Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-07-22

lence q deeper intonation had crept
into his voice.
MY girl" he said gravcly and not
without suspicion Of pleading. this
is no place for me to attempt any de-
tense of shooting. ARRAY In gambling
house, although / might plead with
some justice that Eberly enjoyed the
honor of shooting first | was not
aware of your personal feeling in the
matter, or I might have permitted
some one else to come here In my
stead Now 1t Is too late. l have
never spoken to you before, and do so
ut this time merely from sincere de-
sire to be of some assistance
There was that in his manner OF
grave courtesy which served to steady
the girl. Probably never before in all
her rough frontier experience had she
been addressed thus formally. Her
closely compressed lips twitched ner-
vously, but her questioning eyes re-
manned uncovered.
You may stay" she asserted, So
berly. "Only don't touch me-
No one could ever realize how much
those words hurt him. Not until he
had completely conquered his first un-
wise impulse to retort angrily. did he
venture again to speak.
II hope to aid you in getting back
beside the others, where you will be
less exposed"
will you take him.
"He is dead" Hampton said, sober
", and can do nothing to aid him.
But there remains a chance for you
to escape"
Then I won't co." she declared,
positively.
Hampton's gray eyes looked for =
long moment f1edly into her darker
ones, while the two took mental stock
Of each other4 He realized the utter
futility Of any further argument, while
she felt instinctively the cool. domi-
mating strength Of the man. Neither
was composed Of that poor fiber which
bends.
Very well, my young lady" he said,
easily, stretching himself out more
/ will remain here with you; 1t makes
small odds"
Excepting for one hasty, puzzled
glance, she did not deign to look again
toward him, and the man rested mo-
tionless upon his back, staring up at
the sky. Finally, curiosity oyermas-
tered the actor in him, and he turned
partially upon one side, SO as to bring
her profile within his range Of vision
Her dark. glowing eyes were lowered
upon the white face of the dead man,
yet Hampton noted how clear, in spite
of sun-tan, were those tints Of health
upon the rounded cheek and how soft
and glossy shone her wealth OF rum
pied hair. Even the tinge Of color, so
distasteful in the full glare Of the sun.
appeared to have darkened under
the shadow, its shade framing the
downcast face into a pensive fairness.
Then he observed how dry and
parched her lips were.
Take a drink of this" he insisted
heartily holding out toward her as he
spoke his partially filled canteen.
She started at the unexpected sound
of his voice, yet uplifted the welcome
water to her mouth, while Hampton,
observing it all closely, could but re-
mark the delicate shapeliness Of her
hand.
III that old fellow was her father"
he reflected soberly, II should like to
have seen her mother"
"Thank you," she said simply, hand
ing back the canteen, but without lift
ing her eyes again to his face. Il was
80 thirsty" Her low tone, endeavor-
ing to be polite enough, contained no
note Of encouragement.
WAS ellis your father?" the man
questioned, determined to make her
recognize his presence.
II suppose so; I don't know"
You dou't know? Am l to under
stand you are actually uncertain
whether this man was your father or
not?"
"That is about what said, wasn't
It? Not that it is any of your bust
ness, SO far as know, Mr.. Bob Hamp-
ton, but answered you all right, He
brought me up, and called him dad
about as far back as l can remember,
but don't reckon as he ever told me
he was my father. So you can under
stand Just what you please"
His name was Gillis, wasn't it7s
The girl nodded YEARLY.
"Post-trader at Fort Bethune?"
Again the rumpled head silently &C.
guessed.
What is your name?"
"He always called me kid" she
admitted unwillingly, but reckon If
you have any further occasion for ad-
dressing me, you'd better say Miss
Gillis.'"
Heaven preserve mel" he ex-
claimed good naturally, but you are
certainly laying 1t on thick. young
lady! However, l believe we might
become good friends If we ever have
sufficient luck to get out from this
hole alive. Darn if l don't sort of cot
ton to you, little girl-vou've got some
sand"
For a brief space her truthful. angry
eyes rested scornfully upon his face,
her lips parted as though trembling
with sharp Setort. Then she delib-
erately turned her back upon him
without uttsring word.
For what may have been the first
and only occasion in Mr.. Hampton's