The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1908-01-09

be y NhlnNNu y bhli aHu = hnNNns
and was yet lingering over bis oei.
Zee, when the two soldiers entered
with their report. The sergeant step-
ped aside, and the orderly. a tail, boy.
ish looking fellow with a ~pusnacious
chin. saluted htiny.
Wen, Bane,'' and the oflcer eyed
hts trim appearance with manifest ap.
prevail, what did YOU succeed In learn.
lng?"
The operator said this we're Aiur,
ply had never bin thar himself sir.
but there wus several messages come
fer him. One got here this mornin'
what becomes OF them?"
They're called Ter by another tel.
Ter. Sin"
"Oh. they are! Who?"
Red slavin wus the name he give
me of tibet other buck"
When the two had disappeared.
Brant sat hack thinking rapidly. There
was a mystery here, and such actions
must have a cause. Something eth
er in or about Glencaid was COM
Polling Murphy to keep out Of sight
but what9 Who? Brant was un-
able to get il out Of his head that
all this secrecy centered around Nadia.
Perhaps Hampton knew: al least he
might possess some additional scrap
Of information which would help to
solve the problem. He looked at his
watch. and ordered his horse to be
saddled.
II did not seem quite so simple now.
this projected interview with Hamp-
ton. as Il 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
IDENTITY thought out his own imme-
diate 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 face OF the other as
DE had been accustomed to survey
his opponents at the card table. Brant
looked the picture Of a soldier on
duty, trim; wen built. erect. his reso.
lutte blue eyes never dinchiug from
the steady gaze bent upon him. hia
brouzcd Young face grave from the
seriousness OF his mission. In both
minds the same thought fingered
the vague wonder how much the 9th.
cr know The elder man. however. re.
tanned a better seltcontnol aud was
fest 90 break the silence
Miss ellis informed me Of your
kindness 10 her last evening he
said. quietly. and In her behalf !
sincerely thank you. Permit me TO
offer you a chair.
Brant accepted Il and sat down.
feeling the calm tone OF pruprietorship
10 the words Of the other as II they
had been a blow. His face flushed.
yet he spoke firmly. Possibly / mis-.
coCstrue your meaning he said. with
some bluntuess. determined TO reach
the gist OF the matter AZ once. Did
Miss ellis authorize you TO thank me
for these C"urtesles?"
Hampton smiled with provoking
calmness, holding an uniighted cigar
between his fingers. why. really
as TO that I do not remember.
merely mentioned e as expressing the
natural gratitude Of MS both.
You speak as II you possessed iulI
authority 10 express her mind AZ vel
as your OWN
The other bowed E~rayely. his face
impassive "My words quite naturally
bear some such construction
The officer hesltated. feeling more
doubtful than ever regarding his Owl
position. Chagrined. disarmed. b,
iolt like a prisoner standing bound
before HE m0cking captor Then
fear my mission here is useless
Entirely 30. N you come for the
purpose . suspect said Hampton. slt
tins erect .n his chair. and speaking
with more rapid u~tterance TO Ice
unre me on morality. and demand ms
yielding up an influence over this glr
such a mission Ga aHSuredly a fail
ure. have listened with some de
eree OF calmness In this room already
10 one such address, and surrendere,
90 rs reasoning Hut permit me {,
say quite plainly, Lieut. Braut. tina
you are not the person from whom
will quietly listen 10 another.
Il had very little expectation tina
you would
You should have had still less. an0
remained away entirely. However
now that YOU are here, and the sab
ieot preached, Il becomes my turI
IN say enmafhfnu and fo saw BE- clear