Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-08-22

could not instantly decide just how
much Of that story to tell. Brant sus-
pected this last to be his difficulty,
and he spoke impulsively.
Hampton, there has been trouble
and misunderstanding between US, but
that's all past and gone now. sin
cerely believe in your purpose OF
right, and ask you to trust me.
Either of us would give his life If need
were, to be of real service to little
girl back yonder in the hills. l don't
know what you are to her: [ don't
ask. know she has every confidence
in you. and that is enough. Now.
want to do what il right with both Of
you, and II you have = word to say to
me regarding this matter. I'll treat 1t
conf1dentially. This trip With Murphy
has some bearing upon Nadia ellis,
has 1t not?"
Yes"
will you tell me the story!"
The thoughtful gray eyes looked at
him long and searchingly. "Brant. do
you love that girl?"
Just as unwaveringly the blue eyes
returned the look. Il do. I have
asked her to become my wife"
And her answer?
she said no; that . dead man was
between u.s."
ia that all you know?"
The younger man bent his head, his
face grave and perplexed. Practical
ly ALL"
Hampton wet his dry lips with his
tongue. his breath quickening.
And In that she was right" he
said at last, his eyes lowered to the
ground. Il will tell you why. 1t was
the father of Mazda ellis who was
convicted of the murder Of Mai.
Brant"
"Oh, my father? Is she Capt No,
lan's daughter? But you say convict
ed Was there ever any doubt! Do
you question his being guilty.?
Hampton pointed in silence to tho
hideous creature behind them, THAT
man could tell. but he has gone mad"
Brant endeavored to speak. but the
words would not come; his brain
seemed paralyzed. Hampton held him
self under better control.
II have confidence. Lieut.. Brant. In
your honesty" he began, grayely, and
l believe you will strive to 10 what
ever is best for her, If anything should
happen to me out yonder. But for the
possibility Of my being knocked out, l
wouldn't talk about this. not even to
you. The affair 10 long way from
being Strengthened out SO as 70 make
a pleasant story. but I'll give you all
you actually require to know in order
to make it clear to her, provided 7
shouldn't come back. You see. she
doesn't know very much more than
you do-only what was obliged to
tell to keep her from getting too close
ly entangled with you. Maybe ought
to have given her the full story before
started on this trip. I've since
wished ! had, but you see, l never
dreamed 1t was going to end here. on
the Big Horn; besides, l didn't have
the nerve.
You see. Brant, feel that simply
have to carry these dispatches
through. have pride in giving
them to Custer myself, because of the
trouble I've had in getting them here
But perhaps may not come back.
and in that case there wouldn't be
anyone living to tell her the truth. II
seems to me that there is going to be
a big fight somewhere in these hills
before long. So want to leave these
private papers with you until come
back. 1t will relieve my mind! to know
they are safe: II 7 don't come, then
want you to open them and do what
ever you decide is best for the little
girl. You will do that, won't your"
He handed over a long manila en-
velope securely sealed, and the young
er man accepted it. noticing that it
was unaddressed before depositing it
safely in an inner pocket of his fatigue
jacket.
Certainly. Hampton" he said. IFS
that all?"
"All except what am going to tell
you now regarding Murphy. There is
no use my attempting to explain ex-
actly how CHANGED to find out all
these things, for they came te, me little
by little during several years. / knew
Nolan. and knew your father. and I
had reason to doubt the guilt of the
captain, In spite of the verdict of the
jury that condemned him. In fact, l
knew at the time, although 1t was not
in my power to prove It, that the two
principal witnesses against Nolan lied.
I thought could guess why. but we
drifted apart, and finally l lost all
track Of every one connected with the
affair. Then l happened to pick up
that girl down in the canyon beyond
the Bear Water, and pulled her out
alive just because she Glanced to be
of that sex, and couldn't stand to see
her fail into Indian clutches. l didn't
feel any special interest in her at the
time. supposing she belonged to Old
Gillis, but she somehow grew on me
she's that kind, you know; and
when l discovered, purely by accident,
that she was Capt Nolan's girl. but
that it all had been kept from her,
just naturally made up my mind I'd
dig out the truth IL l possibly could,
for her sake. The fact is, began to
think lot about her-not the way
you do, you understand; I'm getting
too old for that, and have known too
much about women,-but maybe some