Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-07
BOB HAMPTON OF PLACER.
BY RANDALL PARRISH,
AUTHOR OF WHEN WILDERNESS WAS KING"
Copyright A. c. McClurg Coy
BY RANDALL

OF his dark eyes-hiding beyond doubt some
| mystery of the past, the nature Of which
was yet to be revealed. Mr.. Moffat, always
| strong along this line of feminine sympathy,
| felt newly inspired by these evidences Of in
| terest in his tales, and by something in
Miss Spencers face which bespoke admira-
ton
The fly in the ointment of this long days
ride. the third party, whose undesirable
presence and personal knowledge OF Mr..
Monat's past career rather seriously inter-
Tered with, the latter's flights Of magma
| ton. was William Mcneil. foreman of the
| Bar w ranch over on Sinsiniwa creek.
Mcneil was not much Of a talker, having an
impediment in his speech, and being trifie
Dashiui IN the presence Of lady. But he
caught the eye-a slenderly built, reckless
| fellow. smoothly shaven, with a strong chin
and bright, laughing eyes-and as he lolled
carelessly back in his -bearskin Chaps and
] wlde-Drimmed sombrero, occasionally throw
Ing In some cool, insinuating comment re-
garding Moffat's recitals, the latter expert
enced a strong inclination to heaye him
| overheard. The slight hardening of Nc
NefIs eyes at such moments had thus far
served. however, as sufficient restraint,
while the unobservant Miss Spencer una
ware of the silent duel thus being conducted
In her very presence. divided her undis-
guised admiration, playing havoc with the
| susceptible heart Of each, and all uncon-
sciously laying the foundations for future
| trouble.
why. how truly remarkabler she ex-
claimed her cheeks glowing. Its all so
different from the east; heroism seems to
be in the very air of this country, and your
adventure was SO very unusual. Don't you
think SO. Mr.. McNeil?"
The silent foreman hitched himself sud
denly upright, his face unusually solemn.
| 'Why-eh-yes. miss-you might-eh--say
| that He" with flip of his hand toward
| the other. "eh-reminds me-of-eh-an old
| friend.'
Indeed? How extremely interestingv'
eagerly seeming a new story please tell
me who 1T was Mr.. Mcneil
"Oh-eh-knew him when I was a boy
| eh-Munchausen."
Mr.. Moffat drew in his head violently.
before he could speak Miss Spencer inter-
vened.
"Munchausen! Why, Mr.. Mcneil, YOU
surely do not intend to question the truth
of Mr.. Moffat's narrative?'.
The foreman's eyes twinkled humorously,
but the lines of his face remained calmly
impassive. "My-etl-reference" he ex-
planned. gravely. overwhelmingly to the
eh-local color, the-eh-expert touches"
"Oh!'
Eyes. miss. It's eh-bad taste out here
to-eh-doubt anybody's word-eh-pub-
| licly.'
Moffat stirred uneasily, his hand hung
behind him, but Mcneil was gazing into the
| lady's fair face, apparently unconscious of
any other presence.
But all this time you have not favored
Mcneil am very sure you must have had
hundreds out on these wide plains"
! The somewhat embarrassed foreman shook
| his head discouragingly.
+, "Oh. but just know you have, only YOU
are SO modest about recounting them Now,
| that scar just under your hair-really 1t is
| not at all unbecoming-surely that reveals
story. Was 1t caused by an Indian arrow"
Mcneil crossed his legs and wiped his
/ damp forehead with the back of his hand
"Hoof of - pack-mule." he explained
forgetting himself. "The-eh-cuss lifted
me ten feet"
Moffat laughed hoarsely. but as the fore
man Strengthened up quickly, the amazed
girl Joined happily in, and his own face in
stantly exhibited the contagion.
"Aint much-eh-ever happens out on a
ranch" he said, doubtfully, except dodgin'
steers. and-eh-bustin' bronchos."
'Your blame mule story" broke in Mof-
fat. who had at last discovered his inspira-
ton. reminds me Of curious little Incl
dent occurring last year Just across the d.