Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-01-25

Donald, ! Love You"
ing to him. mo one could have been
more 70 me than you have been. and
YOU are all have left in the world.
Everything 1 care for goes away from
me. Life is so hard. so hardi"
Yes. little Eirl, 1 know" and tho
man strokcd her hair tenderly. his
own voice falteriug. Its all hard. I
learned that sad lesson long ago. but
I've tried TO make Il little bit easier
for YOU since we first came together.
Still. / don't see how 1 can possibly
help this. I've been hunting after that
fellow a long while now. q matter OF
10 years over a mighty dim trail. and
il would DE a mortal sin TO permit him
20 get away scot-free. Besides. If This
affair only manages to turn out rirht.
/ can promise 90 make you the hap
piest girl In America. But. Nadia.
dear, don't cling 20 me so: fl Is not at
all like you 20 break down in this FASH
ion.' and he gently unclaspcd her
hands. holding her away from hir
while he continued 70 gaze hungruy
into her troubled face.
Sometimes 1 feel just like a cow
ard, Bob. It's the woman OF IL. vet
truly l wish TO do whatever you be-
lieve TO be best. But, Bob. / need you
so much. and YOU will come back.
won't YOU? / shall be so lonely here.
for-for you arc truly all havS in the
world"
With one quick, impulsive motion
he pressed her to him. passionateiy
kissing the tears from her lowered
lashes, unable longer to conceal the
tremor that shook his own voice.
Never never doubt il. lassie. Ii viii
not take me long. and il live come
straight back"
He watched her slender. white
ROBBED figure as IL passed slowly down
the deserted street. Once only she
paused and waved back to him and he
returned instant response, although
scarcely realizing the act.
Poor little lonely girll Perhaps I
ought TO have told her the whole in
fernal story, but / simply haven't got
the nerve. the way IL reads now. II
l can only get il Strengthened out. itu
be different"
Mechanically he thrust an unllehted
cigar between his teeth and descend
ed the steps. TO all outward appear
ance the same reckless, audacious
Hampton as Of old
The military telegraph occupied one
half OF the small tent next the Miners
Retreat, and the youthful operator in
stantly recognized his debonair visi-
tor.
Well. Billy" was Hampton's friend
ly greeting, are they keeping you fair
ly busy with wars and rumors Of
wars these days?"
Muffin doin' just now" was the
cheerful reply. Everything goin' ter
Cheyenne. The Injuns are gittln'
themselves bottled up in the Big Horn
country"
"Oh, that's it? Then maybe you
might manage TO rush a. message
through for me TO Fort A Lincoln
without discommoding Uncle Sam?'
and Hampton placed a coin upon the
rough table.
Sure; write it out"
Here it is; now get it of early. my
lad. and bring the answer to me over
at the hotel. There1l be another yell
low boy waiting when you come"
The reply arrived some two hours
later.
Fort A. lincoln. June II. 1876.
Seventh gone west; probably Yellow
stone. Brant with them. Murphy. gov
eminent scout, al Cheyenne waiting or
dcrs. BITTON, Commanding.
He crushed the paper in his hand.
MISUNDERSTANDING OF the past. the
present the future. He had borne
much in these last years, much mis-
representation, much loneliness Of
soul. To run this Murphy 20 cover
remained his final hope for retrieving
those dead. dark years. Ay. and there
was Naidai Her future, scarcely less
than his own, hung trembling In the
balance. The sudden flashing OF that
name into his brain was like an cleo
trio shock. He cursed his inactivity.
Great Cod had he become a child
again. to tremble before imagined evil.
mere hobgoblin OF the mind? He
had already wasted time enough; now
he must wiring from the lips of that
misshapen savage the last vestige OF
his secret
he dressed for the road. for hard,
exacting service. buckling his loaded
cartridge belt outside his rough coat
and testing his revolvers with unusual
care. He spoke few parting words
Of irStruction ~ us. c. -,a vo,.