, 1908-07-23

Into Hampton's eyer there leapsd .
hight upon which other men rad looked
before tley died,-the strange mad
CLEAN one sometimes seer In fighting
animals, or amid the fierce charges Of
backward. closing upon the butt Of .
revolver beneath his coat. and for MI
second he who had dared such utter
ance looked on death. Then thu hard
lines about the mans mouth softened,
the fin GER clutchinS the weapon rs-
Taxed, and Hampton laid one opened
hand upon the ministers shrinking
shoulder.
"Sit down" he said. his voice IN
steady from x sudden a reaction.
"Perhaps-perhaps I don't exactly IN
d%erstand."
For . full minute they sat thus hook
ing at each other through the fast
dimming light, ike two prixe-nghters
meeting for the first time within tho
ring. and taking mental stock before
beginning their physical argument.
Hampton. with . touch Of his old au-
dacity of manner, was ,rst to break
the silence.
80 you think I Am . damned fool.
Well VS. are in pretty fair accord ~
to that fact, although no one before
has ever ventured to state 1t quite 70
clearly In my presence. Perhaps you
will kindly explain"
The preacher wet his dry lips with
his tongue, forgetting himself when
his thoughts began to crystalline into
expression.
II regret having spoken A. I did"
he began. Such language Is not my
custom. I was irritated because Of
FOUR haste in rejecting my advances
before hearing the proposition l came
TO submit. l certainly respect your
evident desire to be Of assistance to
this young woman, nor have 1 the
slightest intention Of interfering be-
tween you Your act In preserving
her life was truly q noble one, and
your loyalty to her interests since Ia
worthy of all Christian praise. But
l believe / have a right to ask, what
do you intend for the future? Keep
her with you? Drag her about from
camp to CAMP Educate her among
the communicating poison of gambling
holes and dance-halls? Is her home
hereafter to be the saloon and the
rough frontier hotel? Her ideal of
manhood the quarrelsome gambler.
and Of womanhood q painted harlotf
Mr. Hampton. o are evidently a man
OF education, of early refinement; you
have known better things: and l have
come to you seeking merely to aid you
in deciding this helpless young wom-
ans destiny. l thought, 1 prayed. you
would be at once interested in that
purpose, and would comprehend the
Peasonableness of my position"
Hampton sat silent. gazing out Of
the window, his eyes apparently on
in the saloon opposite. For a consid-
cradle time he made no move. and the
ether Strengthened back in his chAt4
W~otohing him.
Well" he ventured at last. "wha1
y your propositions" The question
w. quietly asked, but 4 slight tremor
IN the low voice told Of repressed feel
ing.
That. for the present at least. you
confde this girl Into the care of some
worthy woman"
Have you any such IN nindf"
II have already discussed the mat
ter briefly with Mrs. Herndon. wife OF
the superintendent Of the Golden Rule
mines. She is q refined Christian lady,
beyond doubt the most proper person
to such . charge in this camp"
Hampton flung his sodden cigar butt
of the window. IN talk 1t over
to-morrow with-with Miss ellis" he
said. somewhat grualy. 1T may be
this means a good deal more to me
than you suppose, parson, but I'm
bound to acknowledge there II consid-
cradle hard sense in what you have
Just said, and III talk 1t over with the
girl"
wynkoop held out his hand cordial
" and the Arm grasp Of the other
closed over his fingers.
81 don't exactly know why 1 didn't
kick you downstairs" the latter com
mented, as though still in wonde at
himself Never remember being quite
so ccn1'l~ ATE h-'.re. but | reckon
you must have come u me IN ssoa1
the right way"
II wynkoop answered. his words
we're indistingxishabls, but Hampton
remained standing In the open door
watching the missionary 70 down tho
marrow stairs.
Merry little devil" he scknowh
edged slowly to himself. And maybe.
after all, that would be The hsss thing
for the Kid"
CHAPTER VI.
ITO Be or Not to Be-"