The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-10-24
CHAPTER Il.
old GiUis' Girl.

Old ellis Girl.
Guided by the unerring instinct Of
an old Indian fighter, ellis, during
that first mad retreat, had discovered
temporary shelter behind one Of the
largest powders. II was a trihe 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 lone so had it not
been for the firing from the cliff OBJ
posite. Even then It was a detected
bullet. giancing from Of 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 a vain effort to cleanse the blood
from his features. and nOw sat there,
piIlowing his head upon her knee, al
though the old man was stone dead
with the first touch Of the ban. That
had occurred fully an hour before, but
she continued in the same posture, a
grave. pathetic figure, her face s0bered
and carewOrn beyond her years, her
eyes dry and staring, n brown hand
grasping unc0nsciously the old mans
uselegs 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 hxedness Of her pos
ture. which served to interest Hamp-
ton as he now watched her c%uriously.
Fighting blood" he muttered ad-
miringIy TO himself. Might fail TO
develop into very much OF a society
bell. but likely to prove valuable out
here"
she was rather a slender slip Of a
thing. a trihe 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 umpled hair. from which the
broad-brimmed hat had fallen. pos
sessed a reddish copper tinge where
it was touched by the sur Mr.. Hamp-
tons survey did not increase his de-
sire for more Intimate acquaintance
ship. yet he recognized anew her IN
doubted claim upon him.
Suppose L might just as well drop
out that way as any other, he reflect
ed, thoughtfully. Its all in the game.
Lying fiat d O his stomach, both
arms extended, he slowly forced him
self beyond his bowlder into the open.
There was no great distance to be
trayersed, and a considerable portion
of the way was somewhat protected
By low bushes. Hampton COX few
chances OF those spying eyes above.
never uplifting hts 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 10 drag
his body an inch farther. Twice they
fred directly down at him from the
opposite summit. and once a heck o
sharp rock, Clipped by o glancing bul
let. embedded itself IN Lis cheek. dye
ing the whole side Of HIS face crimson
But not once did be pause or glance
aside. nor did the girl look up from
the impl0ring face Of her dead As b,
erept silently IN. sheltering himself
next To the body OF the lead man. Cd,
perceived his presence for the frs.
time. and shrank back as II In dread.
what are you doing2 Why-whl
did you come here7" she questioned.
falter IN her voice; and he noticed tina.
her eyes we're dark and large, yieldlni
a marked impress OF beauty 10 he.
face,
4 was unwilling 70 leave you her.
alone, he answered, quietly. 'and hopI
70 discover some means for gettini
you safely back beside the others.
But / didn't want you, and Their
was a look OF positive dislike IA be
widely opened Eyes.
Didn't want me?' He echoed thes0
unexpected words IN a one OF com
plete surprise. surely you could no
desire to be left here alone? VIII
didn't you want mef'
Because ! know who you arei" He
voice seemed to catch in her throat
"He told me. You're the man VIII
shot Jim Eberly."
Mr.. Hampton was never OF a pre-
nounoed emotional nature. nor was d
a person easily Disconnected, yet h
flushed at the sound Of these impu.
sive words, and the confident smile de-
sorted his lips. For q moment the
sat thus. the dead boz lying betweer
and looked at each her. When IN
man finally broke e constrained s
lence a deeper intCnaiion had creT
into HIS voice.
MY girl he said grayely, and nc
without a suspicion Of pleading. 'thi
Is no place for me 70 attempt any d
fensa ~ a shooting ARRAY IN q gamolin
houst. although might plead via
ome justice that Eberly enjoyed h
c ci shooting first ! was ne