The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-07-29

some suitable means for overcoming
IT. He alone, among those who might
be considered as her true friends.
knew Of her secret infatuation, and
upon him, alone, therefore, rested the
burden of her release. It was his
heart that drove him into such de-
cision. although he conceived it then
to be the reasoning of the brain.
And so she was Nadia ellis, poor
old ellis little girl! He stopped sud
denly in the road, striving TO realize
the thought He had never dreamed
of such a consummation, and it stag
gered him What was there IN COM
mon between that outcast, and this
welI-grocmed, frankly spoken young
woman? Yet, whoever she was or had
been, the remembrance of her could
not be conjured out Of his brain. He
might look back with repugnance upon
those others, those misty phantoms of
the past, but the vision of his mind.
his interchangeable divinity Of the
vine shadows, would not become OBJ
scured nor grow less fascinating.
Suddenly there occurred to him a rec
objection of Silent Murphy, and his
strange, unguarded remark. What
could the fellow have meant? Was
there indeed some secret in the life
history of this young girl?-some
story of shame, perhaps? If so, did
Hampton know about it?
Already daylight rested white and
solemn over the silent valley, and only
a short distance away lay the spot
where the crippled scout had made
his solitary camp. Almost without vo-
lition the young officer turned that
way, crossed the stream by means of
the log, and clambered up the bank.
But it was clear at a glance that Muir
ply had deserted the spot. Convinced
of this, Brant retraced his steps to-
ward the camp of his own troop, now
already astir with the duties of early
morning. Just in front of his tent
he encountered his first sergeant
Watson" he questioned, as the lat.
tor selutn1 and stood at attention,
do you know q man called Silent
Murphy"
The scout? Yes, sir; knew him as
long ago as when he was corporal in
your fathers troop. He was reduced
to the ranks for striking an officer"
Brant wheeled in establishment.
'Was he ever a soldier in the Sew
cnth?"
He was that, for two enlistments,
and a mighty tough one; but he was
always quick enough for a fight in
field or garrison"
Has he shown himself here at the
Campo"
mo, sir; didn't know he was any
where around He and l were never
very good friends, sir"
The lieutenant remained silent for
several moments, endeavoring to per
feet some feasible plan.
Dispatch an order to the telegraph
! Office he finally commanded, ito in
| quire if this man Murphy receives
any messages there, and if they know
where he is stopping. Send an intel
| ligent man and have him discover all
| the facts he can. When he returns
bring him in to me-"
He had enjoyed a bath and a shave
and was yet lingering over his cot
fee, when the two soldiers entered
with their report. The sergeant step
ped aside, and the orderly, a tall, boy
ish looking fellow with a pugnacious
chin, saluted stifly.
well, Bane," and the officer eyed
his trim appearance with manifest ap
prevail, what did you succeed in learn
ing?"
The operator said this yere Muir
ply had never bin thar himself, sir
but there wus several messages come
fer him. One got here this mornin'.
What becomes of them?"
They're called fer by another fel
Ter, sir"
ooh, they are! Who?"
Red Slavin wus the name he Civ
me of tibet other buck
When the two had disappeared
Brant sat back thinking rapidly. Their
was a mystery here, and such action
must have a cause. Something eth
er in or about Glencaid was con
| pel1IS MuIp W hS0p OGI VI o4oh
but what? Who? Brant was III
able to get it out Of his head tina
all this secrecy centered around Naids
Perhaps Hampton knew; at least h
might possess some additional scra
of information which would help t
solve the problem. He looked at hi
, watch, and ordered his horse to b
saddled.
1t did not seem quite so simple nov
this projected interview with Haml
ton. as it had appeared the night b.
fore. In the clear light of day, b
began to realize the weakness of hi
position, the fact that he possesse
not the smallest right to speak on b.
, half of Nadia Gillis. Nevertheless, til
: die was cast, and perhaps, provided a
= open quarrel could be avoided, th
f meeting might result in good to a