The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-08-10

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where around He and i were never
very good friends, sir
The lieutenant remained silent for
several moments, endeayoring to per-
feet some feasible plan.
Dispatch an order 70 the telegraph
once, Re finally commanded, ito in.
quire n this man Murphy receives
any messages there. and Il they know
where ne d stopping. Send an intel
llgent man and have him discover all
The facts he can. When he returns
Bring himSin 70 me-" 4.
Hehad enjoyed a bath and shave,
and was vet lingering over his cof-
ZEE, when the two soldiers entered
With their report The sergeant step
PED aside, and the orderly, a tall, boy
ish looking fellow with pugnacious
chin, salated stifiy.
wei, Bane, and the Officer eyed
IFS trim appearance with manifest ap-
proyal. what did you succeed in learn
ingg
The operator said this yere MUIR
phy had never bin thar himself, sir,
hut there wus several messages come
fer him. One got here this mornin'."
What becomes Of them?'
They're called fer by another fell
lers sir,
;iohS they are! Whol"
Red slayin wus the name he give
me cf3 thet other buck"
When the two had disappeared,
Brant sat back thinking rapidly. There
vas mystery here, and such actions
must have q cause. Something eth
Il 81 or about Glencald was COM
pelitng Murphy to keep out of sight
nut what! Who? Brant was un.
able To Get Il out Of bis head that
an this secrecy centered around Nadia.
Perhaps Hampton knew; at least he
might possess some additional scrap
81 information which would help to
solve The problem. He looked at his
watch and ordered his horse to be
saddled.
IL did not seem quite so simple now,
this protected interview with Han1p-
ton, as Il had appeared the night be-
fcre: In the clear light OF day, he
began 10 realize the weakness Of his
position, the fact that he possessed
not the smallest right to speak on be-
half OF MAZDA ellis. Nevertheless, the
dlewas cast, and perhaps, provided an
open quarrel could be avoided; the
meeting might result in good to all
concerned.
Hampton welcomed him with dis
tant but marked courtesy, having evi.
IDENTITY thought out his own imme-
diate plan Of action, and schooled him
self accordingly. Standing there, the
bright light streaming over them from
the open windows, they presented two
widely contrasting personalities, yet
each exhibited In figure and face the
evidences Of hard training and iron
discipline. Hampton was clothed in
black standing straight'as an arrow,
1 his shoulders squared, his head held
proudly erect while his cool gray
eyes studied the face Of the other as
he had been accustomed to survey
his opponents at the card table. Brant
looked the picture Of soldier on
duty, trim, well built. erect, his reso-
lute blue eyes never flnching from
the steady gaze bent upon him, his
bronzed young face grave from the
seriousness Of his mission. In both
minds the same thought fingered
the vague wonder how much the 9th.
seriknew. The elder man, however, re.
tained a better self.control and was
first to break the silence.
s.AIiss Gillis informed me OF your
Kindness to her last evening"" he
said, quietly, land in her behalf
sincerely thank you. Permit me to
siofEer5 you q chair"
Brant accepted 1t and sat down,
feeling the calm tone Of proprietorship
Ii 5tleAwords Of the other as If they
had been a blow, His face flushed,
yet he spoke firmly. Possibly mis-.
construe your meaning" he said, with
some bluntness, determined to reach
the gist Of the matter at once. did
Miss Gillis authorize you to thank me
1 for these courtesies2"
Hampton smiled with provoking
calmness, holding an unlighted cigar
between his fingers. why, really,
as to that l do not remember. I
merely mentioned 1t as expressing the
natural gratitude Of us BOTH"
You speak as If you possessed fall
authority to express her mind as we'll
as your own"
The other bowed grayely, his face
@impassive. MY words quite naturally
bear some such construction"
The oticer hesitated, feeling more
doubtful than ever regarding his own
position. Chagrined, dtsarmed, he
{ felt like prisoner standing bound
before his mocktnE captor. "Then I
fearEmy mission here is useless
isEntirely so, II you come for the
purpose / suspect" said Hampton, sit
ting erect in his chair and speaking
with more rapid utterance. ITO lee
5ture me on morality, and demand my
yielding up all influence over this girl
such a mission is assuredly a fail.
Aure / have listened with some de-
Sgree Of calmness In this room already
fnknna such address, and surrendered