The evening world. [volume], July 28, 1915, Final Edition, Image 15

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The Eveaing World Daily Magazine, Wednesday; July 28, 1915
jia vuvuuvuin qfujxrai'LnjxrtArtnnAraviTririnrB'a'i'i'i' " rriii'i r -rr 'i' ---..----.-.--.- - i-y-r.-i-rinrw'irovucvTt
ft
Bob Hampton of Piacer
QSSS3?S2S
A Western Romance
Tl By RANDALL PA.RRISH
AoUwc of "Tlir
ICowrUMrf. loofl, br A. c. Mccian Oonpinr.)
avNorsig op pnECKDi.sn miArTEn.
Dob lUfnplaa, man of mjatarj. proffilonll
Ijmhkr aM innniui, mm (rnn ih Indian
hi noi.n u vliai nulla, lit reell i nuitrir
lot for hr inl artka to adopt hr m hta dintli.
tw. Ttx rood folk of llltnulit dlud Mm
- (mm tbla. and Nalda torn to lite lth )ln.
Ilanxlon. Th latter nlo. I'hoctx Rrrnrer,
toiM to (lleiKild to tach ochool. a dine la
tins. In lwr honor. Lieut, UraM. a jouni hi.
alrr otflctr. lllrnJi Ui dura aid mtrU Nalda.
ll tod ah ar" tt ones atrotnlr attracted to
'"ttc" .otllr. . Ilnnt rnnt hr fondnia lor
I niampton. whom h rrrardi i met frontier
jruiuu. iiampvra, nwantnr. to clear up i
,cret cf hi; on pat, mki a former aoldlrr
JI!1 J".' no , iimi terror at uht of
him. la aaka Hlailn tlx whereabout n on
"SUast Murphj." . "
CHAPTER VI.
(Continued.)
" The Door Opens, and Closes
7 Al
Again,
' 'BBKiTTrtPnTairn . tr.i
VTi - . . T .V
, u.o uiiuio ureamiiK
down, ho knew his man far
too well to yield him the
slightest opportunity for
i,...v. ittiLt. . .
,, revolver nana rest-
ing on ino tame, the muzzlo pointing
the giant's heart, ho leaned for.
lEl
Sward, utterly remorseless now, and
a keen nn ln.iinn n ,v, .n
? . a 1 1
r 'Do you know who I am?"
? The horror In Slavtn'n eyes had
I changed to eullonncss. but be nodded
y'ii.n4i
janienuy.
How do you know?"
Thero was no reply, although the
?thlck lips appeared to move.
,,. ., ,,,
,J , w y u 1Cak! D
you think I am here to be played
rjrwlth? Answerl"
Slavln gulped down something
...
wnicn soemca Uircatcnlng to choko
Tum, but he durst not lift a hand to
wjyo mo sweai train nis xaco. II u
i didn't havo this beard pn you might
!;guess. I thought you know mo all
Hampton stared at him, still puz-'-zled.
'1 have certainly seen you
aomewhere. I thought that from tho
flret. Vhero was It?" i
"I was In D TrooD. Seventh C'av-
The blgarrTbler podded.' 'That's
how I know you, Captain," ho said.
t speaking with greater ease, "but I
never had no reason to say anything
vbout It round here. You waa allors
.decent 'nough ter me."
"Possibly," and It was plainly
evident from his quiet tone Hampton
hd stoadlod from his first surprise,
,"tho boot waa on the other leg, and
-you had some good reason not to say
nvrHinir."
... ...
r elavin did not answer, but ri wt
Ma linn with riln tnniriin. "hi avi -n
"the window.
"nrhn 1 fhia fiiir Miimi.ir
"He waa cornoral in that umi
.,trap. lr." Tho ex-cavalryman drop-
ped InsenBlbly Into his old form of
.. .n.nyi "Ho knnor vnll tnn nnH n.
talked it over, ana ueciaoa to keep
till, because It was none of our af
fair anyhow."
?'Where Is he now?"
"He left last night with army dot-
S patches for Cheyenne."
