Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-08-17

Everything care for goes away from
me- Life is so hard, SO hard!"
YES, little girl, l know" and tho
man stroked her hair tenderly, his
own voice faltering It's all hard;
learned that sad lesson long ago, but
I've tried to make it a little bit easier
for you since We first came together.
Still, don't see how l can possibly
help this. I've been hunting after that
fellow long while now, matter OF
is years over mighty dim trail. and
1t would be mortal sin to permit him
to get away scot-free. Besides, II this
affair only manages to turn out right,
can promise to make you the hap
piest girl In America. But, Nadia.
dear, don't cling to me SO; it Is not at
all like you to break down in this fash
ion,' and he gently unclasped her
hands. holding her away from him
while he continued to gaze hungrily
into her troubled face.
Sometimes l feel just like . cow
ard. Bob. It's the woman of 1t; yet
truly wish to do whatever you be-
lieve to be best But, Bob, need you
SO much, and you will come back,
won't you? l shall be SO lonely here.
for-for you are truly all have in the
world"
With one quick, impulsive motion
he pressed her to him, passionately
kissing the tears from her lowered
lashes, unable longer to conceal the
tremor that shook his own voice.
Never, never doubt it, lassie. 1t will
not take me long, and II l live come
straight back"
He watched her slender, white
robed figure as it passed slowly down
the deserted street. Once only she
paused and waved back to him and he
returned instant response, although
scarcely realizing the act.
Poor little lonely girl! Perhaps I
ought to have told her the whole In
fernal story, but l simply haven't got
the nerve, the way 1t reads now. II
can only get it Strengthened out, it'll
be different"
Mechanically he thrust an unlighted
cigar between his teeth and descend
ed the steps, to all outward appear
ance the same reckless, audacious
Hampton as of old.
The military telegraph occupied one
half of the small tent next the Miners
Retreat, and the youthful operator in
stantly recognized his debonair visi-
tor.
We'll, Billy" was Hampton's friend
ly greeting. ARE they keeping you fair
ly busy with wars and rumors Of
wars these days?"
"Nuthin' dom just now" was the
cheerful reply. Everything goin' ter
Cheyenne. The Injuns are gittin'
themselves bottled up in the Big Horn
country"
ooh. that's 1t? Then maybe you
might manage to rush message
through for me to Fort A. Lincoln
without discommoding Uncle SAM"
and Hampton placed a coin upon the
rough table
Sure; write it out.
"Here 1t is: now get 1t of early, my
lad, and bring the answer to me over
at the hotel There'll be another yell
low boy waiting when you come"
The reply arrived some two hours
later.
Fort A. Lincoln, June H. 1876
Hampton, Glencaid:
Seventh gone west; probably Yellow
eminent scout at Cheyenne waiting or
ders. BITTON, Commanding.
He crushed the paper in his hand,
MISUNDERSTANDING of the past, the
present, the future. He had borne
much in these last years, much mis-
representation, much loneliness OF
soul. To run this Murphy to cover
remained his final hope for retrieving
those dead. dark years. Ay, and there
was Nadia! Her future, scarcely less
than his own, hung trembling in the
balance. The sudden flashing of that
name into his brain was like an cleo
trio shock. He cursed his inactivity.
Great God! had he become child
again, to tremble before imagined evil.
a mere hobgoblin of the mind? He
had already wasted time enough: now /
he must wiring from the lips of that
misshapen savage the last vestige OF
his secret.
He dressed for the road, for hard,
exacting service, buckling his loaded
cartridge belt outside his rough coat
and testing his revolvers with unusual
care. He spoke few parting words
of instruction to Mrs. Guffy and went
quietly out. Ten minutes later he was
in the saddle, galloping down the dusty
stage road toward Cheyenne.
(To Be Continued.)