The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-08-03
CHAPTER XVI.
MIR. Hampton Resolves.

Mr.. Hampton Resolves.
Mr. Bob Hampton stood in the bright
sunshine on the steps of the hotel, his
appreciative gaze wandering up the
long, dusty, unoccupied street, and
finally rising to the sweet face OF the
young girl who occupied the step
ABOVE. AS their eyes met both smiled
as If they understood each other.
There is nothing quite equal to
feeling well, little girl" he said, gen.
tally, patting her hand where II rested
on the railing and l really believe 1
am in as fine fettle now as / ever have
been. Do you know, | believe I'm per-
fectly fit to undertake that little de-
tective operation casually mentioned
to you a few days ago. It's got to be
done, and the sooner get at it the
easier III feel. Fact is, 1 put in
large portion of the night thinking out
my plans"
Il wish you would give 1t up all to-
gether. Bob" she said, anxiously. Il
shall be so dull and lonely here while
you are gone"
II reckon you will, for fact, but,
will require very long. and things are
lots happier between US since my late
shooting scrape. When fall comes
mean to take you east and put you
in some good finishing school. Don't
care quite as much about 1t as you
did. do you?"
Yes, l think do, Bob" She strove
RI ovpracs apfbncfacun stTba
trouble is, / am so worried over your
going of alone hunting after that
man"
He laughed, his eyes searching her
face for the truth. Well, little girl,
he won't exactly be the first I've had
call to go after. Besides, this is a
particular case, and appeals to me in
a sort of personal way. If you only
knew it, you're about as deeply con-
cerned in the result as l am, and as for
me. 1 can never rest easy again until
the matter is over with"
Its that awful Murphy, isn't it?"
Hes the one I'm starting after first
and one sight at his right hand will
decide whether he is to be the last as
WELL
Il never supposed you would seek
revenge, like a savage" she remarked
quietly. You never used to be that
way"
Good Lord, Nadia, do you think I'm
low down enough to go out hunting
that poor cuss merely to get even with
him for trying to stick me with 6
knife? Why, there are 20 others whC
have done as much, and we have beer
the best Of friends afterwards. oh
no, lassie, 1t means more than that
and harks back many a long year.
told you I saw a mark on his hand
would never forget-but l saw tina
mark first 10 years ago This is ;
duty l owe a friend, a dead friend t
run to cash this murderer. Do you
understand now? The fellow who die
that shooting up at Bethune Is years
ago had the same sort Of a mark OIL
his right hand as this one who killed
SlaviR That's why I'm after him ant
when l catch up he'll either sQueal o.
die"
But how do you know?"
I never told you the whole stor!
and / don't mean to now until com,
back and can make everything per
fectly clear 1t wouldn't do you an,
good the way things stand now, an,
would only make you uneasy. But
you do any praying over it, my girl
pray good and hard that I may dis
cover some means for making that fel
low squeal."
She made no response but stoo
gazing thoughtfully past him.
Have you heard anything lately
Bob, about the SEVENTH" she aske
finally. "Since-since N troop lef
here?"
He answered with well-simulate
carelessness. No; but it is most like
~ they are we'll into the game by thi
time Crooks column, I have jus
heard. was overwhelming a&tacke
on the Rosebud, and forced to ia
back. That leaves the Seventh I
take the brunt of it, and there is goin
to be hell up north presently, or "
forgotten all I ever knew about II
dams But come, little girl. as I sait
N quite likely 70 De Oh oSAo4S H1S IL
provided l am fortunate enough
strike a fresh trail. Under such cond
tions you won't mind my kissing 20
out here, will your"
She held up her lips and he touche
them softly with his own. Her eye
were tear-dimmed "Oh. Bob, hat
so to let you co. she sobbed, clini
ing to him. No one could have bee
more TO me than you have been. an
you are all I have left in the worl
Everything l care for goes away frol
me. Life is so hard. so hard!"
Yes. little girl. / know" and Il