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

kindness TO her last evening" he
said. quietly, and in her behalf /
sincerely thank you. Permit me to
offer you a chair"
Brant accepted it and sat down.
feeling the calm tone of proprietorship
IN the words Of the other as If they
had been a blow. His face flushed,
yet he spoke firmly. Possibly I mis-
construe your meaning" he said with
some bluntness, determined TO reach
the gist of the matter at once Did
Miss ellis authorize you to thank me
for these courtesies?"
Hampton smiled with provoking
calmness, holding an unlighted cigar
between his fingers. Why, really,
as to that do not remember.
merely mentioned it as expressing the
natural gratitude of US both"
you speak as if you possessed full
authority to express her mind as we'll
as your own"
The other bowed gravely. his face
impassive. My words quite naturally
bear some such construction"
The officer hesitated, feeling more
doubtful than ever regarding his own
position. Chagrined, disarmed, he
felt like a prisoner standing bound
before his mocking captor Then
fear my mission here is useless"
Entirely so. if you come for the
purpose l suspect" said Hampton, sit
ting erect in his chair, and speaking
with more rapid utterance. ITO lee
ture me on morality, and demand my
yielding up all influence over this girl
such a mission is assuredly a fail
ure. I have listened with some de-
gree of calmness in this room already
to one such address, and surrendered
to it's reasoning. But permit me TO
say quite plainly, Lieut.. Brant, that
you are not the person from whom |
will quietly listen to another"
Il had very little expectation that
you would"
You should have had still less, and
remained away entirely However,
now that you are here, and the sub
ject preached, it becomes my turn
to say something, and to say it clear
ly. 1t seems TO me you would ex
hibit far better taste and discrimina
ton if from now on you would cease
forcing your attentions upon Miss Gil
lis
Brant leaped to his feet, but the
other never deigned to alter his posi-
ton.
Forcing my attentions!" exclaimed
the officer. Gods mercy, man! dc
you realize what you are saying?
Gillis."
My reference was rather to future
possibilities. Young blood is prov
erbially hot, and thought it wise tt
warn you in time
Brant stared into that imperturbeC
face, and somehow the very sight 0
it's calm, infexible resolve served t.
clear his own brain. He felt that thi
COOL self-controlled man was speak
ing with authority.
Wait just as moment" he said a
last Il wish this made perfectly clear
and for all time. l met Miss Gill
first through pure accident She i'm
pressed me strongly then, and 1 cor
fess | have since grown more deepl
interested in her personality. l hav
reasons to suppose my presence no
altogether distasteful to her, and sh
has certainly shown that she repose
confidence in me. Not until late las
night did 1 ever suspect she was tn
same girl whom we picked up wit
you out on the desert. 1t came t
me from her own lips and was a tots
, surprise. She revealed her identit
in order to justify her proposed claI
destine meeting with you"
And hence you request this plea
ant conference" broke in Hampton
coolly, Ito inform me, from your cali
eminence of responsibility, that I wa
no fit companion for such a young an
innocent person, and to warn me thu
> you were prepared to act as her pr,
, tector"
Brant slightly inclined his head
: Il may have had something of thu
: nature in my mind"
Wei, Lieut.. Brant," and the oldt
: man rose to his feet, his eyes sti
smiling, some might be impol'
= enough to say that it was the %
ception of cad, bat whatever it wa
the tables have Unexpectedly turne
Without further reference to my oN
s personal interests in the young lad
which are, however, considerabl
there remain other weighty reason
:, that l am not at liberty to discus
J. which make It simply impossible f
: you to sustain any relationship
Q Miss ellis other than that of ordina
s social friendship"
d "You-you claim the right"
: Il distinctly claim the right, f
e the reason that possess the right, al
n no one has ever yet known me
g relinquish a hold once fairly game
T,iel1t Rra0t if | am any judge