, 1908-09-03
watch, and ordered his horse to be

watch, and ordered his horse to be
saddled.
1t did not seem quite so simple now.
this projected interview with Hamp-
ton, as it had appeared the night be-
fore. In the clear light of day. he
began to realize the weakness of his
position, the fact that he possessed
not the smallest right to speak on be-
half of Nadia ellis. Nevertheless, the
die was cast, and perhaps, provided an
open quarrel could be avoided the
meeting might result in good to all
concerned.
Hampton welcomed him with dis
tant but marked courtesy, having evil
IDENTIFY thought out his own imme-
date plan of action, and schooled him.
self accordingly. Standing there, the
bright light streaming over them from
the open windows, they presented two
widely contrasting personalities, yet
each exhibited in figure and face the
evidences of hard training and iron
discipline. Hampton was clothed in
black, standing straight as an arrow,
his shoulders squared, his head held
proudly erect, while his cool gray
eyes studied the ACE of the other as
he had been accustomed to survey
his opponents at the lard table. Brant
looked the picture of a soldier on
duty. trim, well built, erect, his reso-
lutte blue ayes never ~finching from
the steady We bent upon him, his
bronzed young face grave from the
seriousness Of his mission. In both
minds the same thought fingered
the vague wonder how much the 9th
err knew. The elder man. however, re
tanned a better s~elf-control and was
first to break the silence.
Miss ellis informed me of your
kindness to her last evening"" he
said, quietly, and in her behalf |
sincerely thank o Permit me to
offer you a chair"
Brant accepted 1t and sat down.
feeling the calm one of proprietorship
in the words of the other as if they
lad been a blow. His face flushed.
yet he spoke firmly. Possibly | mis-
construe our meaning" he said. with
some bluntness, determined to reach
the gist of the matter at once. Did
Miss ellis authorize you to thank me
for these courtesies?"
Hampton smiled with provoking
calmness. holding an unlishted cigar
between his fingers. Why. really.
as to that I do not remember. I
merely mentioned it as expressing the
natural gratitude of us both"
You speak as II you possessed full
authority to express her mind as well
as your own"
The other bowed g%ravely, his face
impassive. MY words quite naturally
bear some such construction"
The officer hesitated. feeling more
doubtful thar eve regarding his own
position. Chagrined. disarmed, he
felt like a prisoner standing bound
before his mocking captor Then I
lear my mission here is useless"
Entirely so, II you come for the
purpose suspect" said Hampton. sit,
ting erect in his chair, and speaking
with more rapid utterance. ITO lee
ture me on morality. and demand my
yielding up all influence over his girl
such a mission Is assuredly a fail
ure. | have listened with some de
gree of calmness in this room already
to one such address. and surrendered
to its reasoning. But permit me to
say quite plainly. Lieut.. Brant. that
you are not the person from whom 7
will quietly listen to another"
81 had very little expectation that
you would"
you should have had still less, and
remained away entirely. However,
now that you are here, and the sui
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