The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-11-14
cHAPTER V.-contInued.


CHAPTER V.-contlnued.
There was no response, but the
speaker molstened his lips and pro
ceeded firmly. 1T was that OF a pro-
fessional gambler. utterly devoid Of
mercy toward his victims: a reckless
fighter. who shot 60 kill upon the least
~provocation; a man without moral
character. and from whom any good
action was impossible. That was what
was said about you. is the tale true?"
Hampton laughed unpleasantly, his
eyes grown hard and ugly.
4 presume it must be, he admitted,
with a quick side glance toward the
closed door. "for the girl out yonder
thought about the same. a most ex-
cellent reputation to establish with
only ten years Of strict attendance to
business
wynkoop's grave face expressed his
disapproval.
Wei, in my present judgment that
report was not altogether true" he
went on clearly and with greater con-
fdence. 4 did suppose you exactly
that sort OF a man when / first came
into this room. / have not believed
20, however. for a single moment
since. Nevertheless, the naked truth
is certainly bad enough, without any
necessity for u resorting TO romance
You may deceive others by an assump-
ton OF recklessness. but / feel con-
WINGED your true atu is o evil. II
has been warped through some cause
which is none OF my business. Let as
deal alone with facts. You are a gam
bier, a professional gambler. with all
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 even
20 take human life when in your iudg-
ment IL seems necessary 20 preserve
your own Under this veneer Of law
lessness you may. indeed, possess a
warm heart, Mr.. Hampton; you may
be a good fellow. but you are certain
~ not a model character. even accord
ing to the liberal code of the border.
Extremely kind Of you to enter my
rooms unlimited, and furnish me with
this list Of moral deficiencies, ac-
knowledged the other with affected
carelessness. But thus FAR you have
failed to tell me anything strikingly
new Am I to understand you have
some particular object in this ex-
change of amenities?"
Most assuredly. II Is to ask IL such
a person as you practically confess
yourself TO be-homeless, associating
only with the most despicable and
vicious characters. and leading so un-
certain and ~disreputable a lfe-can be
az to assume charge Of a girl, almost
a woman, and mould her future?"
For a long. GREATNESS moment
Hampton stared increduiously al his
~questioner. crushing his cigar between
his teeth. Twice he started 20 speak.
but literally choked back the bitter
words burning his lips, while an un.
controllable admiration for the others
boldness began 20 overcome his FIRST
fierce anger,
by Cod" he exclaimed az last. rls
ing TO his feet and pointing toward the
door. Il have shot men for less Go
before / forget your cloth. You little
impudent fooll See here-I saved
that girl from death, or worse;
plucked her from the very mouth OF
hell; / like her; she's got sand; so fal
as ] know there Is not a single sou.
for her 10 turn 10 for help In all thil
wide world. And you, you miserable
sniyelling hypocrite. you little creep
ing Presbyterian parson, you van m'
10 shake herl What sort Of a vii,
beast do you suppose / amg"
Wynkoop had taken one hasty steI
backward. impelled to il by the herc,
anger blazing from those stern, graz
eyes. But now be paused, and. fol
the only time on record. ~discoyere,
the conventional language Of polite so
ciety inadequate 70 express his needs
Il think, he said, scarcely realizing
his own words. you are a damno'
tool,
Into Hampton's eyes there leaped
light upon which other men had lookeI
before they died.-the strange mat
CLEAN one sometimes ees In hghtinl
animals. or amid the fierce charges o
war, His hand swept instinctiveil
backward. closing upon the butt of
revolver beneath his coat, and for on
second he who had dared such utter
ance looked on death. Then the harI
lines about the mans mouth ~softeneo
the fasers c%lutchlng the weapon re
Taxed. and Hampton laid n openeI
hand upon the minister's shrinking
shoulder
rsit down, he said, his voice uu
gteady from SO sudden a reaction
Perhaps perhaps don't exactly un
derstand
Fer ; full minute they aai thus look