Omaha daily bee., 1897-05-16
CHAPTER Y.

V.
In the exercise of his arduous profession
Jack Hamliu had sat up all night in the
Magnolia saloon of the Divide" and as 1t
was rather early to- go to bed. he had, after
his usual habit, shaken off the sedentary
attitude and prepared himself for sleep by a
fierce preliminary gallop in the woods. Be
sides, he had been a large winner, and on
those occasions he generally isolated himself
from his companions to avoid foolish alter
cations with inexperienced players. Even In
fighting Jack was fastidious, and did not like
to have his stomach for a real difficulty dis
tended and vitiated by small preliminary
indulgences.
He was just emerging from the wood into
the high road when a buggy dashed past him
containing a man and a woman. The woman
wore a thick veil; the man was almost unc
distinguishable from the dust. The glimpse
was momentary, but dislike has a keen, eye,
and in that glimpse Mr.. Hamlin recognized
Van Loo. The situation was equally clear.
The bent heads and averted faces. the dust
collected in the heedlessness of haste, the
early hour-indicating a night-long flight
all made it plain to him that Van Loo was
running away with some woman. Mr.. Ham
lin had no moral s%cruples. but he had the
ethics of a sportsman, which he knew Mr..
Van Loo was not. Whether the woman was
an innocent school girl or an actress, he was
satisfied that Van Loo was doing a mean
thing meanly. Mr.. Hamlin also had a taste
for mischief, and whether the woman was or
was not fair game, he knew that for his
| purposes Van Loo was. With the greatest
cheerfulness in the world he wheeled his
horse and cantered after them.
They were evidently making for the "Di-
vide" and a fresh horse. or to take the coach
due an hour later. 1t was Mr.. Ham!in's
present object to circumvent this, and. there
fore, it was quite in his way to return. In
| eide ntally, however, the superior speed of his
borse gave him the opportunity of fire.
quently longing toward them at a furious
pace, which had the effect of frantically in
creasing their own speed, when he would
pull up with a silent laugh before he was
fairly discovered. and allow the sound of hi:
rapid horses hoofs to die out. In this way
he amused himself until the struggling towr
of the Divide" came in sight, when, putting
his spurs to his horse again, he managed
under pretense of the animal becoming un
governable, to twice "cross the bows of tn,
fugitives, compelling them to slacken speed
AT the second Of these passages Van Lo'
apparently lost prudence, and slashing on
with his whip, the lash caught slightly OF
the counter of Hamlin's horse. Mr.. Hamlir
instantly acknowledged 1t by lifting his ha
gravely, and speeded on to the hotel, arriv
ing at the steps and throwing himself from
the saddle exactly as the buggy drove up
With characteristic audacity he actually as
sisted the frightened and eager woman t,
alight and run into the hotel. But in thi
action her veil was accidentally lifted. Mr.
f1dEUllu instantly TeCOBulZeu tue DIell,
woman who had been pointed out to him il
San Francisco as Mrs. Barker, the wife o
one of the partners whose fortunes had in
terested him five years ago. 1t struck hin
that this was an additional reason for his In
reference on Barker's account, although per
should ever try to prevent a woman from
running away from him. But then, Mr.
Hamlin's personal experiences had been quite
the other way.
~ u,o. o,o,,uh to,,,-o, 30 oo,,o l;,, .,
lay his hand lightly on Van Loo's arm a!
the latter, leaping down, was about to follow
Mrs. Barker into the hotel. You'll have
time enough now" said Hamlin.
"Time for what?" said Van Loo savagely
thine to apologize for having cut my
horse with your whip said Jack sweetly.
w don't want to quarrel before a wo-
man.
i've no time for fooling!' said Van Loo
endeayoring to pass.
But Jacks hand had slipped to Van Loo'e
wrist, although he still smiled cheerfully.
"Ah! Then you did mean it, and you pro-
pose to give me satisfaction?
Van Loo paled slightly; he knew Jacks
reputation as a duellist, But he was
desperate. "You see my position" he said
hurriedly. "Im in a hurry; 1 have a lady
with me. No man of honor"
"You do me wrong" interrupted Jack with
a panied expression. You do, indeed. You
are in a hurry; well, / have plenty OF time
If you can not attend to mi now. why / will
be glad to accompany you and the lady tc
the next station. "Of course" he added
with a smile, "at a proper distance ant
without interfering with the lady, whom
am pleased to recognize as the wife of al
old friend. 1t would be more sociable, per.
haps. If we had some general conversation
on the road; 1t would prevent her being
alarmed. / might even be OF some use
to you. If we were overtaken by her hus,
band on the road, for instance, l should
certainly claim the right to have the frs
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, h,
turned away as the other quickly entered
the hotel.
Ito BE Continued.)