Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-09-13

" Have Shot Men for Less. oe, D.
fore Forget Your Cloth"
,Hr. ev--=..:S ::
my plain duty to speak few words 10
you in behalf Of this young lady. and
her probable future. trust not to be
offensive, yet cannot shirk the require
ments Of my sacred ONCE"
The speaker paused, somewhat dis
concerted perhaps by the hardening Of
the lines In Hampton's face.
"Go on" commanded Hampton,
tersely, only lot the preacher part
slide, and say Just what you have to
say as man to man" -.
Y prefer to do co." he continued.
1T viii render my unpleasant task
much easier, and yield US both more
direct road to travel. ] have been
laboring on this field for nearly three
years. When / FIRST came here you
were pointed out to me as z most dan.
gerous man, and ever since then I
have constantly been RECALLED by. the
stories Of your exploits. I have known
you merely through such unfriepdly
reports, and came here strongly preju-
diced against you Is representative
Of every evil I var against We have
never met before, because there
seemed 10 b nothing In common be.
tween u; because / had been led to
suppose you to DO an entirely different
man from what / now believe you
are" .......
Hampton stirred uasasily In his
chair.
Shall I paint in exceedingly plain
words the picture given me Of youI"
There was no response, but the
speaker moistened his lips and pro-
ceeded firmly. 1T was that Of q pro-
fessional gambler, utterly devoid Of
mercy toward his victims; . reckless
fighter. who shot to kill upoa the last
provocation; q man without moral
character, and from whom any good
action was impossible That was what
was said about you. II ne tale trus!"
Hampton laughed unplsaskntiy, his
eyes grown hard and ugly.
Il presume It must BE-" 10 admitted,
with quick side glance toward the
closed door. for the girl out yonder
thought about the same. A most OF.
cellent reputation to establish with
only ten years Of strict attendance to
business"
Wynkoop's grave face expressed bis
disapproval.
| well, In my present Judgment that
report vas not altogether trus,c hs
went on clearly and with greater cor
fdence. Il did suppose you exactly
that sort Of q man when | first cane
into this room. have not believed
SO, however, for . single moment
since. Nevertheless. the naked truth
is certainly bad enough. without any
necessity for our resorting to romanes.
You may deceive others BY an ASSURED.
ton Of recklessness, but | feel CON
WINGED your true nature 10 not evil. II
has been warped through some cause
which is none Of my business. Lat VI
deal alone with facts You are q gan
bier, a professional gambler, with I'll
that that implies; your life IL, Of nsces
sity, passed among the most vicious
and degrading elements Of ninias
camps, and you do not hesitate sysu
to take human life whom In your judg.
ment 1t seems necessary 70 preserve
your own. Under this veneer Of Law.
lessness you may. indeed, possess q
warm heart, Mr.. Hampton; You MAJ
be good fellow, but you are certain.
ly not a model character. even accord
Ing to the liberal code Of the border
Extremely kind Of you to enter ny
rooms unlimited. and furnish me with
this list Of moral deficiencies" 70
knowledged the other with affected
carelessness. But thus far you have
failed to tell me anything strikingly
new. Am to understand you have
some particular object in this ex
change Of amenities?"
Most assuredly. II Is to ask II suck
q person as you practically confess
yourself to be-homeless, associatini
only with the most despicabls and
vicious characters, and leading 30 IN
certain and disreputable q life-can b.
Mt to assume charge Of a girl. almost
q woman. and mould her fsture,"
For a long, breathless moment
Hampton stared incredulously at bill
quesdoner,. crushing his cigar betweer
bis teeth. Twice he started to speak
but literally choked back the bittel
words burning bis lips, while an IN
comfortable admiration for the other'l
holiness began to overcome his FRS
fierce anger.
by Cod" he exclaimed at last, ris
Ing to his feet and pointing toward Ii,
door. Il have shot men for less. Go
before forget your cloth. You llttl,
impudent fool! See here-I sayet
that girl from death, or worse;
plucked her from the very mouth. o
hell; I like her; shes got sand; % IA
as / know there Ia not 4 sinKla snli