The Irish standard., 1907-10-19
CHAPTER XVI.
Mr.. HAMPTON Resolves.

CHAPTER XVI.
Mr.. Hampton Resolves.
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 step
above. AS their eyes met both smiled
As 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, land l really believe l
am in as fine fettle now as ever have
been. Do you know, 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. put in a
large portion Of the night thinking out
my plans"
Il wish you would give 1t up all to-
gether, Bob" she said, anxiously. Il
shall be so dull and lonely here while
you are gone"
! II reckon you will, for fact, but,
MAZDA, it 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
mean to take you east and put you
in some good finishing school. Don't
care quite as much about 1t as you
did, do you?"
yes, think do, Bob" She strove
bravely to express enthusiasm. "The
trouble is, am so worried over your
going of 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
sort of personal way. II you only
knew it, you're about as deeply con-
cerned in the result as am, and as for
me, I can never rest easy again until
the matter is over with"
TITS that awful Murphy, isn't it?''
Hes the one I'm starting after first
and one sight at his right hand will
decide whether he is to be the last as
. we'll"
Il never supposed you would seek
revenge, like savage she remarked
quietly. you never used to be that
way"
Good Lord, Mazda, 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, it means more than that
and harks back many long year.
told you I saw mark on his hand
would never forget-but l saw that
mark first Is years ago. This is q
duty owe friend, dead friend, tc
run to earth this murderer. Do yol
understand now? The fellow who die
that shooting up at Bethune Is years
ago had the same sort of mark or
his right hand as this one who killed
Slavin. That's why I'm after him ant
when l catch up he'll either squeal OF
die"
But how do you know"
II never told YOU the whole stor,
and don't mean to now until come
back and can make everything per
fectly clear. 1t wouldn't do you an!
good the way things stand now, ant
would only make you uneasy. But |
you do any praying over it, my girl
pray good and hard that I may dis
cover some means for making that fel
low squeal"
She made no response but stoo,
gazing thoughtfully past him.
Have you heard anything lately
Bob, about the SEVENTH" she aske'
finally. "since-since N troop lef
here?"
; He answered with well.simulate,
carelessness. mo; but 1t is most like
ly they are we'll into the game by thi
time. Crooks column, have jus
heard, was Overwhelmingly attacks
on the Rosebud, and forced to fal
; back. That leaves the Seventh t
take the brunt of it. and there is goin
to be hell up north presently, or Nv
forgotten all ever knew about II
dians. But come, little girl, as sait
I'm quite likely to be of before nigh
provided l am fortunate enough t
. strike fresh trail. Under such cond
, lions you won't mind my kissing yo
out here, will you?"
She held up her lips and he touche
them softly with his own. Her eye
were tear-dimmed. "Oh, Bob, hat
so to let you 60" she sobbed, clint
ing to him. "No one could have bee
more to me than you have been, an
you are all l have left in the worlt
Everything l care for goes away fror
; me. Life is so hard, so hard!"
Eyes, little girl, I know" and tn
man stroked her hair tenderly, hi
own voice faltering. ITS oil hard;