' Hampton's eyes naracned pcrcep-'
tlbly. and his fingers closed more
.tightly
about tho butt of his ro-
ioiver.
you lie, Slavln I Tho last
messaro did not reach hero until
th!s morning. That follow la hiding
somewhero In this camp, and tho two
Bot you have been trying to get at
' the girl. Now, damn you, what Is
:your Uttlo gamo?"
h Tho big gambler waa thinking
harder then, perhaps, than he had
. ever thought In his life before. He
was no coward, although there was a
yellow, wolllsh streak of treachery
fabim. and he read clearly onough
in tho watchful eyes glowing behind
that bluo stool barrel a merciless do-
.Urmlnatlon which left him nerve
less. Ho knew Humpton would kill
.him If ho needed to do so, but ho
'likewise realized that he was not
information he was seeking. Cun-
!.. .nf mnv nut
ifrom this difficulty. Lies had serv-
7,d hU Uirn well before, and Jio
hoped much from thorn now. If ho
only know
how much information
tho other possessed, it would do easy
"enough. As ho did not, ho must
"wield hla weapon blindly.
"YouTo makln' a devil of a fuss
overllttlo or nuthln'," he growled,
j'slmulaUng a tono of disgust. "I
?oV skin mo nt the Utblo bout two
years ago. I don't glvo two screeches
In hell for who you aro; nn' besides,
1 reckon you ain't the only ox-con-
vlct a-ninglng Dakota either ftr
itho matter o" that. No more does
jMuruhy. We ain't no bloomln' du-
tectWes, nn' wo ain't buckln' In on
no i business o' yourn; yo kin just
bet your Bweet ilfo on thot."
"Where is Murphy, then? I wish
t the fellow."
"I told you bo'd gono. Maybe he
'didn't git away till tills mornln'. but
'he's rrono now, all right. What In
Inundw do i want o' him? 1 reckon
.thltnder
Tl kin tell
ycr all thet Murphy
knows." - . ...
For a breathless moment neither
iinKuring "i kuii
aOS'r mr v iou now. vou lying
fi"?.. -. Sa rn iw 'who swore
,Zt 5thm0shoo??,;i-.'ndUthat af?e"r"
?& vou Picked It up." i-p )n
UlUC w- - ...
and the gambler lowered
VVothom. trembling like" a
ih"Irln1JhrfWOmrr,tt,e0re,dh0 IV
iffiSft nevt saTd'
child
flanTl sworo.'laTd Hampton, "that
. tv'uld kill you on sight. You lying
. . . . . .1 . . ,n n7"
wnnin. arej yuu luimi iu
Slavln's face was drawn and gray,
Itt.n nersnlratlon stanning in ueun.
unnn rila mm IJUIr i O tuil
neither speak nor think, fascinated
hr those remorseless eyes, wnicn
' . i tiol. wnv Hnurn Irttn
Serincu iu mm " ...
nis very soui.
"Nn? Well, ttin, I will give you,
to-day, Just ono chance to live one,
volt dog-rfho. Don't move an eye-
IesSI, Telirrno honestly why you nave
Aric''.lJ Ir, with thn f?l rl.
UKrH VIJiHB " " ' ......
and you shall go out from nore living.
of the Big Outdoors
BED M13T." BUS.
ijt to me about It, and I am going to
Kin you wnere you sit, as i wouia a
mad dog. You know me, Slavln now
speai.r
"I liad to. I tell you. On. you devil,
you tlendl I'm not the on you're
after It's Murphy 1"
For a slnglo moment Hampton
ntared at the cringing figure. Then
suddenly he rose to his (eet In de
cision. "Stand upt Lift your hands
llrnt, you fool. Now unbuckle your
Run belt with your loft hand your
loft, I said. Drop It on the floor."
There was an unusual sound behind,
such as a rat might have mado, and
Hampton glanced aside apprehensive
ly. In that single second Slavln was
Upon him, grasping his pistol arm at
thB wrlst nnd striving with hairy
nunu m hoi a ueawi Krip auuui uia
throat. Twlco Hampton's loft drovo
straight out Into that red, gloating
fnco and then h0 Klnnt'a crushing
weight bore him backward. lie fought
savagely, silently, his slender figure
like stool, but Slavln got his grip at
'aM' an1 w ,n 'nnt "iF5nYl. De?an
io cruncn ins victim wiinin ms vise-
,1IB nrrall Thor0 waa a raoment of
exhaustion. Then Slavln slipped, and
Hampton succoeded In wriggling par-
"oily freo from his death grip. It
waf f0" scarcely an Instant, yot It
served; for as ho bent aside, swing-
ing his burly opponent with him. some
ono struck a vicious blow at his back,
but ,tho descending knife, missing Its
mark, sank Instead deep Into 81a-
vn.a brea8t
Hampton saw the flash of a blade,
a hand, a portion of an arm, and
tnon tno clutching fingers of Slavln
nwopt him down. Ho reached out
W'ndly ns ho fell, his hand closing
ui,out the derferted knlfo hilt. Tho
two crnshod down together upon tho
floor' ,no forco of tn0 f0" driving the
tilnitn riniMA n 1a rrn m Klnf'ii Vi An '
" " "
CUAPTFR VII
The Cohorts of Judge Lynch.
