Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-11-22
CHAPTER XVII.
The VERGE Of a Quarrel.

supposed 10 ngnl tllS nndllel Jul WIN
HAMPTON. Even in that crucial hour'
had any one ventured to suggest that
he was in love with Nadia, ne would
merely have laughed, serenely conn-
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 lot
the others physical power and COOL
determined courage. He now sincere
~ feared Hamptons 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
II. 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 a de-
cision, although he conceived it then
70 be the reasoning of the brain.
And so she was Nadia 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 consummation, and it stag
gered him. What was there in COM
mon between that outcast, and this
well-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
secured, nor grow less fascinating.
Suddenly there occurred to him a rec
objection of Silent Murphy. and his
strange, unguarded remark. What
could the fellow have 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
a short distance away lay the spot
where the crippled scout had made
his solitary camp. Almost without vo
lition the young officer turned that
way, crossed the stream by means Of
the log, and clambered up the bank
But it was clear at a glance that Muir
ply had deserted the spot Convinced
Of this, Brant retraced his steps to
ward the camp of his own troop, nov
already astir with the duties of earl!
morning. Just in front of his ten
he encountered his first sergeant.
Watson he questioned, as the LAT
ter saluted and stood at attention
do you know a man called Silen
Murphy"
1.-THE scout? Yes, sir; knew him al
long ago as when he was corporal il
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?"
He was that, for two enlistments
and mighty tough one; but he wa
always quick enough for a fight il
field or garrison"
Has he shown himself here at tn
camp"
mo, sir; didn't know he was any
where around. He and l were neve
very good friends, sir"
The lieutenant remained silent fo
several moments, endeavoring to pc
feet some feasible plan.
Dispatch an order to the telegrap
Office" he finally commanded, Ito il
quire if this man Murphy receive
any messages there, and if they kno
where he is stopping. Send an int
ligent man and have him discover a
the facts he can. When he return
bring him in to me-"
o.. He Lad enjoyed a bath and a shaw
and was yet lingering over his CO
fee, when the two soldiers entere
with their report. The sergeant ste
ped aside, and the orderly, a tall, DO
fish looking fellow with a pugnaciol
chin, saluted stifly.
We'll, Bane," and the officer eye
his trim appearance with manifest a
proval, what did you succeed in lear
ing?"
1.-THE operator said this yere MI
ply had never bin thar himself. 81
but there wus several messages con
fer him. One got here this mornin
What becomes of them?"
They're called fer by another f
Ter, sir"
"oh, they are! Who?"
RED Slavin wus the name he 81
me of tibet other buck"
When the. two had disappeare
Brant sat back thinking rapidly. The
was a mystery here, and such actio
must have a cause. Something ell
or in or about Glencaid was CO.
polling Murphy to keep out of sig
but whatf Who? Brant was U
able to get 1t out Of his head tn
al this secrecy centered around Nait
PerhaDs Hamilton knew: at least