Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-08-23

But I didn't want you" and there
was . look Of positive dislike In her
widely opened eyes.
Didn't want me-" He echoed these
unexpected words In q tone Of com
plete surprise. Surely you could not
desire to be left here alone! Why
didn't you want me-"
Because | know who you are!" Her
voice seemed to catch In her throat.
He told me. You're the man who
shot Jim Eberly."
Mr.. Hampton was never of a pro
nounced emotional nature, nor was he
person easily disconnected, yet he
nushed at the sound Of these impul.
sive words. and the confident smile de- |
serted his lips. For q moment they |
sat thus. the dead body lying between,
and looked at each other. When the |
man finally broke the constrained 81.
lence a deeper information had crept
into his voice.
My girl" he said gravely, and not
without a suspicion Of pleading, this
is no place for me to attempt any de-
tense Of shooting ARRAY in a gambling
house, although | might plead with
some justice that Eberly enjoyed the
honor Of shooting first. | was not
aware Of your. personal feeling in the
matter, or | might have permitted
some one else to come here in my
stead. Now It is too late. | have
never spoken to you before, and do so
at this time merely from sincere de-
sire to be OF some assistance"
There was that in his manner Of
grave courtesy which served to steady
the girl. Probably never before In all
her rough frontier experience had she
been addressed thus formally. Her
closely compressed lips twitched ner-
vously, but her questioning eyes re-
NAMED uncovered. :.
you may 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 to retort angrily, did he
venture again to speak.
Il hope to aid you in getting back
beside the others, where you will be
less exposed"
viii you take him."
He is dead" Hampton said, sober
ly, "and | can do nothing to aid him.
But there remains a chance for you
to escape
Then | won't 60" she declared,
positively.
Hampton's gray eyes looked for a
long moment fixedly 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 instinctiyely the cool, domi-
mating strength of the man. Neither
was composed Of that poor fiber which
bends.
Very well. myfoung lady" he said,
easily, stretching himself out more
comfortably in the rock shadow. Then
| will remain here with you; 1t 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 tints Of health
upon the rounded cheek, and how soft
and glossy shone her wealth Of rum
pied hair. Even the tinge Of color, so
distasteful in the full glare Of the sun,
appeared to have darkened under
the shadow, its shade framing the
downcast face into a pensive fairness.
Then he observed how dry and
parched her lips we're.
Take a 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 uplifted the welcome
water to her mouth, while Hampton,
observing it all closely. could but re-
mark the delicate shapeliness 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 to his face. Il was
so thirsty" Her low tone, endeavor.
ing TO be polite enough, contained no
note Of encouragement.
Was ellis your father" the man
questioned. determined to make her
recognize his presence.
Il suppose so; don't know"
you don't know? Am / to under
stand you are actually uncertain
whether this man was your father or
mott"
That is about what | said, wasn't