- . ..
AMPTON staggered bjlndly
to his feet, looking down on
the motionless body. He was
yet dazed from the sudden
cessation of struggle, dazed
more by something bo had seen In the
,nalant that deadly knlfo passed mm.
For a moment the room appeared to
swim beforo his eyes, and ho cluched
at tn8 overturned table for support.
Jl' . y,,. .,,, rrturned h.i
Then, as his senses returned, he
perceived the figures of a number of
men Jamming tho narrow doorway.
and became awaro of their loud, cx-
cited voices. Hack to his bonumbed
brnln there came with u rush the
whole scene the desperation of his
nresent situation. Ho had been found
alone with tho dead man. Those men,
when they cajno surging In attracted
hv thp nolso of strife, had found him
lying on Slavln, his hand clutching
tho knlfo hilt. He ran ills eyes oyer
their horrified faces nnd knew In-
atinllv thpV hfld him thO niUMerCr.
Thn chock of this discovery stead
led him. He realized tho meaning,
the dread, terrible meaning, for ho
knew tho West, Its Ilerco, lraplacablo
spirit of vengeance, Its merciless
codo of lynch law. The vigilantes of
tho mining camps were to him an old
1 . . mn.A tVinn nnn ifl linn Wit.
nessed their work, been cognizant, ai
their power, rnis was no mi
parley or to ncstiaic. iu -"
and heard In that room inai wnicn
left him eager to live, to bo free, to
open a long-closed uoor maing me
mystery of years, i ne Key, ai mat,
had fallen almost within reach of his
fingers, and he would never c ionamt
to be robbed of It by the wild rago
of a mob. nbf l ni
revolver lying upon the floor ana
swung Slavln'H discarded belt upon
his shoulder. If 11 was to bo a light,
ho would be found there to the death
and God have mercy on the man who
atnnnpri html
"Stand aside, gentlemen," he com
manded, "fltep back, und let me
They oboyed. He swept them with
watchful eyes, tepped pact. nd
Inmmn'i thfl dOOr bOlllnd him. in
heart ho held them as curs, but curs
could snap, and cnougn of fthem mlfcht
dare to pull him down. Men were ai-
reudy
beginning
to pour into me
saloon, uncertain yet pi ino iui.w,
and shouting questions to ouch other,
Totally Ignoring .these. 1 lamp on
thrust himself "clUcss through the
crowd. Half way down the broad
steps Duck Mason faced him. In shirt
yet of tho racis,
Instant the eyes of tho Woraot,
and neither doubted tho grim purpose
of the other. ,
-kou vc i gov tur '," ",i..iid
nounccd tho marshal, shortly, dead
er alive." "I'm
Hampton never hes tated. i m
sorry I met you. I don't wan .to .get
anybody else mixed up In
If you'll proniloe mo a chance for my
life, Buck. I'll throw up my hands.
Hut I prefer n bullet to a mob.
"All right, !o." saia ' ';
"You're my Prisoner, nnd there 1 ho
one hell of a light aforo thorn . lads
git ye. There', a chance left-log It
.a... .
Just as the mob surged out of the
Occidental, cursing and struggling.
the two sprang wrwnru " hb""
hind a deserted mine dump. There,
Hampton panted out. His story.
T,.M 1
Mason listened and believed. Then
'the pursuing crowd of lyncher.
-2S2 trdened. Lord.
how ho drlred to live just then, to
uncover that fleeing Murphy and
wrinr frnm lilm tho whole irutn
fflWM
&l .hjW b. lost now T y. smoke
nirfu miu from the encircling rifles.
nj
JJ
nnd tho hunted men cowerea sun
tho whistling or mo uuimw m
h 1 1 L. I .
cars.
CHAPTER VIII.
"She Loves Me; She Loves
Me Not."
NK1ND as the Fates had
proved to Drant earlier In
the day, they rolented some
what as tho sun rose higher,
and consented to lead him to
,
r uijiib- avmi
LUi
I
Can You
I I have Been told Vou ) ) Ye&. I N6et ong &ADLY ) T . I BEPone OHiy fiy Hu&BAKD 1
Neeo a Good cook ) Cco"e Riqkt(m S &fZZ3$r. wseip in thg
I -jP --i1 QUI
V AMY WASMIM& ) S KOT MUCH I WELL IUTR.YTH6 WAIT l WAHT To
XCLeAKlNCr or. S JlJ I PLACE IP l cam HAVE ) S NASK A F6W
l
WANT To KNOW 5 PLAVRbl&GP 9 J UL-1: Li WHO WOUCD 7
IjAlS ( CAM You SING? J-ra3 MY QUESTS V QS?
ra' Tin rm
r u v j y i h r7
Ho rodo out toward thn woods, and
was lucky enough to meet Nalda.
