Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-08-07

fore. In the clear light OF day, he
began to realize the weakness of his
position, the fact that he possessed
not the smallest right to speak on be-
half Of MAZDA ellis. Nevertheless, the
die was cast, and perhaps. provided an
meeting might result In good to all
concerned.
Hampton welcomed him with dis
tant but marked courtesy. having evil
IDENTIFY thought out his own imme-
diate plan of action. and schooed him.
self accordingly. Standing there, the
bright light streaming over them from
the open windows, they presented two
widely contrasting personalities. yet
each exhibited in figure and face the
evidences of hard training and iron
discipline. Hampton was clothed In
black, standing straight as an arrow,
his shoulders squared, his head Geld
proudly erect, while his cool gray
eyes studied the face of the other as
he had been accustomed to survey
his Opponents at the card table Brant
looked the picture of soldier on
duty, trim, we'll built. erect, his reso-
lutte blue eyes never finching from
the steady gaze bent upon him, his
bronzed young face grave from the
seriousness of his mission. In both
minds the same thought fingered
the vague wonder how much the 9TH
err knew. The elder man, however, re-
tanned better self-control and was
first to break the silence.
Miss ellis Informed me Of your
kindness to her last evening" he
said, quietly, "and in her behalf l
sincerely thank you. Permit me to
offer you chair"
Brant accepted it and sat down,
feeling the calm tone of proprietorship
in the words of the other as If they
had been a blow. His face flushed,
yet he spoke firmly Possibly mis-
corstrue your meaning" he said, with
some bluntness, determined to reach
the gist of the matter at once. Did
Miss ellis authorize you to thank me
for these courtesies?"
Hampton smiled with provoking
calmness, holding an unlighted cigar
between. his fingers. 'Why, really,
as to that l do not remember.
merely mentioned it as expressing the
natural gratitu . of us both"
You speak as II you possessed full
authority to express her mind as we'll
as your own
The other bowed gravely, his face
impressive. my words quite naturally
bear some such construction"
The officer hesitated, feeling more
doubtful than ever regarding his own
position. Chagrined, disarmed, he
felt like prisoner standing bound
before his hooking captor Then l
fear my mission here is useless"
Entirely SO, If you come for the
purpose l suspect" said Hampton, sit
ting erect in his chair. and speaking
with more rapid utterance. ITO lee
ture me on morality, and demand my
yielding up all influence over this girl
such mission is assuredly a fail
ure.' I have listened with some de-
gree of calmness in this room already
to one such address, and surrendered
to it's reasoning. But permit me to
say quite plainly, Lieut.. Brant, that
you are not the person from whom
will quietly listen to another"
Il had very little expectation that
you would"
"you should have had still less, and
remained away entirely. However,
now that you are here, and the sub
feet preached, 1t becomes my turn
to say something, and to say it clear
ly 1t seems to me you would ex-
hibit far better taste and discrimina-
tion if from now on you would cease
forcing your attentions upon Miss Gil
lis"
Brant leaped to his feet, but the
other never deigned to alter his posi-
ton.
Forcing my attentions!" exclaimed
the officer. Goods mercy, man! de
you realize what you are saying? ]
have forced no attentions upon Miss
ellis"
my reference was rather to future
possibilities. Young blood is prov
erbially hot, and thought it wise to
warn you In time"
Brant stared into that imperturbed
face, and somehow the very sight of
it's calm, inflexible resolve served to
clear his own brain. He felt that this
cool, self-controlled man was speak.
ing with authority
Wait just a moment" he said at
last. II wish this made perfectly clear,
and for all time. l met Miss Gillis
first through pure accident. She i'm
pressed me strongly then, and l con-
TESS have since grown more deeply
interested in her personality. I have
reasons to suppose my presence not
altogether distasteful to her, and she
has certainly shown that she reposes
confidence in me. Not until late last
night did l ever suspect she was the
same girl whom we picked up with
you out on the desert 1t came to
me from her own lips and was total
surprise. She revealed her identity
in order to justify her proposed clan
destne meeting with you"
And hence you request this pleas.
ant conference" broke in Hampton,
coolly. ito inform me, from your calm
eminence Of responsibility, that | was