The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-11-29

hampton you re frdud, ana you
know IL, Didn't understand exact
~ who you was, and what was your
business? Didn't know you was a
gambler. and a bad man? Didn't /
tell you plain enough out yonder"-
and her voice faltered slightly-"just
what thought about your Good Lord
| haven't been begging TO stick with
you, have |? | just didn't know
which way 10 turn 10. after dad was
killed, and you sorter hung on 10 me.
and let IL 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. pro
pose 10 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 half-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 FLY 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 still clasped about
her throat, and pried open the stiff
catch with his knife blade. She bent
down 10 fasten her loosened shoe.
and when her eyes We're uplifted his
gaze was riveted 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 al 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 in his hand Isis she
dead?" be 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
saw her grave"
Dad? Do you mean old Gillis7''
She nodded, beginning dimly to won
der why he should speak so fercely
and stare at her in that odd way
He seemed 10 choke twice before he
! could ask the next aue:ti29
| Did he-old ellis, mean-clain
| to be your father. CT her husband?"
] NO. l don't reckon he ever did. bu
| he gave me that picture, and told ms
II she was my mother l always live'
II with him. and called him dad. ! reck
, on he liked it, and he was might
good 10 me We were at Randolph
= a long time. and since then he's bee
y post-trader at Bethuhe That's al
1 know about it. for dad never talker
ii very much. and he used to get ma
Il when ] asked him questions
/ Hampton dropped the locket fror
/ his grasp and arose to his feet. 70
q several minutes he stood with hi
back toward her apparently gain
down the valley his Jaw set. his din
med eyes seeing nothing. Slowly tn
color came creeping into his face. an
his hands unclinched. Then he whee
ed about and looked down upon he
completely restored TO his old n;
ture.
Then Il seems that IL is just 70
and I. Kid. who have got 10 settle thi
little affair" he announced. firml,
III have my say about it. and the
you can uncork your feelings / ratl
er imagine I haven't very much legi
right in the premises, but I've got
sort OF moral grip on you by reason {
having pulled you out alive from tia
canyon yonder, and propose TO pla
this game to the limit. You say yQg
mother is dead. and the man VIII
raised you is dead, and so far as etl
or OF US know, there isn't a soul an,
where on earth who possesses an
claim over YOU, or any desire to hav'
Then. naturally, the whole Jackpot
up 10 me provided I've got the card
Now. Kid. waving your prejudice asid
q, | amt just exactly the best man
~ this world TO bring up girl like 20
10 and make lady out OF her ! though
A. yesterday that maybe we might maj
age TO hitch along together Il
:, awhile. but I've got a different thin
- coming today There's no use di
i figuring the truth. I'm a gamble
- something OF a fighter on the side, an
: folks don't say anything too pleasin
about my peaceful disposition aroun
these settlements: haven't any hom
and mighty few friends. and the fe
= have got are nothing TO boast abou
I reckon there's a cause for IL al
- SO. considering everything, I'm abol
Ae the poorest proposition ever was hear
Of TO start a young ladies' seminar
~ The Lord knows. old Gilns was ba
~ enough. but I'm a damned sight wors
81 Now. some woman has got to take va