She was seated with unstudied
graco on tho edgo of a bank, her
hands clasped about ono knee, her
swcot face sobered by thought, her
eyes downcast, the long lashes plainly
outlined against the clear cheeks.
"Lieutenant Hrant, you here?" she
exclaimed, speaking as If his
presonco seemed unreal.
"I have been told," he said abrupt
ly, "that 1 must no longer forco my
attentions on you."
"Ov Uob Hampton?"
"Yes. Those were, I believe, his
exact words. Can you wonder that
I hardly know how I stand In your
sight?"
"I do not at all understand," she
faltered. "Truly, Lieut. Ilrant, I do
not. I fepl that Mr. Hampton would
not say that without a good and suf
ficient reason. He Is not a man to
bo swayod by prejudice: yet, what
ever the reason may be, I know noth
ing about It."
"Nalda. sweetheart I" and he burst
Impotuouily through all bonds of ro
stmlnt, her flushed cheeks th Inspir
ation to his daring. "I will speak, for
I care nothing for all this. It Is you
I love love forover. Do you under
stand mo, darling? love you! I love
you I"
For an instant one glad, weak,
helpless, forgetful Instant she did not
see him. did not even know herself;
the very world was lost. Then sho
awoke as If from a dream, his strong
arms clasped about hor, his lips upon
hers.
"You must not," she sobbed. "I telt
you nol I will not consont: I will
not be false to myself. You have no
right; I gave you no right."
"I read It In your face," he Insisted.
"It told of love."
"Then my face must have lied," sho
annwerod, her soft voice tremulous,
"or elso you road the messago wrong
ly. It Is from my lips you must tako
tho answer."
"And they kissed me."
"If so. I knew It not. It was by
no volition of mine. Lieut. Ilrant, I
have trusted you so completely; that
was not right."
"You mnn there Is something
some porsun, perhaps standing be
twoen?" Sho looked frankly nt him. "I do
mean Just that. I am not heartless,
and I sincerely wish wo had never
met: but this must bo tho end,"
"The end? And with no explana
tion?" "There Is no other way." He could
perceive tears in her eyes, although
she spoke bravely. "Nor can I ex
plain, for all Is not clear even to me.
Hut this I know, there Is a barrier
between us Insurmountable; not even
the power of love can overcome It;
and I appeal to you to ask me r.o
more."
It was Impossible for him to doubt
her sober earnestness, or the depth
nf her feelings: the full truth In her
words was pictured upon her face,
and In the pathetic appeal of her
eyes. She extended both hands.
"You will forgive me? Truly, this
barrier has not been raised by me."
, He bowed low, until his lips pressed
tho white fingers, but beforo he could
master himself to utter a word In
reply, a distant voice called his name,
and both glanced hastily around.
"That cry camo from the valley," he
said, "I left my horse tlod there. I
will go and learn what It means."
She followed him part of the way
througtu vthe labyrinth of under
brush, Hardly knowing why she did
so, Tie stood alone upon the summit
of the blch bluff whence be could
Beat It?
frS
look across tho stream. Miss Spencer
stood below waving her parasol fran
tically, and even ns he gazed at her,
his ears caught the sound of heavy
firing down tho valley. i
CHAPTER IX.
Plucked from the Burning.
HAT Miss Spencor was
deeply agitated was evident
at a glance, while the ner
vous manner In which sho
glanced In the direction of
those distant gun shots led Urant
to Jump to the conclusion that they
wore In some way connected with her
appearance.
"Oh, Lieutenant Urant," she cried,
excitedly, "they are going to kill him
down there, and he never did It at all.
I know ho didn't, and so does Mr.
Wynkoop. Oh, please hurry. Nobody
knew where you wero until I saw
your horse tied hero, and Mr. Wyn
koop has been hunting for you every
where. He Is nearly frantic, poor
man, and I cannot learn where either
Mr. Moffat or Mr. McNoll Is, and I
Just know those dreadful creatures
will kill hhn before we can get help."
"Kill whom?" burst In Hrant,
springing down the bank fully awak
ened to tho realization of sorao un
known omorgency. "My dear Miss
Spencer, toll mo your story quickly If
you wish mo to act. Who Is In dun
ger. and from what?"
