The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-04-30
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the rock. and sitting stiiily. the color
on her cheeks deepening through thu
sunburn. Nov see here, Mister Bob
Hampton. you're a fraud. and you
know it, Didn't understand exact
| ly who you was, and what was your
business? Didn't | know you was q
gambler, and bad man. Didn't
tell you plain enough out yonder"-
and her voice faltered slightly-"just
what thought about you? Good Lord.
| haven't been begging to stick with
you. have I? | Just didn't know
which way to turn TO. after dad was
killed, and you sorter hung on to me.
and let II go the way | supposed you
wanted Il. But I'm not particularly
stuck on your style. let me tell you,
and l reckon there plenty of ways
for me to get along. Only first. | pro.
| pose to understand what your little
game is. You don't throw down your
hand like that without some reason. "
Hampton sat so. spurred into in.
slant admiration by such independ-
ence of spirit. you glsw rather good
looking, Kid. when you get hot. but
you go at things halfcocked. and
you've got TO get over 1t. That's the
whole trouble-you'yo never been
trained, and | 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 was about Ave 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 stih
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
| pretticr than that. even, the way I
| remember her best. with her hair all
hanging down. coming to tuck me into
bed at night. Someway that's how !
| always seem 20 see her"
The man drew a deep breath. anc
snapped shut the locket, yet still re.
talned IL in his hand. Isis she
dead?' he questioned. and his voice
trembled in spite of his steel nerves.
Yes. 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 diihly TO won.
der why he should speak 90 fiercely
and stare at her in that odd way.
lie seemed TO choke twice before he
could ask the next question.
Did he-old ellis. meau-claim
to be your father. or her husbandf"
No. | don't reckon he ever did. but
he gave me that picture. and told me
she was my mother. ] always lived
with him, and called him dad .'eck.
on he liked Il. and he was mighty
| good To me. We were at Randolph
long time. and since then he's been
| posttrader at Bcthune That's all !
know about il. for dad never talked
very much. and ne used to get mad
when | asked him questions"
Hampton dropped the locket from
his grasp and arose TO his feet For
| 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. and
his hands unclinched. Then he wheel
ed about. and looked down upon her
completely restored 10 his old ma
| ture
Then II seems that II is just YOU
| and /. Kid, who have got 20 settle thi.
| little affair. he announced, firmly
"rll have my say about Il, and then
you can uncork your feelings. | rath.
er imagine | haven't very much legal
| right In the premises. but I've got a
sort OF moral grip on you by reason OF
having pulled YOU out alive from that
canyon yonder. and | propose TO play
this game to the limit. You say your
mother Is dead. and the man who
raised you Is dead. and. so far as eth
| or Of us know. there isn't a soul any
where on earth who possesses any
claim over you, or any desire TO have
Then. naturally. the whole Jackpot IL
up to me, provided I've got the cards
Now, Kid waving your prejudice aside
amt just exactly the best man In
this world to bring up a girl like you
and make lady out of her / thought
yesterday that maybe VIC might man
age TO hitch along together for
awhile. but I've got a different think
coming to-day. There's no use dis
| figuring the truth. I'm q gambler
something OF fighter on the side. and
folks don't say anything too pleasing
about my peaceful disposition aroun/
these settlements: haven't any home
and mighty few friends, and the few
have got are nothing to boas. about
reckon there's a cause for II all
So, considering everything. I'm about
the poorest proposition ever was heard
| OF to start a young ladies' seminary
The Lord knows. old ellis was bae
enough, but I'm damned sight worse