The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-12-19
CHAPTER XIII.
Silent Murphy.

Brant sprang forward. all doubt re-
gar,ling this young woman instantly
dissipated by those final words Of mis-
chievoUs mockery. She had been play
ing with him as un~concernedly as if
he We're a mere toy sent for her
amusement and his pride was stung.
But pursuit proved useless. Like
a phantom she had slipped away amid
he u~nderbrush. leaving him 70 lOun-
der blindly in the labyrinth. His in
cautious foot slipped along the steep
edge Of the shelving bank. and he
went down. half stumbling. half slid
ing, until he came to a sudden pause
on Che brink of the little stream. The
chase wal ended. and he sat up. con
fused for the moment, and half ques-
fioning the evidence OF his Own eyes.
\ small tent. dirty and patched.
stood with its back against the slope
of earth down which he had plunged.
Its flap flung aside revealed within a
pile Of disarranged blankets. together
with some scattered articles OF wear
ing apparel. while just before the
opening. his back pressed against the
supporting pole, an inverted pipe be
tween his yellow. irregular teeth. sat
a hideOus looking man. He was a
withered. dried-up fellow, whose age
was not 70 be guessed, having a skin
as yellow as parchment, drawn ga
tight 20 the bones ike that Of a
mummy. his eyes deep sunken like
wells. and his head totally devoid of
hair. although about his lean throat
there was a copious fringe Of iron-gray
beard. untrimmed and scraggy. Down
the entire side OF one cheek ran a
llyid scar. while his nose was turned
awry.
He sat staring at the newcomer.
u%nwinklng. his facial expression de-
void OF interest. but his fingers open
ing and closing In apparent nervous
ness. Twice his lips opened, but moth
ing except q peculiar gurgle sound IS
sued from the throat. and Brant. who
by this time had attained HIS feet and
his self-possession, ventured 10 ad-
dress him,
Mice quiet spot for = camp. he re-
marked. pleasantly, but a bad place
for a tumble,
The sunken eyes expressed nothing
bui the throat gurgled again painfully
ana finally the parted lips dropped q
detached word on two Biame-
pretty girl-that"
The lieutenant wondered how much
of thelr conversation this old mummy
hail overheard. but he hesitated "a
question him. One inquiry. however.
sprang TO his surprised lips DO sou
know herr"
Damn sight-better-than any one
around here-know her--reai name
Brant stared inoredulously. do you
mean 10 insinuate that that youni
oma Is living IN this community m
der an assumed one7 Why. she Il
scarcely more than a child! What d
you mean. manG"
The soldiers hat sim rested on the
grass where q Tad fallen, irs military
insignia hidden.
4 guess-l know-what know,
the fellow muttered. "Whats-yoa
-regimont2"
Seventh cavalry.
The man stineued up as II an elec
tric shock had swept through his linn
frame. The helli-and-did-she-
call you-Brant2'
The young officers face exhIbitel
his disgust. Beyond doubt that -
questered nook was a fayorite louni
ing spot for the girl. and this disrep'
table creature had been watching be
for some sinister purpose,
so you have been eayesdroppini
have youg" said Brant gravely. An
nov YOU want 10 try a turn az deian
ing a woman2 Well you have com
10 = poor market for n" sale Of sue
goods. / am half inc led 10 thro'
YOU bodily into the G. ok believ
q are nothing but a common liza
but Ill give you d chance-you "a
sou Know her real name What is ~
The eyes Of the mummy had beeom
sniielul "Its-nOne oi-your damn
business. I'm aot under~your orders.
Under my orderal OF eourae mol
hsi nsaf 40 ,3u mean hf ulai3 wi