Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-08
EVENING STAB, WEDNESDAY, NAY g, 1so7-ao PAGES.
BOB HAMPTON OF PLACER.
BY RANDALL PARRISH,
AUTHOR OF WHEN WILDERNESS KING
Copyright 1907. By A. O. Mcciwg 3 oo)

shook back her hair somewhat coquet-
tishly.
do you think look nicer she ques-
toned, smilingly.
''You bet do. Your hair is Just beautiful.
Miss Spencer
slip slowly between her white fingers. you
should never say you bet.' Mazda Such
language is not at all ladylike. / am go
ing to call you Nadia, and you must call
me Phoebe. People use their given names
almost entirely out here in the west. don't
they?"
II never have had much training in being
a lady" the young girl explained. REDEEM
do mostly use the first names out here"
please don't say I reckon. either; 1t
has such vulgar sound. What is his given
manner"
"whoser
"Why. was thinking Of Mr.. Wynkoop."
Howard; I saw II written in some books
he loaned me. But the people here never
address him in that way"
mo. suppose not, only / thought
should like to know what 1t was
There was considerable pause; then the
speaker asked calmly. rs he married?"
"Mr. Wynkoop? Why, Of course not; he
ALL"
Miss Spencer bound her hair carefully
with a bright ribbon. Maybe he might.
though. some time. All men do"
She sat down In the low rocker, her feet
comfortably crossed. do you know. Nadia
dear. 1t is simply wonderful to me just to
remember what you have been through,
and 1t was so beautifully romantic-every-
body killed except you and that man. and
then he saved your Hfe It's such a pity
he was so miserable creature
He wasn't!" Mazda exclaimed, in sudden,
splendid"
Aunt Lydia didn't think So She wrote
he was a common gambler-a low, rough
man."
well. he did gamble; nearly everybody
does out here. And sometimes suppose he
had to fight, but he wasn't truly bad
Miss Spencer's eyes evinced a growing in
terest.
WAS he real nice-looking?" she asked
Naida's voice faltered. "Ye-cs," she
said. II thought so. He-he looked like
he was a man.
How old are you, Naida?'
Nearly eighteen"
Miss Spencer leaned impulsively forward,
and clasped the others hands. her whole
soul responding to this suggestion Of a pos
sible romance, a vision of blighted hearts.
'Why. 1t is perfectly delightful" she ex-
claimed. II had no idea 1t was SO serious.
and really don't in the least blame you.
You love him. don't you. NaidaT'
The girl flashed shy look into the beam
Ing, inquisitive face IT don't know" she
confessed. soberly. IT have not even seen
him for such long time: but-but, guess,
he is more to me than any one else"
mot seen him? Do you mean to say MT.
Hampton is not here in Glencaid? Why. I
am so sorry; I was hoping to meet him."
He went away the same night came
here to live"
"And you never even hear from him?"
Nadia hesitated. but the frankly displayed
interest of the other won her complete girl
ish confidence. mot directly. but NJ
Herndon receives money from him for me-.
He doesn't let your aunt know anything
about it. because she got angry and re-
fused to accept any pay from him. He Ii
somewhere over yonder In the Black
Range"
Miss Spencer shook back her hair with
merry laugh, and clasped her hands. why,
1t is Just the most delightful situation I
ever heard about. He Is just certain to
come back after you, Nadia. wouldn't
miss being here for anything"
They were still sitting there, when the
notes of softly touched guitar stole in
through the open window. Both glanced
about in surprise. but Miss Spencer was
"a serenade! Did you ever" she. whis-
pered do you suppose 1t can be he?"
She extinguished the lamp and knelt upon
the floor. peering eagerly forth into the
you think? It's Mr.. Moffat. How beauti-
fully he plays!'
Nadia, her face pressed against the other
window. gave vent to single note of half
something happening" she exclaimed. "Oh.
Miss Spencer, come here quick-some one Is
going to turn on the hydraulic
Miss Spencer knelt beside her. Moffat
turned in the moonlight, his long silky mus
tacales slightly stirred by the soft air, his
fingers touching the strings; but back in
the shadows of the bushes was seen another
with feverish eagerness. To Miss Spencer
what Via is IT. she anxiously questioned.
1.-THE hydraulic" whispered the other.
III 1o1rD t. ~v,I
they've piped the water down here. It's
got a force like a cannon, and that fellow
I don't know whether 1t is Herndon or not
is screwing on the hose connection. I bet
your Mr.. Moffat gets a shock!'
TITS a perfect shame, an outraged I'm
going to tell him.
Nadia caught her sleeve firmly. her eyes
full of laughter. "Oh. please don't, Miss
Spencer. It will be such fun. Let's see
where 1t hits him.
For one single instant the lady yielded,
and in 1t all opportunity for warning fed.
There was sharp sizzling. which caused
thing struck limit must have been fairly
in the middle. for he shut up like jack
knife. and went crashing backward with !
an agonized howl. There was CLEAN Of
among the weeds, yell, a volley Of half |
choked profanity. and a fleeing figure. ap-
parently pursued by huge snake. Nadia |
shook with Laughter u r.. clinging with both
plainly shocked.
"Oh, did you hear what-what he saidr' |
she asked. Wasn't 1t awful?'
The younger nodded. unable as yet to |
command her voice. IL don't believe he |
is an Episcopalian: do your
II don't know. I imagine that might have |
made even Methodist swear"
The Fuckers began to show about the dis |
approving mouth. under the contagion Of |
the others merriment. Wasn't 1t per- |
fectly ridiculous2 But he did play beauti- |
fully, and it was SO very nice of him to |
come my first night here. Do you suppose |
that was Mr.. Herndon%
Nadia shook her head doubtfully. HE
looked taller, but couldn't really tell. He's
gone now and the water Is turned off,"
They lit the lamp once more, discussing
the scene just witnessed, while Miss Spen-
Ger. standing before the narrow mirror,
prepared her hair for the night. Suddenly
some object struck the lowered window
shade and dropped upon the floor. Mazda |
picked It up.
"A letter. she announced. "for Miss
Phoebe Spencer"
For me? What can it boz Why. MAZDA. |
1t is poetry! Listen:
Sweetest flower from Of the eastern hills
So lily-like and fair:
Your very presence stirs and thrills
Clnr huOv air. Il