The girl burst Into tears, but
struggled bravely through with her
message.
"It's those awful men, thn roughs
and rowdies down In Olcncald. Thoy
say he murdered Hcd Hlavln, that big
gambler who spoke to mo this morn
ing, but ho didn't, for I saw the man
who did, and so did Mr. Wynkoop.
Ho Jumped out of the saloon window,
his hand all bloody, und ran away.
Hut thoy'vo got him und the town
marshal up behind the Hhusta dump,
and swear they're going to hnng him
If they can only tako him alive. Ob,
Just hear thoso awful sun si"
"Yes, but who Is It?"
"Hob Hampton, and and he never
did It at all."
Hoforc Urant could either move or
epoak, Nalda swept punt him, down
the steep bank, nnd her voice rang
out clear, Insistent. "Hob Hampton
attacked by a mob? Is .that truo,
Phoebe? Thoy uro lighting at the
Shasta dump, you say? Lieut. Ilrant,
you must act you must uci now, for
my sake!"
Sho sprang toward the horsn, nerved
by Hrant's apparent slowness to rn
epond, and loosened the rein from thn
scrub oak. "Then I will myself go to
lilm, even If they kill me also, the
cowards!"
Hut Hrant had got his head now.
Grouping her arm and the rnln of the
plunging horse, "You will go home,"
he commanded, with the tone of mili
tary authority. "Clo home with Miss
Spencer. All that can pSsslbly be done
to aid Hampton I shall do will
you go?"
Sho looked helplessly Into his face.
"You-you don't llko him," she fal
tered: "I know you don't. Hut but
you will help him, won't you, for ray
suko?"
Ho crushed back an oath. "Like
him or not like him, I will save him
if It be In the power of man. Now
will you go?"
'Yes," she answered, and suddenly
v -LS )JT C crZ$2 ' WHILE I DID V
fwrVrlni'
extended hor arms. "Kiss me first."
With tho magical pressuro of hor
lips upon his, ho swung Into tho
saddle uud spurrod down the road.
It was a prlnclplo of his military
training nevor to temporize with a
mob ho would strlko hard, but ho
must havo sufficient forco behind
lilm. Ho reined up before the seom
ingly deserted camp, his horso flung
back upon its huunches, white foam
flecking Its quivering flanks.
"Sergeant!" Tho sharp snap of his
volco brought that officer forward
on tho run. "Whore are the men?"
"Playln' ball, most of 'em, sir, Juil
beyond tho ridge.
"Are the horses out In herd?"
"Yes, sir."
"Sound the recall; arm and mount
every man: bring them Into Olcncald
on tho gallop. Do you know the old
Shasta mine?"
"No. sir."
"Halt way up the hill back of the
hotel. You'll find mo somewhere in
front of It. This Is a matter of life
or death, so Jump lively now!"
Ho drovo In his spurs and waa off
llko tho wind. A numbnr of men
were In tho stroct, all hurrying for
ward In thn name direction, but he
dashed pnst them. These wero
miners mostly, eager to have a hand
In tho iimii-liuut. Hero and thero a
rider skurrlcd along and Joined In
tho chnso. Just beyond the hotel,
half-way up the hill, rifles wero
spanking Irregularly, the whltn
puffs of smoke blown quickly away
by tho stiff breeze. Near tho centre
of this linn of sklrmlnhnrs a denser
cloud was beginning to rise In spirals,
nrant, perceiving thn largoxt group
of men gathered Just beforo lilm, mdn
straight toward them. Tho crowd
Hcrtttnrcd slightly nt his rapid ap
proach, but promptly closed In again
ns he drew up his horse with taut
rein. Hn lookod down Into rough,
boarded fares. Clearly enough these
men were in no fit spirit for peace
making. "You fool!" roared one, hoarsely,
his gun poised as If in threat, "what
do you mean by riding us down like
thnt? Do you own this country?"
Urant flung himself from thn sad
dle nnd strode In front of fie fellow.
"I mean business. You see this uni
form? Strlko that, my man, nnd you
strlko tho rnltnd States. Who Is
leading this outfit?"
"I don't know as It's your affair."
tho man rnturned, sullenly, "We
ain't tnkln' no army orders at pres.
ent, mister. Wn'ro free-born Ameri
can citizens, nn' vo hotter lot us
alone."
"That Is not what I asked you,"
and Urant squared his shoulders, his
hsnds clinched. "My question was.
Who Iu nt thn head nf this outfit?
and I want an answer."
Tho spokesman looked around
upon Ihn others near him with a grin
of derision. "Oh, ye do, hey? Wnjl,
I reckon we are. If you must know.
