The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-08-03
CHAPTER XVI.
Mr. Hampton RECOVER.

Mr.. Bob Hampton stood In the bright
sunshine on the steps of the hotel, his
appreciative gaze wandering up the
long dusty, unoccupied street, and
finally rising to the sweet face of the
young girl who occupied the steu
ABOVE. as their eyes met both smiled
rs If they understood each other.
There is nothing quite equal to
feeling well. little girl he said, gen.
tally patting her hand where it rested
on the railing, "and / really believe
am in as fine fettle now as 1 ever have
been. Do you know, 1 believe I'm per
fectly fit to undertake that little de-
tective operation casually mentioned
TO you few days ago. It's got to be
done, and the sooner l get at it the
easier I'll feel. Fact is, l put in a
large portion of the night thinking out
my plans"
Il wish you would give 1t up all to-
gether Bob" sha said, anxiously. Il
shall be so dull and lonely here while
you are gone"
Il reckon you will, for a fact, but,
Nadia. 1t isn't likely this little affair
will require very long, and things are
lots happier between us since my late
shooting scrape When fall comes l
mean to take you east and put you
in some good finishing school. Don't
care quite as much about it as you
did, do your"
Yes, think l do, Bob" She strove
bravely to express enthusiasm. The
trouble is, / am so worried over your
going off alone hunting after that
man"
He laughed, his eyes searching her
face for the truth. We'll, little girl,
he won't exactly be the first I've had
call to go after. Besides, this is a
particular case, and appeals to me in
a sort OF personal way. II you only
knew it, you're about as desply con-
cerned in the result as am, and as for
me, can never rest easy again until
the matter is over with"
It's that awful Murphy, isn't it,"
Hes the one I'm starting after first
and one sight at mis- right hand will
decide whether he is to be the last as
we'll"
Il never supposed you would seek
revenge, like a savage" she remarked,
quietly. You never used to be that
way"
Good Lord, Nadia, do you think I'm
low down enough to go out hunting
that poor cuss merely to get even with
him for trying to stick me with a
knife? Why, there are 20 others who
have done as much, and we have been
the best of friends afterwards. Oh,
no. lassie, 1t means more than that,
and harks back many a long year.
told you l saw a mark on his hand
would never forget-but l saw that
mark first Is years ago. This is a
duty l owe friend. a dead friend, to
run to ea~h this murderer. Do you
understand now? The fellow who did
that shooting up at Bethune is years
ago had the same sort of a mark on
his right hand as this one who killed
SlaviR. That's why I'm after him and
when l catch up he'll either squeal or
die"
But how do you know"
Il never told you the whole story
and l don't mean to now until l come
back and can make everything per
fectly clear. 1t wouldn't do you any
good the way things stand now, and
would only make you uneasy. But il
you do any praying over it, my girl
pray good and hard that l may dis
cover some means for making that fel
low squeal"
She made no response but stood
gazing thoughtfully past him.
Have you heard anything lately
Bob, about the SEVENTH" she asked
finally "Since-since N troop left
here?'
He answered with vell-simulatec
carelessness. No: but ii is most like
~ they are well into the game by thi:
time. Crooks column, I have jus
heard was Overwhelmingly astackeC
on the Rosebud, and forced to fal
back. That leaves the Seventh t
take the brunt of 1t, and there is goint
to be hell up north presently, or Tvt
forgotten all | ever knew about In
dams. But come, little girl, as I said
I'm quite likely TO be of before night
provided l am fortunate enough 4
strike a fresh trail Under such condi
tons you won't mind my kissing yol
out here. will your"
She held UP her lips and he touched
them softly with his own. Her eye
were tear-dimmed. "Oh. Bob, hat,
so to let you CO., she sobbed, cling
ing to him. No one could have beer
more to me than you have been. anC
you are all l have left in the world
Everything l care for goes away from
me. Life is so hard, so hardl"
Yes. little girl 1 know" and thu