Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-26
BOB HAMPTON OF PLACER.
BY RANDALL PARRISH,
AUTHOR WILDERNESS
y A..

hev company travelin', ter my notion. Now
kin cum on?'
Murphy reluctantly lowered his Colt. every
movement betraying annoyance. II reckon.
But ida - sight-rather risk it-alone. -
The stranger came forward without fur
Their hesitation. The night was far too dark
to reveal features, but to Murphy's strained
vision the newcomer appeared somewhat
slender in build. and of good height.
"Whar'd-ye say ye--wus bound?"
Mouth O. the Powder We kin ride ter
gethcr fer a night or two"
I'VE kin-do as ye-please. butt amt a
huntin'-no company-an' I'm a'-goin' cross
now"
He advanced a few strides toward his
horses. Then suddenly he gave vent to a
smothered cry. so startling as to cause the
stranger to spring hastily after him.
''Oh! My God! Oh! Look therer'
What is it. mann
There! there! The picture! Don't you
see?"
Nav; don't see nuthin'. Ye amt gone
cracked, hev We? Whose picture?"
Its there!-Oh. Lord-it's there! My
God. can't ye see?-An' it's his facial a.
gleamin with green fiames-Holy Mary
an amt seen ft-afore in-ffteen year,
He seemed suddenly to collapse. and the
earth.
Darn il kin see anythin'. old man. but
I'll scout round thar a bit. Jest ter ease yer
mind an see what kin skeer up
D.
before Murphy called after him: DON'T
don't go an leave me-it's not there now
thet's queer
The other returned and stood gazing down
upon his huddled figure. You're fine
scout! afeard o. spooks Do We take these
yere turns often? Fer IL We do, I reckon
as how I'd sooner be ridin alone.''
Murphy struggled to his feet and gripped
the others arm. Never he'd nuthin' like
it--afore. But-but 1t wuz thar-all creepy
an q In hot IN,
year"
What face?'
GA fellow knew-once. He-he's dead"
The other grunted disdainfully bad luck
ter see them sort" he volunteered solemn
~. "Blame glad II warn't me es see 1t,
an don't know as keer much right now
bout keepin company with We fer very
long. However. l reckon II either of us
calculates on doin' much ridin -te-night, we
better stop foolin with ghosts, an go ter
saddlin' up
They made rapid work Of it, the new
conner proving somewhat loqua cious. yet
holding his voice to a judicious whisper,
while Murphy relapsed into his customary
sullen silence. but continued peering about
nervously. 1t was he who led the way down
the bank. the four horses slowly spla hing
through the shallow water to the northern
shore. Before them stretched a broad plain,
the surface rocky and uneven. the northern
stars obscured by ridges of higher land
Murphy promptly gave his horse the spur.
Initiated his example. holding his animal
well in check, being apparently the better
mounted.
They rode silently. The unshod hoofs
made little noise. but a loosened canteen
tInkIed Murphys led horse. and he
halted to fix it, uttering curse. The way
| became more broken and rough as they
| advanced causing them to exercise greater
caution. Murphy chung to the hollows, APP
| parently guided by some primitive instinct
| to choose the right path. or else able, like
| a cat to see the way through the gloom.
| his beacon huge rock to the nortalward.
| Silently hour after hour. galloping trot-
! ting walking. according to the ground I'M
| derfoot the two pressed grimly forward
with the unerring skill of the border. into
the untracked wilderness. Flying clouds
obscured the stars. yet through the riffs
they caught heeting glimpses sufficient to
hold them to their course. And the en-
croaching hills swept in closer upon either
hand leaving them cropping their way be-
, tween as In a pocket. yet ever advancing
! north.
Finally they attained to the steep bank
of a considerable stream, found the water
4 of sufficient depth to compel swimming,
i and crept up the opposite shore dripping
and miserable. yet with ammunition dry.
Murphy stood swearing disjointedly. wiping
the blood from wound In his forehead