Since Hlg Jim Iarson got It In the
shoulder this outfit right yorn hes
bin doln' most of the brain work. Ho,
If yc'vn got anythln' ter say, mis
ter man, I reckon ye better spit It
nut yero ter me, an' sorter rellove
yer mind."
"Who are you?"
Tho man's look became dogged.
"I'm Hen Colton, If It'll do yo any
good to know."
"I thought I had seen you some
whero before."
"What yn got against him, young
feller?!' asked someone,
"just this," and Hrant squarely
fronted the man, his voice ringing
llk steel. "I've seen mobs before to
day, and I've dealth wlU them. I'm
By Maurice Ketten
not afraid of you or your whole out
fit, and I'vo got lighting men to back
mo up. I novcr yet saw any mob
which wasn't led and Incited by somo
cowardly, revengeful rascal. Honest
mon get mixed up In such affairs, but
thoy are Invariably Inflamed by somo
low down sneak with an nxa to grind.
I confess I don't know all about this
Colton, but I know onough to say ha
Is an army desertor, a liar, a dlvo
keeper, a gambler, and, to my certain
knowledge, tho direct cause of thn
death of thrco men, one a soldier of
my troop. Now Isn't he a swcot speci
men to lead In tll avenging of a sup
posed crime?"
Whatever else Colton might havo
failed In, he was a man of action.
Like a flash his gun flew to thn level,
but was Instantly knocked aside by
the grlzzlod old miner standing next
him.
"None o' that, Hen," he growled,
wamlngly. "It don't never pay to
shoot holes In Uncle Sam."
"Listen to me." said Urant "You
boya have gono off half-cocked a
mob generally does. Hotli Miss
Hponcer and Mr. Wynkoop etato
positively that they saw tho real
murderer of Red Hlavln, and It was
not Hob Hampton." '
Ho stepped back, lifted a sltvor
whistle to'hls lips, and sounded onn
sharp, clear note. There was a
growing thunder of hoofs, a quick,
manly cheer, a crashing through tho
underbrush, and a sqund of rager
troopers, half-dressed but with faces
glowing In anticipation of trouble,
came galloping up tho slope, swing
ing out Into line as they udvnnced,
their carbines gleaming In the sun
light. It was prettily, sharply per
formed, and their ofllcor's faco bright
ened. "Verynlcoly done, Watson," ho said
to thn expectant nergeant. "Deploy
your men to left and right and clear
out thoso shooters. Makn a good Job
of It. but no firing unless you have
to."
The lynchers were quickly scat
tered. Hrant npproached tho bar
ricade, calling to Humpton. Ho
found Hob badly wounded, tho mar
shal standing gunrd over him. Hrant
set to work reviving thn wounded
tnun. Then the soldlora currlud him
to the hotel.
Seeing Mr. Wynkoop on the hotel
porch, Urant said to lilm: "Miss Spen
cer Informed me that you saw a man
leap from the back window of the Oc
cidental. Is that truo?"
Tho missionary nodded.
"Oood. then come along with mo.
I Intend brcuklng the back of this
lynching business right here and
now."
He strodo directly across the street
to tho steps of tho Occidental, where
u crowd was gathered. Abruptly 'no
addressed thorn:
"You act like sheep, not Ameri
can citizens. Now that we havo
pounded a little sense into some of
vou, perhaps you'll llston to tho facts,
and If you must hang some oca put
your ropo on tho right man. Hob
Hampton did not kill Hed Slavln. Tho
fellow who did kill him climbed out
of the back window of the Occidental
here, and got away, while you were
chasing tho wrong man. Mr. Wyn
koop saw him, nnd so did your school
teacher, Miss Spencer."
Thou Wynkoop stopped gamely to
tho front. "All that Is true, men. I
have been trying ever since to tell
you, but no ono would llston. Miss
Hpancer and I both saw tho man Jump
from tho window; thoro was blood on
his right arm and hand. He was a
misshapen creature whom neither nf
us ever saw before, and he disap
peared on a run up that ravine. I
NEXT WEEK'S COMPLETE NIVEL IN IK EVEKIN6 WMLI I
The Phantom Shotgun!
By S. C.
$jwxxxwwx xwjwxxwc' MMMmufimm m
have no doubt he was Slavla's mur-
derer."
CHAPTER X.
