, 1908-07-09

eopSh NNht W
berly. only don't touch me-"
No one could ever realize how much
those words hurt him. Not until he
had completely conquered his first I'M
wise impulse to retort angrily, did he
venture again to speak.
Il hope to aid you in getting back
beside the others. where you will be
less exposed"
"Will you take him {"
H is dead" Hampton said, sober
ly. and ! can do nothing to aid him.
But there remains q chance for you
to escape"
positively.
Hampton's gray eyes looked for a
long fiXedly into her darker
ones, while the W took mental stock
Of each other. He realized the utter
futility of any further argument, while
she felt iDstinctively the cool, domi-
mating strength of the man. Neither
was composed Of that poor fiber which
bends.
Very well, m young lady he said,
easily, stretching himself out more
III tdDIs III liz IoCh SllduON. men
will remain here with you; it makes
small odds"
Excepting for one hasty, puzzled
glance, she did not deign to look again
toward him. and the man rested mo-
tionless upon his back, staring up at
the sky. Finally. curiosity overma
tered the actor in him, and he turned
partially upon n side, so as to bring
her profile within his range of vision.
Her dark. glowing eyes were lowered
upon the white face of the dead man,
yet Hampton noted how clear. in spite
Of sun-tan, were those tints of health
upon the rounded cheek, and how soft
and glossy shone her wealth of rum
pied hair. Even the tinge of color. SO
distssteful in the full glare of the sun,
appeared to have darkened under
tho shadow. its shade framing the
downcast face into a pensive fairness.
Then he observed how dry and
psrched her lips were.
Take a drink of this" he insisted
heartily. holding out tOward her as he
spoke his partially filled %canteen.
She started at the unexpected sound
Of his voice. yet uplifted the welcome
water to her mouth. while Hampton,
observing 1t all closely, could but re-
mark the delicate shapeliness of her
hand.
III that old fellow was her father"
he reflected soberly, Il should like to
have seen her mother"
Thank you" she said simply, hand
h,,t ,tttbN,,t I{ft
ing her eyes again to his C Il was
so thirsty" Her low tone. e%ndeavor-
ing to be polite enough, contained no
note ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
Was Gillis your fatherf" the man
questioned, determined to make her
recognize his presence.
81 suppose so; l don't know"
You don't know? Am l to under
stand you are actually uncertain
whether this man was your father or
not?"
THAT is about what I said, wasn't
II? Not that it is any Of your bust
ness, SO far as | know, Mr.. Bob Hamp-
ton, but | answered you all right. He
brought me Il II. and 1 called him dad
about as far back as | can remember,
but i don't reckon as he ever told me
he was my father. So you al under
stand Just what you please"
Hi name was ellis, wasn't it,"
The girl nodded YEARLY.
"Post,trader at Fort Bethune?"
Again the rumpled head silently &C.
guessed.
What ii. your name?'
He always called me kid" she
admitted un Willingly. but | reckon If
you have any further occasion for ad-
dressing me. you'd better say Miss
ellis"
Heaven preserve me-" he ex-
claimed good naturedly. but You are
certainly laying It on thick, young
lady! However, | believe We might
become good friends II we ever have
sufncient luck to get out from this
hole alive. Darn II ! don't sort OF cot
ten to you. little ~Eirl-you've got some
sand"
For a brief space her truthful, angry
eyes rested scornfully upon his face.
her lips parted as though trembling
With q sharp retort, Then she delib-
srstely turned her back upon him
without utte"i1" . word.
For what may have been the nrst
and only occasion In Mr.. Hamptons
audacious career. he realized his utter
helplessness. This mere slip OF .
red-headed girl. this little nameless
waif of the frontier, condemned him
20 completely, and without waste OF
words. as to leave him weaponless.
Mr.. Hampton was a th~orongh'goihs
sport, and no quality was quite so apt
to appeal to him as dead gameness.
He glanced surreptitiously aside ut
her once more, but there was no sign
ralantInn In the aYerted face. He