The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1908-01-16
cHAPErR XVI tcontInuedl.


last. Z wish this made perfectly clear,
and for all time. I met Miss ellis
first through pure accident She i'm
pressed me strongly then. and / con
Tess / have since grown more deeply
interested in her personality. ] have
reasons TO suppose my presence not
altogether ~distasteful 10 her, and she
has certainly shown that she repOses
~ pres GU .lusmoW g 1snf lWM..
confidence in me. Not until late last
night did ! ever suspect she was the
same girl whom We picked up with
you out on the desert 1t came to
me from her own lips and was a total
surprise. She revealed her identity
in order TO justify her proposed clan
destine meeting with you"
And hence you request this pleas
ant conference. broke in Hampton.
coolly. ito inform me. from your calm
emiuence Of responsibility. that / was
no ht companion for such a young and
innocent person. and 20 warn me that
you were prepared TO act as her pro
tector."
Bfant slightly inclined his head.
II may have had something OF that
nature in my mind.
Well. Lieut.. Brant and the older
mai rose to his feet. his eyes still
smiling. some might be impolite
enough 70 a that IL was the con
ception OF a cad, but whatever Il was.
the tables have Unexpectedly turned.
Without further reference 10 my own
personal interests in the young lady,
which are. however, considerable,
there remain other weighty reasons
that / am not at liberty to discuss,
which make e simply impossible for
you TO sustain ans relationship to
Miss ellis other than that OF ordinary
social friendship
You-you claim the right
Il distinctly claim the right, for
the eason that / possess the right. and
no a has ever yet known me to
r~eiinqulsh a hold once fairly gained
Lieut. Braut, II ! am any judge OF
faces, you arc a fighting man by ma
gure as well as profession, bat there
81 no opportunity for your doing any
lighting here. This matter Is ire.
V0cably setued-Naida ellis is not
Tor YOU
Brant was b%reathlng hard. do you
mean TO i~nsinnate that there Is an UNI
d~erstanding, an engagement between
yong' he feltered. scarcely knowing
bow best TO resent such u~tterance
you may place your own conafruc-
iio'i upon what I have said. was the
guest answer. "The special relations
existing between Miss ellis end my
self chance to be no business OF yours.
However. I viii consent to say this
! do enjoy a relationship 20 her that
gives me complete authority TO say
what have said 10 you. / regret hay
ing been obliged by your persistence
to speak with such p~lainness. but this
Knowledge should prove Bgmcient 10
control the actions Of q gentleman 4"
For q moment the soldier did not
answer, bis emotions far too strong 10
permit Of calm %utter8nce. his lips
tightly shut. lie felt utterly defeat
ca. Your language Is sufficiently ex.
pliclt he acknowledged al last Il
ask pardon for nay unwarranted intru.
sion
AZ the door he paused aud glanced
back toward that motonless figure yet
standing with a hand grasping the
hack u the chair.
Before ! 30, permit me 70 ask q
slusle question. be said. frankly. 4
was d niopd Of old Ben Glils. ard
he was d friend ol my father before
me HaYe you any reason 20 suspect
char be vas not Nadia Ginis fatherg4
Hampton took one hasty step for.
word "Whai Do you mean7 he eK.
clalned daroely. MS eyes two ooals Of
me