The Rescue of MUs Spencer,
HILK 1 Hampton ..n.ored be-
tween life and death he
was tenderly waited upon by
both Nald and Mrs. Quffy,
Moffat and McNeil meantime grew J22 SS ZJllLZ
, ... ... . , , partment, so that Urant knew oosae-
restlve, as tholr suit for Phoebe' love thing of the terrible condition of the
seemed to progress no further. Mot- Northwest.
fat sought out "Long Pete" Lumley, hl thus learned of the con
a cowboy friend, and laid before him pllqation of the hostile savages, in.
the following plan: dteJ Sitting Hull, into the faat
"Well, Pete, this Is 'bout whut'e got nMB ot " HI Horn Hange; he Waa
ler be done, es near e I kin rigger ware that Qen. Crook waa already
It out. You pick out maybe halt a advancing northward from the Ne
dozen good fellers, who kin keep braska line; and he knew It was part
their mouths shet, an' make Injuna 01 .,n9. Plan of operation for Custer
out of 'em. 'Taln't likely she'll ever e Seventh Cavalry to strike
twig any ot tho boys fixed up proper rectly westward across the Dakota
In thet sorter outfit anyhow, ahe'd "'"J; Now he realized that he woe
be too durned skeered. Then you lay to be a part of this chosen fighting
for her, say 'bout next Wednesday, force, and hie heart responded to the
out In them Carter woods, when she's summons as to a bugle-call in battle,
comln' homo from school.' I'll kinder Before he set out he went to the
naturally happen 'long by accident Herndon house to say goodby to
'bout tho head o' tho gulch, an' Jump Nalda.
In an' roscuo hor. Sabe?" "I love you," he sold, with simple
Lumley gazed nt his companion honesty. "I seek you for my wife "
with eyes expressive ot admiration. She started at these frankly spoken
"Hy thunder, If you haven't got a words, her hands partially conceal,
cocoauut on ye, Jackl Lord, but thot Ing her face, her form trembling,
ought to get her a flyln'l Any "Oh, I wish you hadn't said that! ft
shoo tin' 7" is not because I doubt you any loncer
"Surol" Moffat's face oxhlb ted a -not' that I fall t nnnru.V .n f!..
faint smile at these words ot praise, offer mo. Hut it is so hard to ar
"H wouldn't bo no great shucks of a uear ungrateful, rn aHva nmhi..
rescuo without, an' this lies got ter
do mo mat mum. win, rccnuu, jro tnun 11 IS true mat you do not
bettor shoot high, so thar' won't be love me?"
no hurt done." Tho blood named suddenly ud Into
Tho long shadows of tho late after- her face, but there waa no lowerlnr
noon wore almost falling across the of the eyes, no shrinking back She
gloomy Carter woods, whllo tho rod waa too honest to play the coward
Hun sank lower behind old Uull beforo him. cowaru
Mountain. Tho Reverend Howard .ir .hn nni , . ,
Wynkoop, who for more than nn hour .J ijff wAh i SS ?SlVf you'
past had been vainly dangling a K?ty Sar?yni cVS?lVfl
flshlng-llno above tho dancing water, ttUSSnwMtSin:, ti
of Clear Creek, now reclined dreamily J oVa Lv'S. ;f.P-Lbal 1
on the soft turf of the high bank, his n".? wran?u m'JLei8,,l5ankn?
cyos fixed upon the distant sky-line. flJ "fi3 iiii',anri,,DnoIw1 nd .0,way". Ir
itis thoughts were on the flossy hair invrorii?I" Htf wner
"' imnin,i fnpn nf th fnir Miss ver lire may take us, I shall lore
umi - . . , r
Spencer, who ho momentarily ex-
S.nh I Jave opened freely to you the great
aX above his secret resting-place. heart. With tt you must
where tho great woods deepen, and F"'"2t,th.leTV9 me. There la noth
the gloomy shadows lie darkly all, n t I can give you, abeo-
inn .rmrnnnna. a. .mall lutely nothing. I can never be van
party of hideously painted savages
Kulked silently In ambush. Suddenly
to their Sirainoa eara waui uumo hi.
sound ot horses' hoofs: and then, all
at once, a woman's volco rang out in
a slnglo shrill, startled cry.
"Whut Is up?" questioned the
IcaiMng savage, noonMiy.
a-doln' this little Job all by hlsselt?
"Hunno," answered tho follow next
him, flipping his quirt uneasily: 'Tiut
I reckon as how it's hor as squealed.
an' we'd better be glttlng In ter hev
our shuro o' the fun."
nth. s.hli.f." with an oath Of dlS
gust, uasncu mrwaiu, u4
urged after. Just below them, and
scarcely fifty fot away, a half-score
ot roughly clad, beaylly bearded
men wero clustered In the centre or.
tho trail, two of their number lift-
Ing tho unconscious form of a faint-
Ing woman upon a horso.
