Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1907-11-27

dvance of those later rolled into posi-
ION by the soldiers, but was of size
% shape which should have afforded
pie protection for two, and doubt
~, would have done so had it not
a for the firing from the cliff OPP
/ G. Even then it was detected
Dnhet, glancing from off the polished
surface of the rock, which found lodg
menti in the sturdy old fighters brain.
he Girl had caught him as he fell, had
wasted all her treasured store of wa
ter inl vain effort to cleanse the blood
from ihis features, and now sat there,
pillowing his head upon her knee, al
though the old man was stone dead
with the first touch of the ball. That
had Occurred fully an hour before, but
she continued in the same posture,
grave, pathetic figure, her face sobered
and careworn beyond her years, her
eyes dry and staring, one brown hand
crashing unconsciously the old mans
useless rife She would scarcely have
beef esteemed attractive even under
mufh happier circumstances and as
sisted by dress, yet there was some
thing in the Independent poise of her
head. the steady fixedness of her pos
gre, which served to interest Hamp-
ton as he now watched her curiously.
Il Fighting blood" he muttered ad-
miringly to himself. might fail to
develop into very much of society
bell, but likely to prove valuable out
here"
She was rather a slender slip of
thing, trifie too tall for her years,
perhaps, yet with no lack of develop
ment apparent in the slim, rounded
figure. Her coarse homemade dress
of dark calico fitted her sadly, while
her rumpled hair, from which the
broad brimmed hat had fallen, pos
sessed a reddish copper tinge where
it was touched by the sun. Mr.. Hamp-
tons survey did not increase his de-
sire for more intimate acquaintance
Ship yet he recognized anew her I'M
doubted claim upon him.
Suppose / might just as well drop
out that way as any other" he reflect
ed, thoughtfully. It's all in the game,
Lying fiat upon his stomach, both
arms extended, he slowly forced him.
self beyond his bowlder into the open.
There was no great distance to be
traversed, and a considerable portion
of the way was somewhat protected
by low bushes. Hampton took few
chances OF those spying eyes above,
never uplifting his head the smallest
fraction Of an inch, but reaching for.
ward with blfndly cropping hands.
caught hold upon any projecting root
or stone which enabled him to drag
his body an inch farther. Twice they
fred directly down at him from the
opposite summit, and once a fleck of
sharp rock, Clipped by glancing bull.
let, embedded itself in his cheek, dye-
ing the whole side of his face crimson
But not once did he pause or glance
aside; nor did the girl look up from
the imploring face of her dead. AS he
crept silently in, sheltering himself
next to the body of the dead man. she
perceived his presence for the first
time, and shrank back as if in dread. s
What are you doing? Why-why
did you come here?" she questioned, a
falter in her voice; and he noticed that
her eyes were dark and large, yielding
marked impress of beauty to her
face.
i was unwilling to leave you here
alone" he answered, quietly, "and hope
to discover some means for getting
you safely back beside the Others"
But l didn't want you,' and there
was look of positive dislike in her
widely opened eyes.
Didn't want me?" He echoed these
unexpected words in a tone of COM
plete surprise. Surely you could not
desire to be left here alone? Why
didn't you want me?"
Because know who you are!" Her
voice seemed to catch in her throat.
He told me. You're the man who
shot Jim Eberly"
Mr.. Hampton was never OF q pro-
nounced emotional nature, nor was he
person easily disconnected, yet he
-ushed at the sound of these impul-
i've words, and the confident smile de-
serted his lips. For moment they
sat thus. the dead body lying between.
and looked at each other. When the
man finally broke the constrained ST.
lence deeper information had crept
into his voice.
My girl" he said gravely. and not
without suspicion of pleading, this
is no place for me to attempt any do
Tense of a shooting ARRAY In gambling
house. although might. plead with
some justice that Eberly enjoyed the
honor of shooting first. / was not