The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1908-02-14
us can't be bosses IN the same rancA.s

know Il! Didn't I understand exact
ly who you was, and what was your
business? Didn't l know you was q
gambler, and q bad man?' Didn't I
tell you plain enough out yonder"-
and her voice faltered slightly-"just
what I thought about you? Good Lord!
l haven't been begging to stick with
you, have I? l Just didn't know
which way to turn to, after dad was
killed, and you sorter hung on to me,
and / let 1t go the way / supposed you
wanted 1t. But I'm not particularly
stuck on your style, let me tell you,
and l reckon there's plenty of ways
for me to get along. Only first, I pro-
pose to understand what your little
game is. You don't throw down your
hand like that without some reason"
Hampton sat up, spurred into in
slant admiration by such i%ndepend-
ence of spirit. you grow rather good
looking, Kid. when you get hot, but
you go at things ~half.cocked, and
you've got to get over 1t. That's the
whole trouble-you've never been
trained, and I wouldn't make much Of
a trainer for a high-strung FLY like
you. Ever remember your mother?"
Mighty little; reckon she must
have died when I was about five years
old. That's her picture"
Hampton took in his hand the old
fashioned locket she held out toward
him, the long chain still clasped about
her throat, and pried open the stiff
catch with his knife blade. She bent
down to fasten her loosened shoe,
and when her eyes were uplifted his
gaze was riveted upon the face in the
picture.
Mighty pretty, wasn't she?" she
asked, with a sudden girlish interest,
bending forward to look, regardless Of
his strained attitude. "And she was
p~rettier than that, even, the way I
remember her best. with her hair all
hanging down, coming to tuck mi into
bed at night. Someway that's how I
always seem to see her."
The man drew a deep breath, and
snapped shut the locket, yet still re.
tanned it in his hand. Isis she
dead?" he questioned, and his voice
trembled in spite of his steel nerves.
Eyes, in st. Louis; dad took me
there with him two years ago, and
saw her grave"
Dad? Do you mean old Gillis?"
She nodded, beginning dimly to won.
der why he should speak so ~fiercely
and stare at her in that odd way.
He seemed to choke twice before he
could ask the next question.
did he-old Gillis, 1 mean-claim
to be your father, or her husband?"
mo, l don't reckon he ever did, but
he gave me that picture, and told me
she was my mother. l always lived
with him, and called him dad. 1 reck
or he liked it, and he was mighty
good to me. We were at Randolph
a long time, and since then he's beer
p~ost-trader at Bethune. That's all
know about it, for dad never talked
very much, and he used to get mao
when l asked him questions"
Hampton dropped the locket from
his grasp and arose to his feet. Fol
several minutes he stood with his
back toward her, apparently gazing
down the valley, his jaw set, his dim
med eyes seeing nothing. Slowly the
color came creeping into his face, ant
his hands unclinched. Then he wheel
ed about, and looked down upon her
completely restored to his old ma
ture.
Then it seems that 1t Is just 20,
and I, Kid, who have got to settle thi
little affair."" he announced, firmly
I'll have my say about it, and the
you can uncork your feelings. l ratt
err imagine l haven't very much lega
right in the premises, but I've got
sort of moral grip OF you by reason O
having pulled you out alive from tina
canyon yonder, and l propose to pla
this game to the limit. You say you
mother is dead, and the man VIII
raised you is dead, and, SO far as eitl
er Of us know, there isn't a soul any
where on earth who possesses an
claim over you, or any desire to hav,
Then, naturally, the whole Jackpot 1
up to me, provided I've got the card
Now, Kid. waving your prejudice asid,
l amt just exactly the best man 1
n this world to bring up a girl like 20
a and make a lady out of her. / though
n yesterday that maybe we might maj
age to hitch along together fc
awhile, but I've got a different thin
9 coming to-day. There's no use di
|, figuring the truth. I'm a gamble
v something Of a fighter on the side, an
folks don't say anything too pleasin
about my peaceful disposition aroun
!. these settlements; l haven't any HON
y and mighty few friends, and the fe
: l have got are nothing to boast abou
reckon there's a cause for 1t a,
- So, considering everything, I'm abol
y the poorest proposition ever was heal
of to start a young ladies' seminar
The Lord knows, old Gillis was bs
enough, but I'm a damned sight wors
III NyOuy ~ ,a,ooo 10, c1k - 49, -