Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-28
CHAPTER II.
Old ellis Girl.

Excepting for vague knowledge that
GilIis had had girl with him. together
with the half-formed determination that If
worse came to worst she must never be per-
mitted TO fall alive into the hands Of the
lIstrul Sioux, Mr.. Hampton had scarcely
So much noted her presence. OF late
years he had not felt greatly interested in
tn sex. and his inclination. since uniting
his shattered fortunes with this little COM
pauy. had been to avoid coming into per-
soual contact with this particular specimen.
Practically. therefore. he now observed
her for the first time. Previously she had
passed within range OF his vision simply as
tue merest shadow; now she began to ap-
peal family TO him as personality, unin-
trrrsting enough. Of course yet living
human being. whom 1t had oddly become
his manifest duty to succor and protect.
T3.. never wholly eradicated instincts of
one born and bred a gentleman. although
heavily overlaid by the habits acquired In
many a rough year passed along the Dor
der brought wildly before him the re-
.ritrements of the situation. Undoubtedly
death was destined to be the early portion
Of them all; nevertheless she deserved every
opportunity for life that remained and
with the ending OF hope-well. there are
worse fates upon the frontier than the
b~rumbed brain.
Guided by the unerring instinct of an old
Indian fighter. Gillis during that first mad
retreat had discovered temporary shelter
behind one OF the largest powders 1t was
a rife in advance OF those later rolled into
position by the soldiers. but was of size
and shape which should have afforded am
pIe protection for two. and doubtless would
have done so had II not been for the firing
from the clin opposite. Even then 1t was
a detected bullet. glancing from off the
polished surface Of the rock which found
Indgment in the sturdy old fighters brain
The girl had caught him he fell had
wasted oil her treasured store of water in
a vain effort to cleanse the blood from his
features. and now sat there. pllowing his
head upon her knee although the old man
was stone dead with the first touch of the
ball That had occurred fully an hour be-
fore, 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 graspine
tnconsciously the old mans useless rifle
She would scarcely have been esteemed at
tractive even under much happier circum
stances and assisted by dress, yet there
was something in the independent poise OF
her head. the steady fixedness of heI
posture. which served to interest Hampton
a. he now watched her curiously
Fighting blood" he muttered admir-
iugly to himself Might fail to develop
into very much of a society belle. but likely
To- prove valuable out here
She was rather slender slip OF a thing
Il triie too tall for her years, perhaps, yet
with no lack of development apparent In
the slim, rounded figure Her coarse. home
made dress of dark calico fitted her sadly.
while her rumpled hair. from which the
broad brimmed hat had fallen. possessed
a reddish copper tinge where 1t was touched
by the sun. Mr.. Hampton's survey did not
Increase his desire for more intimate ac-
qusiutsnceship. yet he recognized anew her
uHdoubted claim upon him.
II ,fuh t.tgf NJ oil dvnn a,yk
that way as any other" he reflected
thoughtfully. Its all in the game"
Lying fat upon his stomach. both arms
extended. he slowly forced himself beyond
his bowlder into the open. There vas nc
great distance to be traversed. and q con-
siderable portion of the way was some