The Oakes times., 1908-03-12

Your memory can scarcely be failing
at your age.-Make another motion
like that aud you die right there! You
know me.-However. as you seem to
shy over my first question, I'll honor
you with q second-Where's Silent
Murphy!"
"You devil!" slavin roared. "what
do you mean?"
With revolver hand resting on the
table, the muzzle pointing at the gi-
ants heart. Hampton leaned forward.
utterly renorseless now. and keen as
an Indian on the trail.
do you know who I ann"
The horror in Slavin's eyes had
changed to sullenness, but he nodded
silently.
How do you know?"
There was no reply, although the
thick lips appeared to move.
Answer me, you red sneak! Do
you think l am here to be played
with? Answer!"
Slavin gulped down something
which seemed threatening to choke
him, but he durst not lift q hand to
wipe the sweat from his face. off
If didn't have this beard on you
might guess. l thought you knew me
all the time."
Hampton stared at him, still puz.
zled. II have certainly seen you some
where. thought that from the first.
Where was it,"
Il was in D Troop, Seventh cav
airy"
ID Troop? Brant's troop?"
The big gambler nodded. That's
how l knew you, Captain" he said.
speaking with greater ease. "but I
never had no reason to say anything
about it round here. You was alters
decent 'nough ter me-"
"Possibly"-and it was plainly evil
dent from his quiet tone Hampton had
steadied from his first surprise.-"the
boot was on the other leg, and you
had some good reason not to say any
thing"
Slavin did not answer, but he wet
his lips with his tongue, his eyes on
the window.
"Who is the fellow Murphy?"
"He was corporal in that same
troop, sir" The ex-cavalryman drop
ped insensibly into his old form of
speech. He knew you too, and we
talked it over, and decided to keep
still. because it was none of our affair
anyhow"
"Where is he now?"
"He left last night with army dis
patches for Cheyenne"
| Hampton's eyes hardened percepti-
bly,, and his fingers closed more tight
" about the butt of his revolver. "You
lie, Slavin! The last message did not
reach here until this morning. That
! fellow is hiding somewhere in this
camp, and the two of you have been
trying to get at the girl. Now, damn
you, what is your little game?"
4 The big gambler was thinking hard.
er then, perhaps, than he had ever
thought in his life before. He knew
Hampton would kill him If he needed
to do so, but he likewise realized that
he was not likely to fire until he had
gained the information he was seek
ing. If he only knew how much infor
nation the other possessed it would
he easy enough. AS he did not, he
Aust WELD his weapon blindly.
You're maxim a devil of fuss
over little or nothin'," he growled
Stimulating tone of disgust. II amt
never he'd no quarrel with ye. except
In fer the way ye managed ter skin
me at the table bout two years ago
don't give two screeches in hell fol
who you are; an besides. reckon you
amt the only ex-convict arranging Da
kota either fer the matter O. that. Nc
more does Murphy We amt nc
bloomin' detectives, an we amt buck
in in no business O yourn: ye kin just
bet your sweet life on thet."
where is Murphy, then? I wish tc
see the fellow"
II told you he'd gone. Maybe he
didn't git away till this mornin', but
he's gone now all right. What In
thunder do ye want O. him? reckon
kin tell ye all that Murphy knows
For breathless moment neither
spoke, Hampton lingering his gun ner
vously, his eyes lingering on that bru
tai face. Ts..
"slavin," he said at last, his voice
hard, metallic. 1--WE figured it out
and I do know you now, you lyinf
brute. You are the fellow who swort
you saw me throw away the gun tha
did the shooting, and that afterwards
you picked it up"
There was the spirit of murder IL
his eyes, and the gambler covered
back before them, trembling like {
child.
IL only swore to the last part
Captain" he muttered, his voic,
scarcely audible. IL never said
saw you throw"
"And I swore," went on Hampton
that l would kill you on sight. 70,
lying whelp. are you ready to die?"
Slavin's face was drawn and gray
the perspiration standing In bead
upon his forehead, but he could Meth
er speak nor think, fascinated b,