The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1908-01-24
CHAPTER H..
Old ellis Girl.

GUIDED by tne unerrlnS instinct u
an old Indian fighter, ellis, during
that first mad retreat, had discovered
temporary shelter behind one of the
largest powders. 1t was a trifle in
advance of those later rolled into posi-
ton by the soldiers, but was Of a size
and shape which should have afforded
ample protection for two, and doubt
less would have done so had 1t not
been for the firing from the cliff op-
posite. Even then it was a detected
bullet, glancing from off the polished
surface of the rock, which found lodg-
ment in the sturdy old fighters brain.
The girl had caught him as he fell, had
wasted all her treasured store of wa
ter in a vain effort to cleanse the blood
from his features, and now sat there,
%pillowing his head upon her knee, al
though the old man was stone dead
with the first touch Of the ball. That
had occurred fully an hour before, but
she continued in the same posture, a
grave, pathetic figure. her face sobered
and careworn beyond her years, her
eyes dry and staring, n brown hand
grasping unconsciously the old mans
useless rifle. She would scarcely have
been esteemed attractive even under
much happier circumstances and as
sisted by dress, yet there vas ONE
thing in the Independent poise of her
head, the steady f~iXedness of her pos
ture, which served to interest Hamp-
ton as he now watched her curiously.
Fighting blood" he muttered ad-
miringly to himself. Might fail to
develop into very much of a society
bell. but likely to prove valuable out
here"
She was rather a slender slip of a
thing, a trife too tall for her years,
perhaps, yet with no lack Of develop
ment apparent in the slim, rounded
figure. Her coarse homemade dress
of dark calico fitted her sadly, while
her rumpled hair, from which the
broad brimmed hat had fallen, pos
sessed a reddish copper tinge where
it was touched by the sun. Mr.. Hamp-
tons survey did not increase his de-
sire for more intimate acquaintance
ship, yet he recognized anew her I'M
doubted claim upon him.
Suppose l might just as well drop
out that way as any other" he reflect
ed, thoughtfully. Its all in the game"
Lying fiat upon his stomach, both
arms extended, he slowly forced him
self beyond his bowlder into the open.
There was no great distance to be
~traversed, and a considerable portion
of the way was somewhat protected
by low bushes. Hampton took few
chances of those spying eyes above,
never uplifting his head the smallest
fraction of an inch, but reaching for.
ward with blindly cropping hands,
caught hold upon any projecting root
or stone which enabled him to drag
his body an inch farther. Twice they
fired directly down at him from the
opposite summit, and once a feck of
sharp rock, Clipped by a glancing bull
let, embedded itself in his cheek, dye.
ing the whole side of his face crimson.
But not once did he pause or glance
aside; nor did the girl look up from
the imploring face of her dead. AS he
crept silently in, sheltering himself
next to the body of the dead man, she
perceived his presence for the first
time, and shrank back as if in dread.
What are you doing? Why-why
did you come here?" she questioned, a
falter in her voice; and he noticed that
her eyes were dark and large, yielding
a marked impress of beauty to hel
face.
81 was unwilling to leave you here
alone" he answered, quietly, "and hope
TO discover some means for getting
you safely back beside the Others"
But | didn't want you," and there
was a look of positive dislike in hel
widely opened eyes.
Didn't want me-" He echoed these
unexpected words in a tone Of com
plete surprise. Surely you could no
desire to be left here alone? WHY
didn't you want me?"
Because / know who you are!" He
voice seemed to catch in her throat
HE told me. You're the man wht
shot Jim Eberly."
Mr.. Hampton vas never Of a pro
uOuuCGu cIllOJlOudi hdtulC, nOi was Nv
a person easily disconnected. yet HI
flushed at the sound of these impul
sive words, and the confident smile de
serted his lips. For a moment the.
sat thus, the dead body lying between
and looked at each other. When tn
man nnally broke the constrained 81
Ience a deeper %intonation had crep
into his voice.
my girl" he said ~gravely, and no
without a suspicion of pleading, "thi
is no place for me to attempt any dc
tense of a shooting ARRAY In a gamblinl
house although / might plead witt
some Justice that Eberly enjoyed tn
huner at shooting tirst- l was no