Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-08-07
CHAPTER XVII.
~. Narna IF . Quarrel,


conviction never once left him--he re-
tanned implicit faith in her, and he
purposed to fight this matter out WIN
Hampton. Even in that crucial hour,
had any one ventured to suggest that
he was in love with Nadia, he would
merely have laughed, serenely conf
dent that nothing more than gentle
manly interest swayed his conduct
Nevertheless, he manifested an I'M
reasonable dislike for Hampton. He
had never before felt thus toward this
person: indeed, he had possessed
strong mans natural admiration 1or
the others physical power and cool,
determined courage. He now sincere
Iy feared Hampton's power over the
innocent mind Of the girl, imagining
his influence to be much stronger
than it really was, and he sought after
some suitable means for overcoming
1t. He alone, among those who might
be considered as her true friends,
knew OF her secret infatuation, and
upon him, alone, therefore, rested the
burden of her release. 1t was his
heart that drove him into such de-
cision, although he conceived 1t then
to be the reasoning Of the brain.
And SO she was Mazda ellis, poor
old ellis little girl! He stopped sud
denly in the road striving to realize
the thought. He had never dreamed
of such a contamination, and 1t stag
gered him. What was there in COM
mon between that outcast. and this
welI-groomed, frankly spoken young
woman? Yet, whoever she was or had
been, the remembrance of her could
not be conjured out of his brain. He
might look back with repugnance upon
those others, those misty phantoms OF
the past, but the vision of his mind.
his interchangeable divinity Of the
vine shadows, would not become OBJ
scured, nor grow less fascinating
Suddenly there occurred to him q rec
objection Of Silent Murphy, and his
strange, unguarded remark. What
could the fellow hare meant? Was
there indeed some secret in the life
history Of this young girl?-some
story of shame, perhaps? If SO, did
Hampton know about it?
Already daylight rested white and
solemn over the silent valley, and only
short distance away lay the SPOT
where the crippled scout had made
his solitary camp. Almost without vo-
lition the youRg officer turned that
way, crossed the stream by means OF
the log, and clambered ep the bank.
But it was clear at glance that Muir
ply had deserted the spot. Convinced
Of this, Brant retraced his steps to-
ward the camp Of his own troop. now
already astir with the duties of early
morning. Just in front Of his tent
he encountered his first sergeant,
Watson" he questioned, as the lat.
ter saluted and stood at attention.
do you know . man called Silent
Murphy"
1.-The scout? Yes, sir; knew him as
long sAyo as when he was corporal in
your fathers troop. He was reduced
to the ranks for striking an officer"
Brant wheeled in establishment.
WAS he ever a soldier in the Sew
enth?"
"EIe was that, for two enlistments,
and a. mighty tough one; but he was
always quick enough for a fight in
field or garrison"
''lIas he shown himself here at the
camp?"
"No, sir; didn't know he was any
where around He and were never
very good friends, sir"
The lieutenant remained silent for
several moments, endeavoring to per-
feet some feasible plan.
Dispatch an order to the telegraph
Office" he finally commanded, to in
quire if this man Murphy receives
any messages there, and If they know
where he is stopping. Send an intel
ligent man and have him discover all
the facts he can. When he returns
briag him in to me-
He had enjoyed a bath and shave,
and was yet lingering over his cot
fee, when the two soldiers entered
with their report. The sergeant STEP
ped aside, and the orderly, tall, boy
ish looking fellow with a pugnacious
chin, saluted stiffly.
well, Bane," and the officer eyed
his trim appearance with manifest ap-
prevail, what did you succeed in learn
ing?"
1.-THE operator said this yere Muir
ply had never bin thar himself, sir,
but there wus several messages come
fer him. One got here this mornin'."
What becomes of them?'
They're called fer by another fell
Ter, sir"
ooh, they are! Who?"
RED Slavin wus the name he give
me of tibet other buck"
When the two had disappeared,
Brant sat back thinking rapidly. There
was mystery here, and such actions
must have a cause. Something eth
er in or about Glencaid was COM
polling Murphy to keep out OF sight
but what? Who? Brant was un-
able to get 1t out of his head that
all this secrecy centered around Nadia.
Perhaps Hampton knew at least he
might possess some additional scrap
of information which would help to
solve the problem. He looked at his
watch, and ordered his horse to be
saddled.
1t did not seem quite so simple now,
&hia nroiooAad lnforHioW with Hair n