Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-02-01

more, II you re able to make the trip.
there is no one here who will attempt
TO stop you. But now tell me how this
thing happened. ! want to know the
story before we get IN"
For a moment Hampton remained
silent, his thoughtful gaze on the near
by videttes. his hands leaning heavily
upon the saddle pommel Perhaps he
did not remember clearly: possibly he
could not instantly decide just how
much of that story to tell. Brant sus-
pected this last 70 be his difficulty
and he spoke impulsively.
Hampton. there has been trouble
and misunderstanding between us. but
that's all past and gone now. sin
cerely believe in your purpose OF
right. and l ask you 20 trust me.
Either OF MS would give his life II need
were, to be Of real service to a little
girl back yonder In the hills / don't
know what you are to her: l don't
ask. know she has every confidence
in you. and that Is enough. Now. I
want 10 do what is right with both of
you, and IL you have a word to saw to
me regarding this matter. III treat Il
conhdentially. This trip with Murphy
has some bearing upon Nadia ellis.
has il not7"
Yes"
viii you tell me the storyY''
The thoughtful gray eyes looked At
him long and seerchingly. "Brant. do
you love that girl?"
Just as unwaverinsly the blue eyes
returned the look 4 DO. have
s-lraH h,- J., Ar~yr~,~ 49,. lie.
And her answer"
she said no; that a dead man was
between us"
rs that all you know"
The younger man bent his head. his
face grave and rerplexed. Practical
ly all"
Hampton wet his dry lips with his
tongue. his breath quickening.
And in that she was right" he
said at last. his eyes lowered to the
ground. Il will tell you Why. II was
the father OF MAZDA ellis who was
convicted OF the murder OF Maj
Brant."
"Oh. my father Is she Capt. No
lan's daughter? But you say convict
cd Was there ever any doubt? DO
ARA ANNtNANAA hhe NNAAn SUM.
Hampton pointed in silence 10 the
hideous creature behind them That
man could tell. but he has gone mad"
Brant endcavored 20 speak. but the
words would not come: his brain
seemed paralyzed. Hampton held him
self under better control.
Il have confidence. Lieut. Brant in
your honesty" he began. gravely. and
believe ycu VIII strive 10 do what
ever as bost for her. st anything should
happen 20 me out yon5er But for the
possibility cf nay being knocked out. I
wouldn't talk about this. not even 20
YOU. The affair is a long way from
being straichtencd out so as TO make
a pleasant story. but III give you all
You actually require TO know In order
20 make il clear TO her. provided
shouldn't come back. You see. she
doesn't know yery much more than
you do-only what I was Obliged to
tell TO keep her from getting too close
~ entangled with you. Maybe ought
TO have given her the full story before
started on this trip. I've since
wished / had. but yoa see. I never
dreamed IL was going 70 end here. on
the Big Horn: besides. I didn't have
the nerve.
You see, Brant I feel that I simply
nave 10 carry these dispatches
through. ! have a pride IN giving
them 10 Custer myself because OF the
trouble I've had In getting them here
But perhaps ] may not come back
ana In that case there wouldn't he
anyone living 20 tell her the truth. IL
seems 70 me that there is going TO be
big fight somewhere IN these hills
before long SO want to leave these
private papers with you until come
BACK II VIII relieve my mind 70 know
they are safe: If don't come. then |
want you TO open them and do what
ever you decide is best for the little
girl You will do that, won't your"
He handed over a long manila en-
veiope securely sealed. and the young
eT man accepted it. noticing that 1t
was unaddressed before depositing II
safely in "a inner pocket OF his fatigue
jacket.
Certainly. Hampton" he said. rs
that all?"
"All except what am going 70 tell
you now regarding Murphy There is
no use my attempting to explain ex-
acty how I CHANGED to find out all
these things. for they came to me little
by little during several years. knew
Nolan, and / knew your father. and I
had reason to doubt the guilt of the
captain, in spite OF the verdict OF the
jury that condemned him In fact. |
knew at the time. although II was not
In my power to prove it, that the two
principal witnesses against Nolan lied.
l thought I could guess why, but we
drifted apart. and finally / lost all
track OF every one connected with the
affair. Then happened to pick up
that girl down IN the canyon beyond |
the Bear Water. and pulled her out
alive just because she CHANGED to be |
OF that sex. and couldn't stand TO see
her fall into Indian clutches. didn't |
feel any special interest In her at the |
time. supposing she belonged to Old |
ellis, bat she somehow grew on me
she's that kind Won know. and