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

ms can't be bosses In the same ranch
She looked at him CONTEMPORARY.
swinging her body farther around on
the rock. and sitting stimy. the color
on hor checks deepening through the
smburn. Nov see here. Mister Bob
Hampton. you're a fraud. and YOU
know a. Didn't / understand exact
" who you was, and what was your
bnsinessg Didn't I know you was a
gambler, and a had mann Didn't /
tell you plain enough out yonderr-
and her voice faltered sllghtly-iust
what l thought about your Good Lord,
haven't been begging TO stick with
YOU. have ]? Just didn't know
which way TO turn TO. after dad was
killed. and you sorter hung on TO me,
aRd / let it go the way / supposed you
wanted IL. But I'm not particularly
stuck on your style, let me tell you.
and ! reckon there's plenty OF ways
for me to get along. Only first, I pro-
pose to understand what your little
game is. You don't throw down your
hand like that without some reason"
Hampton sat up. spurred into in
slant admiration by such ~independ-
ence Of spirit, You grow rather good
looking, Kid, when you get hot. but
You go at things h~alf-cocked. and
you've got to get over It. That's the
whole trouble-you've never been
trained. and wouldn't make much Of
a trainer for a high-strung Ally like
you, Ever remember your mother?"
Mighty little; reckon she must
have died when ! WAS about FIVE years
old. That's her picture"
Hampton took In his hand the old.
fashioned locket she held out toward
him, the long chain stll clasped about
her throat. and pried open the stin
catch with his knife blade. She bent
down TO fasten her loosened shoe,
and when her eyes were uplifted his
gaze was tiyeted upon the face in the
picture.
Mighty pretty, wasn't she?" she
asked, with a sudden girlish interest.
bending forward to look. regardless OF
his strained attitude. And she was
prettier than that even, the way I
remember her best. with her hair all
hanging down. coming to tuck me into
bed at night. Someway that's how I
always seem to see her"
The man drew a deep breath. and
snapped shut the locket. yet still re-
tanned it ia his hand. Isis she
deadF' he questioned. and his voice
trembled in spite Of his steel nerves.
Yes. In st Louis. dad took me
there with him two years ago.. and I
saw her grave"
Dad? Do you mean old Gilise"
She nodded. beginning dimly to won-
der why he should speak so aeroely
and stare at her In that odd way.
He seemed TO choke twice before he
could ask the next question.
Did Re-old ellis, / mean-claim
to be your father, or her husband?"
NO. / don't reckon ne ever did. but
ne gave me that picture. and told me
she was my mother. ] always lived
with him. and called him dad. ] reck.
on ne liked g.. and he was mighty
good 90 me We We're at Randolph
a long time ard since then he's been
p~Ost-trader at Bethune. That's an /
know about Il. for dad never talked
very much, aud he used TO get mad
when ] asked him questions
Hampton dropped the locket from
his grasp and arose 20 his feet. For
several minutes he stood with his
back toward her. apparently gazing
down the valley. his Jaw set. his dim
med eyes seeing nothing. Slowly the
color came creeping into his face. and
his hands unclinched. Then he wheel
ed about, and looked down upon her.
completely restored TO his old ma
ture.
Then L seems that e Is Just you
and !, Kid. who have got to settle this
little AFFAIR he announced. firmly
I'm have my say about Il. aud then
you can uncOrk your feelings / rath-
or imagine I haven't very much legal
right IN the premises. but I've got a
sort Of moral grip on you by reason OF
having pulled you out alive from that
canyon yonder, and / propose 20 play
this game 10 the limit You say your
mother Is dead. aud the mar who
raised you Is dead. and. so far as eth
ar Of as know. there isn't a soul any.
where on earth who possesses any
claim over sou, or any desire 10 have.
Then. naturally, the whole Jackpot Is
mp 10 me. provided Two got the cards.
Now. Kid waving your prejudice aside.
/ amt just exactly the best man in
this world 70 brlng up a girl ike YOU
ans make a lady oQt Of her. / thought
yesterday that maybe We might man.
axe TO- hitch along together for
awhile. but I've got a different think
coming to-day. There's no use dis.
figuring the truth. I'm a gambler,
something OF a fighter on the side, and
folks don't say anything too pleasing
about my peaceful disposition around
these settlements: hloen't any home.
and mighty few friends. and the few
/ 1 have cot 49, anHkHw~ - H..-a -.