The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-07-17

II Have Shot Men for Less. Go, Be-
fore | Forget Your Cloth"
and upturned face. Then Wynkoop |
drew silently back, and Hampton |
closed the door noiselessly.
Well" he said. inquiringly, what |
does all this mean?"
Let US sit down again." said the !
minister, land I will try to make my
purpose sufficiently clear. 1 am not
here to mince words, nor do l believe
you to be the kind of man who would
respect me if I did. l may say some
thing that will not sound pleasant, but
In the cause Of my Master I cannot
hesitate. You are an older man than
l. Mr.. Hampton; your experience in
life has doubtless been much broader
than mine, and it may even be that in
point OF education you are likewise
my superior. Nevertheless, as the
only minister of the gospel residing in
this community 1t Is beyond question
my plain duty to speak a few words to
you IN behalf Of this young lady. and
her probable future. / trust not TO be
offensive, yet cannot shirk the require
ments of my sacred Office"
The speaker paused. somewhat dis
concerted perhaps by the hardening OF
the lines in Hampton's face.
go on" commanded Hampton,
tersely, "onIy let the preacher part
slide. and say Just what you have to
say as man to man"
Il prefer to do So" he continued
''It will render my unpleasant task
much easier, and yield US both q more
direct road to travel. / have been
laboring en- this field for nearly three
years. When I first came hare you
were pointed out TO roe as most dan
gerous man, and ever since then I
have constantly been RECALLED by the
stories Of your exploits. have known
you merely through such uRfriendly
reports, and came here strongly preju-
/ diced against you as a representative
/ Of every evil war against. We have
never met before, because there
seemed to be nothing in common be-
tween us; because / had been led TO
suppose you to be an entirely different
man from what I now believe you
are"
Hampton stirred uneasily In his
chair.
Shall paint in exceedingly plain
words the picture given me of your
There was no response. but the
speaker moistened his lips and pro-
ceeded firmly. 1T was that of pro-
fessional gambler. utterly devoid OF
mercy toward his victims; a reckless
fighter, who shot to kill upon the least
provocation; O man without moral
character, ana from whom any good
action was impossible. That was what
was said about you. Is the tale trus7"
Hampton laughed unpIeasantIy. his
eyes grown hard and ugly.
81 presume 1t must be-" he admitted,
with a quick side glance toward the
closed door, "for the girl out yonder
thought about the same. A NEST ex-
csllent reputation to establish with
only ten years of strict attendance to
business"
wynkoop's grave face expressed his
disapproval.
We'll, in my present Judgment that
report was not altogether true" he
wert on clearly and with greater con-
naence. Il did suppose you exactly
that sort Of man when first came
into this room. have not believed
so, however, for a single moment
since. Nevertheless, the naked truth
is certainly bad enough, without any
necessity for eur resorting to romance
You may deceive others by an assump
ton of recklessnesa, but / feel cen
WINGED your true nature is not evil. II
has been warped through some cause
which is none Of my business. Let Us
deal alone With facts. You are : gam
bier, a professional gambler, with al
that that implies: your life is, Of neces
sity, passed among the most vicious
and degrading elements Of mining
camps, and you do not hesitate ever
TO take human life when in your judg
ment it seems necessary to preserV,
your own Under this veneer OF law
lessness you may. indeed, possess
warm heart, Mr.. Hampton; you ma!
be a good fellow, but you are certain
" not a model character. even accord
ing to the liberal code of the border
(To be continued-)
Let your wants be known throuS
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