Mower County transcript., 1907-09-04
CHAPTER Viii.


CHAPTER Viii.
A Last Revolt. /
It proved a restless day, and suf-
fciently unpleasant one, for Mr.. Hamp-
ton. For number of years he had
been diligently training himself in the
school of cynicism, endeavoring to per-
! suade himself that he did not in the
least care what others thought, nor
how his own career ended; impelling
himself to constant recklessness in life
and thought. He had thus successfully
built up a wall between the present
and that past which long haunted his
i lonely moments, and had finally de-
! cided that it was hermetically sealed.
Yet now. this odd chit of girl, this
waif whom he had plucked from the
Jaws of death, had overturned this
| carefully constructed barrier as if it
had been originally built of mere card
board, and he was compelled again to
see himself, loathe himself, just as he
had in those past years.
One thing he grasped clearly,-the
girl should be given her chance moth
! ing in his life must ever again soil her
or lower her ideals. Mrs. Herndon
was right, and he realized it; neither
his presence nor his money were fit to
influence her future. He swore be-
tween his clinched teeth, his face
grown haggard. The suns rays bridged
the slowly darkening valley with cords
of red gold, and the man pulled him
self to his feet by gripping the root
of a tree. He realized that he had
been sitting there for hours, and that
he was hungry.
Down beneath, amid the fast awak-
ening noise and hustle of early even
ing, the long discipline of the gambler
reasserted itself-he got back his
nerve 1t was Bob Hampton, cool, re-
sourceful, sarcastic of speech, quick of
temper, who greeted the loungers
about the hotel, and who sat, with his
back to the wall, in the little dining
room, watchful of all others present.
And it was Bob Hampton who strolled
carelessly out upon the darkened porch
ter behind him, and an enemy as well.
Little he cared for that, however, in
his present mood and he stood there.
amid the black shadows, looking con-
temptuously down upon the stream OF
coatless humanity trooping past on
pleasure bent, the blue smoke circling
his head, his gray eyes glowing half
angrily. Suddenly he leaned forward,
clutching the rail in quick surprise.
kid" he exclaimed, harshly, what
does this mean? What are you doing
alone here?"
She stopped instantly and glanced
up, her face flushing in the light
streaming forth from the open door
Of the Occidental.
II reckon I'm alone here because
want to be-" she returned, defiantly.
Il amt no slave. How do you get up
there?
He extended his hand, and drew her
up beside him into the shaded corner.
"Weh," he said, tell me the truth"
1--WE quit, that's all, Bob. just
couldn't stand reform any longer, and
90 I've come back here to you."
The man drew deep breath. Didn't
you like MIS- Herndon?'':
oh, she's all right enough, 80 far a.
IS that goes. II amt that; only just
didn't Nike some things she said and
did," s:'..s.. = $685.
KID" and Hampton Strengthened
up, his voice growing stern. 1--WE got
to know the straight Of this. You say
you like Mrs. Herndoo we'll enough,
but not some other things. What were
thoy?"
The girl hesitated, drawing back q
little from him until the light from the
saloon fell directly across her face.
WELL" she declared, slowly, you see
1t had to be either her or-or you,
Bob, and I'd rather it would be you"
"You mean she said you would have
to cut me out entirely If you stayed
there with herr"
She nodded, her eyes filed with en-
treaty. "Yes, that was about it. I
wasn't ever to have anything more to
do with you, not even to speak to you
If we met-and after you'd saved my
life, too s... p.
Never mind about that little affair,
Kid" and Hampton rested his hand
gently on her shoulder. THAT was all
In the days work, and hardly counts
for much anyhow. Was that all she
said?'' N
'She called you Z low-down gambler.
gun-fghter, IA miserable barroom
thug, IA murderer. She she said
that II ! ever dared to speak to you
again, Bob Hampton, that could leave
her house. just couldn't stand for
that, SO came away .
Hampton never stirred, his teeth
set deep into his cigar, his hands
clinched about the railing. The fool!"
he muttered half aloud, then caught
his breath quickly. Nov see here,
Kid - and ha tI,rn od hov a InI,f - +1,o%