS purposes v an Loo was. win the great
est cheerfulness in the world he wheeled
his horse and cantered after them.
They were evidently making for the
Divide" and a fresh horse. or to take the
coach due an hour later. 1t was Mr.. Ham,
Inns present object to elrcumvent this, and,
therefore, 1t was quite in his way to
turn. Incidentally, however, the superior
speed of his horse gave him the opportun-
ity of frequently lunging toward them at
furious pace. which had the effect of
frantically increasing their own speed,
when he would pull up with silent laugh
before he was fairly discovered and sllow
the sound of his rapid horses hoofs to die
out. In this way he amused himself until
the struggling town of the Divide Came
in sight, when, putting his spurs to his
horse again, he managed, under preteHSe
Of the animal becoming ungovernable. to
twice cross the bows of the fugitives,
compelling them to slacken speed. At the
second of these passages Van Loo ap-
parently lost prudence, and. slashing out
with his whip. the lash caught slightly on
the counter Of Hamlins horse. Mr.. Ham
lin instantly acknowledged it by lifting his
hat gravey, and speeded on to the hotel
arriving at the steps and throwing himself
from the saddle exactly as the buggy drove
up. With characteristic audacity, he
actually assisted the frightened and eager
woman to aight and run into the hotel
But in this action her veil was accidentally
lifted. Mr.. Hamlin instantly recognized the
pretty woman who had been pointed out to
him in San Francisco Mrs. Barker, the
wife of of the partners whose fortunes
had interested him five wears ago. 1t struck
him that this was an additional reason for
his interference on Barkers account, al
though personally he could not conceive
why a man should ever try to prevent a
woman from running away from him. But
then, Mr.. Hamlins personal experiences
had been quite the other way.
1t was enough however, to cause him to
lay his hand lightly on Van Loo's arm as
the latter leaping down, was about to fol-
low Mrs. Barker into the hotel You'll
,,o, ~ oh lin
Time for what?' said Van Loo, savage
ly.
Time to apologize for having cut my
horse with your whip" said Jack, sweetly.
I'VE don't want to quarrel before wo-
man"
i've no time for fooling!" said Van Loo,
endeavoring to pass.
But Jacks hand had slipped to Van
Loos wrist. although he still smiled cheer
fully. 'Ah Then you did mean it. and
you propose to give me satisfaction"
reputation duelist. But he was des-
perate. You see my position" he said.
hurriedly. I'm in a hurry; 1 have lady
with me. No man of honor"
You do me wrong" interrupted Jack
with panied expression. You do, indeed
You are in a hurry; well, l have plenty of
time II you cannot attend to me now,
why, will be glad to accompany you and
the lady to the next station "Of course"
he added, with a smile, lat a proper dis
tance and without interfering with the
lady, whom l am pleased to recognize as
the wife of an old friend. 1t would be more
sociable perhaps, if we had some general
conversation on the road; it would prevent
her being alarmed 1 might even be of
some use to you. If we were overtaken by
her husband on the road, for instance, 1
should certainly claim the right to have
the first shot at you. Boy" he called to
the hostler, Just sponge out Pancho's
mouth, will you, to be ready when the
buggy goes?" And loosening his grip of
Van Loo's wrist. he turned away as the
other quickly entered the hotel.
CTo be continued)
General Wtllingness.
Breathes there man with soul so dead
Who never to himself hath said
For this. my own, my native land
I xladly WON sa nx.ria