Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-12-14
maIned uncovered.
You NAV STAY" she asserted. so

berly. "Only don't touch me-"
No one could ever realize how much
those words hurt him. Not until he
had completely conquered his first I'M
wise impulse 70 retcrt angrily, did he
venture again to speak.
Il hope to aid you in getting back
beside the others. where you win be
less exposed"
"Will you take him?"
He is dead" Hampton said. sober
". "and I can do nothing 10 aid him.
But there remains chance for you
TO escape"
Then I won't go" she declared.
positively.
Hampton's gray eyes looked for a
long moment hxediy into her darker
ones, while the two took mental stock
OF each other. He realized the utter
futility Of any further argument, while
she felt instinctively the cool. domi-
mating strength Of the man. Neither
was composed Of that poor fiber which
bends.
Very well. my young lady" he said.
easily. stretching himself out more
comfortably in the rock shadow. Then
I viii remain here with you; Il makes
small odds"
Excepting for one hasty. puzzled
glance. she did not deign to look again
toward him. and the man rested mo-
tionless upon his back. staring up at
the sky. Finally. curiosity overmas-
tered the actor in him, and he turned
partially upon one side, so as TO bring
her profile within his range OF vision
Her dark. glowing eyes were lowered
upon the white face Of the dead man,
yet Hampton noted how clear. in spite
Of sun-tan. we're those unts OF health
upon the rounded cheek. and how soft
and glossy shone her wealth OF rum
pied hair. Even the tinge Of color. so
dlstasteful in the full glare OF the sun.
appeared to have darkened under
the shadow. it's shade framing the
downcsst face into a pensive fairness.
Then he observed how dry and
parched her lips were.
Take n drink Of this" he insisted
heartily. holding out toward her as he
spoke his partially filled canteen.
She started at the unexpected sound
OF his voice. yet upHfted the welcome
water TO her mouth. while Hampton.
observing Il ali closely, could but re-
mark the delicate shapellness OF her
hand
If that old fellow was her father"
he reflected soberly. Il should like to
have seen her mother"
Thank you" she said simply. hand
ing back the canteen. but without lift
ing her eyes again 20 his face. Il was
so thirsty" Her low tone endcavor-
ing 10 be polite enough. contained no
note OF encouragement
WAS ellis your father" the man
questioned. determined TO make her
recognize bis presence.
Il suppose so; 1 don't know"
you don't know? Am / 20 under
stand you are actually uncertain
whether this man was your father or
not7"
THAT is about what I said. wasn't
IL? Not that e IS any OF your bust
ness. so far as know. Mr.. Bob Hamp-
ton. but I answered you all right He
brought me up. and I called him dad
about as far back as I can remember,
but ! don't reckon as he ever told me
he was my father So you can under
stand just what you please"
His name was ellis. wasn't it,"
The girl nodded YEARLY.
"Posttrader at Fort Bethune?"
Again the rumpled head silently &C
guessed.
What is your manner"
He always called me kid" she
admitted unwillIngly, but I reckon II
you have any further occasion for sd-
dressing me. you'd better say Miss
ellis"
Heaven preserve mel" he ex-
claimed good naturedly but YOU are
certainly laying It on thick. young
lady, However. l believe we might
become good friends II We ever have
suficient luck 10 get out from this
hole alive. Darn II don't sort OF cot
ton to you. little glrl-you've got some
sand"
For a brief space her truthful. angry
eyes rested scornfully upon his face.
her lips parted as though trembling
with sharp retort. Then she DELHI
erately turned her back upon him
without uttering a word
VI WHAT may nave Deen the drSt
and only occasion in Mr.. Hampton's
audacious career, he realized his utter
helplessness. This mere slip OF a
red-headed girl. this little nameless
waif OF the frontier. condemned him
so completely and without waste of
words, as to leave him weaponless.
Mr.. Hampton was a thorough going
sport, and no quality was quite so apt
to appeal to him as dead gameness.
he glanced surreptitiously aside at
her once more. but there was no sign
OF relenting in the averted face. He
rested lower against the rock, HIS face
upturned toward the sky, and thought.
II was no spirit OF bravado that gave
rise to his reckless speech OF an hour
previous II was simply a spontaneous
outpouring OF his real nature, an IN
| premeditated expression OF that SUI
H q. -