Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-11-02
CHAPTER u.
Old ellis, Girl.

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an old Indian fighter, ellis, during
that first mad retreat, had discovered
temporary shelter behind one of the
largest powders. 1t was a trif1e in
advance of those later rolled into posi-
ton by the soldiers, but was of a size
and shape which should have afforded
ample protection for two, and doubt
less would have done SO had it not
been for the firing from the cliff OPP
posite. Even then it was a detected
bullet, glancing from off the polished
surface of the rock, which found lOdg-
ment in the sturdy old fighters brain.
The girl had caught him as he fell, had
wasted all her treasured store of wa
ter in vain effort to cleanse the blood
from his features, and now sat there,
pillowing his head upon her knee, al
though the old man was stone dead
with the first touch of the ball. That
had occurred fully an hour before, but
she continued in the same posture,
grave, pathetic figure, her face sobered
and careworn beyond her years, her
eyes dry and staring, one brown hand
grasping unconsciously the old mans
useless rife. She would scarcely have
been esteemed attractive even under
much happier circumstances and as
sisted by dress, yet there was some
thing in the Independent poise of her
head, the steady fxedness of her pos
ture, which served to interest Hamp-
ton as he now watched her curiously.
Fighting blood" he muttered ad-
miringly to himself. Might fail to
develop into very much of a society
bell, but likely to prove valuable out
here"
She was rather slender slip of
thing a trif1e too tall for her years,
perhaps, yet with no lack of develop
ment apparent in the slim, rounded
figure. Her coarse homemade dress
of dark calico fitted her sadly, while
her rumpled hair, from which the
broad-brimmed hat had fallen, pos
sessed a reddish copper tinge where
it was touched by the sun. Mr.. Hamp-
tons survey did not increase his de-
sire for more intimate acquaintance
ship, yet he recognized anew her I'M
doubted claim upon him.
Suppose 1 might just as well drop
out that way as any other he reflect
ed, thoughtfully. It's all in the game"
Lying fiat upon his stomach, both
arms extended, he slowly forced him
self beyond his bowlder into the open.
There was no great distance to be
traversed, and a considerable portion
of the way was somewhat protected
by low bushes Hampton took few
chances of those spying eyes above,
never uplifting his head the smallest
fraction of an inch, but reaching for
ward with blindly cropping hands,
caught hold upon any projecting root
or stone which enabled him to drag
HI 70
fired directly down at him from the
opposite summit, and once a fieck of
sharp rock, Clipped by glancing bull
let, embedded itself in his cheek, dye
ing the whole side of his face crimson.
But not once did he pause or glance
aside; nor did the girl look up from
the imploring face of her dead. AS he
crept silently in, sheltering himself
next to the body of the dead man, she
perceived his presence for the first
time. and shrank back as if in dread
What are you doing? Why-why
did you come here?" she questioned, a
falter in her voice; and he noticed that
her eyes were dark and large, yielding
a marked impress of beauty. to her
face
Il was unwilling to leave you here
alone" he answered, quietly, land hope
to discover some means for getting
you safely back beside the Others
But 1 didn't want YOU and there
was a look of positive dislike in her
widely opened eyes
Didn't want me?" He echoed these
unexpected words in a tone of COM
piete surprise. Surely you could not
desire to be left here alone? Why
didn't you want me?"
Because 1 know who you are," Her
voice seemed to catch in her throat.
He told me. You're the man who
shot Jim Eberly.''
Mr.. Hampton was never of a pro-
nounced emotional nature, nor was he
a person easily disconnected, yet he
flushed at the sound. of these impul-
sive words. and the confident smile de-
serted his lips For a moment they
sat thus, the dead bcs,y lying between,
and looked at each other When the
man finally broke he constrained ST.
1ence a deeper intoaation had crept
into his voice.
My GIRL he said gravely, and not
without a suspicion OF pleading, this
is no place for me to attempt any de-
fense Of a shooting ARRAY in gambling
l1onss. although / might plead with
some justice that Eberly enjoyed the
Ee--c- c. shooting first 1 was not