Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-12-28

I
| game is. You don't throw down your
hand Ike that without some reason. '
Hampton sat up. spurred into In
/ slant admiration by such indopend-
/ ence OF spirit You grow rather good
| looking. Kid, when you get hot, but
| you go at things halfcocked. and
| you've got 90 get over t. That's the
/ whole troubie-you'v never been
I trained, and I wouldn't make much OF
trainer for a high-strung Oily Ike
/ you Ever. remember your motherT~
Mighty little; reckon she must
have died when I was about i've years
old That's her picture"
Hampton took in his hand the old
/ fashioned locket she held out toward
him. the long chain suu clasped about
her throat and pried open the sun
catch with his knife blade. she bent
/ down 20 fasten her Ioosened shoe.
/ and when her eyes were uplifted HIS
saze was riveted upon The face In the
/ picture
Mighty pretty, wasn't she2" she
asked. with sudden eirIsh interest.
/ bending forward 90 look. REGARDLESS Of
| his strained attitude. "And she was
/ pretuer than that even. the way
/ remember her best with her hair all
/ hanging down. coming t0 tuck me into
bed az night Someway that's how
always seem 90 see her"
The man drew a deep breath. and
snapped shut the locket. yet stiu re-
tained TO ia his hand isis she
deadF' De questioned. and hts voice
tromo.fd in spite OF his steel nerves.
Yes. tn ST. Louis, dad took me
there with him two years ago. ana
saw her grave"
Dad7 DO you mean old Gufs9r
she nodded, beginning diaIy 20 won
der why be should speak so ncrcely
and stare an her in that odd way.
lie seemed TO choke twice before he
could ask the next question.
Did hc-old ellis. ] mean-clain
20 be your father. OF her husbandg"
No, / don't reckon DC ever did hut
ne gave me that picture. and told me
she was my mother I aIwave lived
with him. and called him dad rock
on he liked 10. and he was mighty
good 70 me. We were az Randolph
long time, and since then he's been
post-trador az Bethune That's an
Know about Il. for dad never talked
very much, and be used 20 get mad
when I asked him questions"
Hampton dropped The locket from
MS grasp and arose 20 his feet For
several minutes he stood with his
back toward her. apparently gazing
down the valley. his jaw set. hts dim
med eyes seeing nothing. Slowly the
color came creeping into his face. and
his hands unclinched. Then he wheel
ed about and looked down upon her.
completely restored 60 his old IA.
ture.
Then it seems that 10 is Just YOU
and ]. Kid. who have got to- settle this
Attle auair." he announced. firmly
All nave my say about 10. and then
you can uncork your feelings. I rath-
er imagine ] haven't very much legal
right in the premises. but I've cot q
sort or moral grip on you by reason Of
having pulled you out alive from that
canyon yonder. and I propose to play
Ilis game 20 the limit You say your
mother is dead and the man who
raised you is dead. and. so far as eth.
er OF as know, there isn't a soul anv-
where on earth who possesses any
claim over you. or any desire TO have
Then. naturally. the whole jack-pot is
up to me, provided I've got the cards
Now, Kid. waving your prejudice aside
l Amt just exactly the best man IN
THIS world to bring up girl Ike Won
ana make lady out Of her. I Thought
yesterday that maybe we might man
age 70 hitch along together for
awhile. but I've got a different think
coming today. There's no use dis
figuring the truth. I'm a gar,b1o-
something OF fighter on the side. and
folks don't say anything too pleasing
about my peaceful disposition around
these settlements; haven't any home
and mighty few friends. and the few
nave got are nothing to boast about
reckon there's a cause for n All
so considering everything, I'm about
the poorest proposition ever was hoard
OF 70 start young ladies' seminarv
Inc Lord knows old ellis was had
enough, but I'm damned sight worse
NOW some woman has got to take Won
IN hand' and reckon I've found The
right one" '-o
Coin 70 get married BobY"
Not this year; it's hardly becoroa
SO serious as that; but I'm going 70
IND you a good homo here. and Tr,
going to put up plenty Of stun. 40 thar
they'll take care OF you all right ana
proper"
Inc dark eyes never wRvered AZ
they looked steadily into the rrav
ones, but the chin Quivered slightly
reckon I'd rather try It alone
she announced stubbornly. MAYBE
might have stood it with you. Bob
Hampton, but woman is the limit
i expect it will go rather hard AZ
nrst Kid" he admitted crafty. "but
think you might try 1t while Just To
sort OF please me-"
"Who-who is she?" doubtfullv
Mrs. Herndon. wife OF the spner-
intendent OF the Golden Rule mine.-
and he waved his hand toward the dis
tant houses. They tell me she's a
mighty fine woman"