Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-01-10
CHAPTER XVI.
Mr.. Hampton Resolves.

Mr.. Bob Hampton stood in the bright
sunshine on the steps Of the hotel. his
appreciativs gaze wandering up the
long, dusty, unoccupied street, and
Anallly rising to the sweet face Of the
young girl whs occupied the step
above. As their eyes met both smiled
- II they understood each other.
There is nothing quite equal to
feeling well, little girl" he said, gen.
Tally, patting her hand where it rested
On the railing, "and really believe |
am in as fine fettle now as ever have
been. Do you know, believe I'm per
fsctly at to undertake that little de-
tsetiye operation casually mentioned
to you q few days ago. It's got to DO
done, and the sooner l get at It the
easier I'll feel. Fact is, put In q
large portion Of the night thinking out
my plans"
Il wish you would give It up all to-
gether, Bob she said, anxiously. Il
shall be 30 dull and lonely here while
you are gone"
Il reckon you will, for fact. but,
Nadia, It isn't likely this little affair
will require very long, and things are
lots happier between us since my late
shooting scrape. When fall comes |
mean to take you east and put you
In some good finishing school. Don't
care quite as much about 1t as you
did, do you?"
Eyes, think do, Bob" She strove
brayely to express enthusiasm. THE
trouble is, | am so worried over your
going off alone hunting after that
man"
He laughed, his eyes searching her
face for the truth We'll, little girl,
he won't exactly be the first I've had
call to go after. Besides, this is a
particular case, and appeals to me in
4. q sort Of personal way. If you only
knew it, you're about as deeply con-
cerned in the result as am, and as for
me, | can never rest easy again until
the matter is over with"
Its that awful Murphy, isn't it,"
Hes the one I'm starting after first
and one sight at his right hand will
decide whether he is to be the last as
we'll"
81 never supposed you would seek
revenge, like savage" she remarked
quietly. You never used to be that
way"
Good Lord, Nadia, do you think I'm
low down enough to 90 out hunting
that poor cuss merely to get even with
him for trying to stick me with q
knife? Why, there are 20 others who
have done as much, and We have beer
the best of friends afterwards. Oh
no, lassie, it means more than that
and harks back many long year.
told you | saw a mark On his hand
would never forget-hut | saw thai
mark first Is years ago. This is 6
. duty l owe a friend, q dead friend, t
run to earth this murderer. Do you
understand now? The fellow who die
that shooting up at Bethune Is years
q ago had the same sort of mark OF
his right hand as this one who killed
Slavin. That's why I'm after him ant
when catch up he'll either squeal o.
die"
But how do you know"
81 never told you the whole stor,
and don't mean to now until com,
back and can make everything pei
fectly clear. It wouldn't do you an,
good the way things stand now, an,
would only make you uneasy. But
you do any praying over it, my CIR
pray good and hard that l may dis
cover some means for making that fe
low squeal"
She made no response but stoo
gazing thoughtfully past him.
Have you heard anything lately
Bob, about the SEVENTH" she aske
finally. "Since-since N troop lei
here?"
He answered with well.simulate
carelessness.. No; but it is most lik,
ly- they are well into the game by thi
time. Crooks column, | have ju!
heard, was overwhelmingly attacke
on the Rosebud, and forced to ia
back. That leaves the Seventh [
take the brunt of it, and there is goin
to be hell up north presently, or "
forgotten all l ever knew about
dians. But come, little girl, as l sal
I'm quite likely to be OF before nigh
provided l am fortunate enough
. sstriks fresh trail. Under such cont
tons you won't mind my kissing yC
out here, will you?"
She held up her lips and he touch,
them softly with his own. Her ey,
were tear-dimmed. "0h, Bob, l ha
so to let you CO." she sobbed, elm
} ing 10 him. mo one could have be-
more to me than you have been, al
you are all l have left in the worl
Everything care for goes away fro
me. Life is so hard, so hard!"
Yes, little girl, know" and Il
man stroked her hair tenderlr, b
own voice faltering. It's all hard;
learned that sad lesson long ago, b
I've tried to make 1t little bit east
for you since We first came togethe
Still. | don't see how | can possib
help this. I've been hunting after tn
follovr -Inn~ whflA now q r,.aRfar