Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-01
BOB HAMPTON OF PLACER.
BY RANDALL PARRISH,
Copyright. 1907, BY A. Q. Mcclurg 4 Coy
CHAPTER Y.
A New Proposition.


A New Proposition.
To one In the least inclined toward fas-
tidiousness the Miners Home at Glencad
would scarcely appeal as o desirable place
for long-continued residence. But such q
one would have had small choice in the
matter, as It CHANGED to be the only hotel
there. The Miners Home was unquestion-
ably unique as regards architectural de-
tails. having been constructed by sections.
in accordance with the rapid development
Of the camp, and enjoyed the further dis
tincuon-there being only two others
equally stylish in town-of being built OF
sawn plank. although, greatly to the regret
Of its unfortunate occupants. lack Of sea-
soning had resulted in wide cracks in both
walls and stairway. These were numerous,
and occasionally proved perilous pitfalls to
unwary travellers through the. ill-lighted
hall, while strict privacy within the cham
bers was long ago q mere "reminiscences,
However, these deficiencies were to be dis
covered only after entering. Without the
Miners Home put up q good front-which
along the border Is considered the CHIEF
matter of importance-and was In reality
the most pretentfous structure grazing the
single cluttered street Of Glencaid. Indeed,
1t was pointed at with much civic pride by
those citizens never compelled to exist with
in its yawning walls. and, with its orna-
ment OF q wide, commodfous porch. APP
peared even palatial in comparison with the
log stable upon its left flank or the dingy
tent whose worm-eaten canvas Mapped de-
jectedly upon the right Directly across The
street. its front q perfect blaze Of glass,
stood invitingly the Occidental saloon. but
the Widow Guffy, who operated the Miners
Home with strong hand, possessed an
antipathy to strong liquor, which success
fully kept all suspicion Of intoxicating drink
absent from those sacredly guarded pre-
cincts, except as her transient guests i'm
ported 1t internally. In the latter case she
naturally remained QuieScent, unless the
offender became unduly boisterous. On
such rare occasions Mrs. Gufy had always
proved equal to the emergency, possessing
Irish facility with either tongue or club.
Mr.. Hampton during the course of his
somewhat cratic career had previously
passed several eventful weeks in G4encaid.
He was neither unknown nor unappreciated
at the Miners Home. and having on pre-
spender, experienced little difficulty,
now In procuring promptly the very best
accommodation which the house afforded.
That this arrangement was accomplished
somewhat to the present discomfort of two
vocfferous eastern tourists did not greatly
interfere with his pleasurable interest in
the situation. .--
Send those two fellows in here to argue
it out" he said languidly, after listening
disgustedly to their loud lamentations in
the hallway, and addressing his remarks
to Mrs. Guffy, who had glanced into the
room to be again assured regarding his
comfort and to express her deep regret
over the unseemly racket 1.-THE girl has
fallen asleep. and I'm getting tired Of hear
ing SO much noise"
"No, be hivings, an We don't do nuthin'
of tibet sort, Bob" returned the widow
good-naturedly, busying herself with a dust
rag. This Is me own house, an OPve
tended ter the ioikes of them sort er fellers
afore. There1l be no more bother this
tonne. Besoides, it's PEACEFUL house Ofm
runnin', an Oh know yer way of sitting
them things. It's too strenuous ye are,
the young lady, OF make bould to ask"
Hampton carelessly waved his hand to-
ward the rear room, the door OF which
stood ajar, and blew a thick cloud Of smoke
dreamily through the open window toward
the distant hills.
who's running the game over at the
Occidental?' he asked professionally.
Red Slavin, bad cess to him. and her
eyes regarded her questioner with renewed
anxiety. "But sure now, Bob, We mustn't
think Of playiR yit awhoile. Yer naryes
are In. no at shape. an won't be fer -
He made no direct reply, and she hung
about. tapping the dust rag uneasily.
''An' what did ye name ter be dom wild
the young syurl?" she questioned at last in
Hampton wheeled about on the hard
chair and regarded her quizzingly. Mrs.
Guffy." he said slowly. you've been
mother to me, and 1t would certainly be
unkind not to give you straight tip. Do?
Why, take care of her, course. What
else would you expect OF one possessing my
kindly disposition and well-known mo-
tives of philanthropy? Can 1t be that I
have resided with you. off and on, for ten
years past without your ever realizing the
fond yearnings of my heart? Mrs. Guffy,
shall make her the heiress to my millions
shall marry her off to some eastern nabob
and thus attain to that high position in
society am well fitted to adorn. Sure,
and what else were you expecting. Mrs.
Guffy?'
"A loikely story.H with a sniff of disbe-
lief. They tell me she's old ellis daugh-
ter over to Bethune."
"They tell you, do they?" a sudden CLEAN
of anger darkening his gray eyes. Who
tell you?"
Sure. Bob, an thets nuthing' ter git
mad about, so fur as kin see. The story
is In iverybody's mouth. 1t was thin sojers
what brought we in tibet tould most ov 1t,
but the lieutenant-Brant of the 7th Cav
airy, no less-who took dinner here afore
he whit back after the dead bodies. give me
her name" SO
'Brant of the 7th?" He faced her fairly
now. his face again daggard and gray, all
the slight CLEAN Of fun gone out of it.
"Was that the lads name?'
Sure. And didn't We know him.
mo / noticed the 81 on his hat, Of
course, but never asked any questions. for
his face was strange. 1 didn't know. The
name, when you just spoke it, struck me
rather queer. II used to know a Brant in
the 7th. but he was much older; it was not
this man."
She answered something. lingering for
moment at the door. but he made no re-
Spouse and she passed out silently. leaving
him staring moodily through the open win
dow. his eyes appearing glazed and sight
less.
Glencaid. like most mining towns of its
class. was dull and dead enough during
the hours of daylight. 1t was not until
after darkness fell that it awoke from its
somnolence when the scattered miners
came swarming down from out the sur
rounding hills and turned into a noisy,
restless playground the single narrow,
irregular street. Then 1t suddenly became
a mad commixture of Babel and heIE At
this hour nothing living moved within
range of the watchers vision except q
vagrant dog: the heat haze hung along the
nearby slopes. while little spiral of dust
rose laziiy from the deserted road. But
Hampton had no eyes for this dreary pros
pect. With contracted brows he was view
ing again that which he had confidently
believed to have been buried long ago.
Finally he stepped quickly across the little
room and, standing quietly within the open
doorway, looked long at the young girl
upon the bed. She lay in sound, motionless
slaep ono hand haneath her her