Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1907-12-11


Come in" he exclaimed, carelessly.
is it this time, Mrs. Guffy?"
The landlady had never before seen
this usually happy guest in his pres
emit mood, and she watched him Gu
riously.
"a man wants ter see ye," she an
nounced, shortly, her hand on the
knob
"Oh, I'm in no shape for play to-
night; go back and tell him So"
Sure, an it's aisy 'nough ter see
tibet wild half an eye But this I'm isn't
tibet koind of a man, an he's so
moighty perlite about it. OF jist cudn't
sind the loikes of him away. It's
'Missus Guffy, me dear madam, wud
| We be koind enough to convey me COM
| pliments to Misther Robert Hampton,
| and request him to grant me a few
minutes of his tonne on an important
matter?' Sure, an what do We think
| of thet?"
Huh! one of those fellows who had
these rooms?" and Hampton rose to
| his feet with animation.
/
| an almost inaudible whisper.
Its the Rev. Howard Wynkoop,"
she announced, impressively, dwelling
upon the name. THE Rev. Howard
| Wynkoop, the Presbyterian missionary
wouldn't tibet cork ye?"
| II evidently did, for Mr.. Hampton
stared at her for fully minute in an
amazement too profound for fit ex-
| preston in words. Then he swal-
lowed something in his throat.
"Show the gentleman up" he said,
shortly, and sat down to wait.
The Rev. Howard Wynkoop was
neither giant nor dwarf, but the very
fortunate possessOr of countenance
which at once awakened confidence in
his character. He entered the room
quietly, rather dreading this interview
with one of Mr.. Hampton's well-known
proclivities, yet in this case feeling
abundantly fortified in the righteous
ness of his cause. His brown eyes
met the inquisitive gray ones frankly,
and Hampton waved him silently to-
| ward a vacant chair.
Our lines of labor in this vineyard
being so entirely opposite" the latter
said, coldly, but. with intended polite
ness, "the honor of your unexpected
call quite overwhelms me. 1 shall
have to trouble you to speak somewhat
softly in explanation of your present
mission, so as not to disturb young
girl who chances to be sleeping in the
room beyond"
ct was principally upon her account
I ventured to CALL" Wynkoop ex-
planned in sudden confidence. Might
I see herr"
Hampton's watchful eyes swept the
others face suspiciously, and his
hands clinched.
"Relative?" he asked gravely.
The preacher shook his head.
Friend of the family, perhaps?"
"No, Mr.. Hampton. My purpose in
coming here is perfectly proper, yet
the request was not advanced as a
right, but merely as a special priv
ilege"
A moment Hampton hesitated; then
he arose and quietly crossed the room
holding open the door. Without a
word being spoken the minister fol
lowed, and stood beside him. For
several minutes the eyes of both mel
rested upon the girls sleeping form
and upturned face. Then Wynkoop
drew silently back, and Hampton
closed the door noiselessly.
Well" he said, inquiringly, what
does all this mean?"
| az cit down in - cai6 tho
minister, land / will try to make my
purpose sufficiently clear. l am not
here to mince words, nor do l believe
you to be the kind of man who would
respect me if did. / may say some
thing that will not sound pleasant, but
in the cause of my Master / cannot
hesitate You are an older man than
1, Mr.. Hampton; your experience in
life has doubtless been much broader
than mine, and it may even be that in
point of education you are likewise
my superior. Nevertheless, as the
only minister of the gospel residing in
this community it is beyond question
my plain duty to speak few words to
you in behalf of this young lady, and
her probable future. trust not to be
offensive, yet cannot shirk the require
ments of my sacred Office"
The speaker paused. somewhat. dis
concerted perhaps by the hardening of
the lines in Hampton's face.
go on" commanded Hampton,
tersely, ronly let the preacher part
slide, and say just what you have to
| say as man TO man"
81 prefer to do So" he continued.
1t will render my unpleasant task
much easier, and yield us both more
lirect road to travel. / have been
'aboring on this field for nearly three
ears When I first came here you
we're pointed ont to me as a most dan
yerous man, and ever since then I
have constantly been RECALLED by the
stories of your exploits. have known
you merely through such unfriendiy
~eports, and came here strongly preju-
Iced against you as representative
l . Ia h ox,Ss