Mower County transcript., 1907-08-28

her probable future. I trust not to be
offensive, yet cannot shrk the require
meats 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, "onAy let the preacher part
slide, and say just what you have to
say as man to man."
Il prefer to do so,'' he continued.
TT will render my unpleasant task
much easier, and yield us both more
direct road to travel. l have been
labo1ing on this field for nearly three
years. When I first came here you
were pointed out to re as most dan
gerous man, and ever since then l
have constantly been regaled by the
stories of your exploits. I have known
you merely through such unfriendly
reports, and came here strongly preju-
diced against you as a representative
of every evil I war against. We have
never met before, because there
seemed to be nothing in common be-
tween w; because I had been led to
suppose you to be an entirely different
man from what now believe you
are"
Hampton stirred uneasily in his
chair.
"Shall I paint in exceedingly plain
words the picture given me of your
There was no response, but the
speaker moistened his lips and pro-
ceeded firmly. 1T was that of pro-
fessional gambler, utterly devoid of
mercy toward his victims; reckless
fighter, who shot to kill upon the least
provocation; man without moral
character, and from whom any good
action was impossible. That was what
was said about you. Is the tale true?"
Hampton laughed unpleasantly, his
eyes grown hard and ugly.
"I presume it must be- he admitted,
with a quick side glance toward the
closed door, "for the girl out yonder
thought about the same. A most ex-
cellent reputation to establish with
only ten years of strict attendance to
business"
Wynkoops grave face expressed his
disapproval.
"Well, in my present judgment that
report was not altogether true," he
went on clearly and with greater con-
fidence. II did suppose you exactly
that sort of a man when l first came
into this room. l have not believed
so, however, for a single moment
since. Nevertheless, the naked truth
is certainly bad enough, without any
necessity for our resorting to romance.
You may deceive others by an assump-
ton of recklessness, but I feel con-
vinced your true nature is not evil. 1t
has been warped through some cause
which is none of my business. Let us
deal alone with facts. You are gam
bier, professional gambler, with all
that that implies; your life is, of neces-
sity, passed among the most vicious
and degrading elements of mining
camps, and you do not hesitate even
to take human life when in your judg-
ment it seems necessary to preserve
yOuI OWA. OuOOA CAAo FOACSA VI Ao w
lessness you may, indeed, possess a
warm heart, Mr.. Hampton; you may
be a good fellow, but you are certain
ly not model character, even accord
ing to the liberal code of the border
Extremely kind of you to enter my
rooms unlimited, and furnish me with
Ebis list of moral Deficiencies" &C
kncwiedged the other with affected
carelessness. "But thus far you have
failed to tell me anything strikingly
new. Am I to understand you have
some particular object in this ex-
change of amenities?"
Most assuredly. 1t is to ask if such
a person as you practically confess
yourself to be-homeless, associating
only with the most despicable and
vicious characters, and leading so un-
certain and disreputable a life-can be
fit to assume charge of a girl, almost
woman, and mould her future?"
For a long, breathless moment
Hampton stared incredulously at his
|. questioner, crushing his cigar between
his teeth. Twice he started to speak,
but literally choked back the bitter
words burning his lips, while an un-
controllable admiration for the others
boldness began to overcome his first
fierce anger.
by God!" he exclaimed at last. ris-
ing to his feet and pointing toward the
door. Il have shot men for less. Go,
before I forget your cloth. You little
impudsnt fool! Sec here-L saved
that girl frem death, or worse;
plucked her from the very mouth Of
hell; like her; shs's got sand; so far
| as know there - not single soul
for her to turn to for help in. all this
wide world. And you, you miserable,
snivelling hypocrite, you little creep
ing Presbyterian parson, you want me
to shake her! What sort of wild
beast do you suppose amp
Wynkoop had taken one hasty step
backward, impelled to it by the fierce
anger blazing from those stern, gray
eyes, But now he paused, and, for
the only time on record, discovered
/ 4