"Ccrvera's gang, by gosh!" VUA
tho leading savage. "How did they
git yero?" . ....
"You betl She's up agin the real
thing." ejaculated a volco beside
him. "Let's rldo 'em oft tho earth!
Whoopl
With wild yells to awaken fresh
courage, tho whole band plungel.
headlong down tho "burp decne'
striking tho surprised ' road-agents
""l1 S ?LVU.orawll!m Re-
sent halt ' 'han' "ra"" Ihouta
XTo'uSA men'cf c'heS JSXS
KyhMWBr Ke o?her
fF&a&hJrZtt
hhan'd toU.tr
fin off und tho two fierce combat-
an . paused o though thunder-
riirir
BirUCK. v
lev "This yere Is some blame Joke,
Thi.o feller; Is Hill McNeill gang."
ifv thunder! If It ain't Pote Lum-
ley " ejaculated the other. "Whut
did ve hit mo for. yo long- egged
mlnli Jackass?"
Tho explanation was never uttered,
Out from the surrounding gloom of
underbrush a hatlcss. dishevelled in-
dividual on foot suddenly dashed Into
tho centre of that hesitating ring of
horsemen, With skilful twist of his
foot ho sent a dismounted road agent
spinning over backward, and man-
aged to wrench a revolver from his
hand, Thero was a blaze of red
flame, a cloud of smokn, six sharp
roports, and a wild stampedo of fran-
tic horsomen.
Then tho Ilov. Howard Wynkoop
flung the empty gun disdainfully
down Into the dirt, stepped dlroctly
ucross the motionless outstretched
body, and knelt humbly beside a
slender, whlto-robnd figure lying close
against the frlnun or bushes. Ten-
dcrly he lifted the fair head to his
throbbing bosom, and gazod directly
down Into tho white, unconscious
face. Kven as ho looked her eyes
unclosed, her body trembling within
his arms.
"Have no fear," hn Implored, read-
Ing terror In thn expression of her
Hold on yere, ooy. - n n a-um-
face, miss upcnccr i-noootf-u is
r f. U'vnlinnn M
onlv I. Mr. Wynkoop.'
"Youl Huvu thoso awful creatures
gono?"
"Yes, yes; bo calm, I beg you. There
Is no longer tne siigniesi aanger. i
am here to protect you with my life
If need be,"
"Oh, Howard Mr. Wynkoop It Is
alt so strange, uo bewildering; my
nerves are so shattered! Hut It has
taught mo a great, poat loason. How
could I have over Wn so blind? I
thought Mr. Molfat nnd Mr. .McNeil
wero such heroes, and yet now In
thl hour of desperate peril It was
you who flew galiuntly to my rescuol
It Is you who are the truo Western
knight!"
And Mr, Wynkoop gated down Into
those rateful eyes, and modestly
confessed It true.
CHAPTER XI.
The Parting Hour.
iO Lieutenant Hrant these
proved days of bitterness,
lib sole comfort waa the
feeing that he hod per-
formed his duty.
II
ARTHUR
The end to this nervous strata cam
In the form of an urgent despatch
recalling N Troop to Vort Abraham
Lincoln by forced marches. The
commander felt no doubt aa to the
full meaning of this message, and the
ft - 'E" "5SeSl
aira0st out of the world so for oa
recent newa waa concerned. Too
military tolegraph, however, formed
return for so vast a gift."
you.
w'fi J Japo. for your sake i and mine,
we never meet again."
j.uu wiii, nt least, ten me why!"
It was all that would come to his dry
lips.
"I cannot tell you. I have no word.
no courage. Y6u will learn some day
irom oiners, ana do thankful that J
loved you well enough to resist temp.
tatlon. Hut the reason cannot come to
you from my lip."
h0 leaned forward, half kneeling at
her foot, and she permitted him to
clasp her hand within both his own.
TII mn ! l,.,t Ikll. L.
eissr iu u namptonT
She smiled at him through a mist of
tears,a smile the sad sweetness of
whioh be wpuld never forgot. "la the
ienso you mean, no. No living man
,tande betweon us. not even Bob
Hampton."
"Does he know why this ooanot ber
H8 know , doutPjJ.
wU ever nyelli hla knowledge; cer3
talnly not to you. He ha not told
ove f h hour when he
tnousht hlm3elf dying. I am co"
vJnce(, of ,hat t nQt 'q
he dislikes you. Lieut Ilrant. but
becaU8, h9 kne hu partial reTal-
ment f duty he
owed us both."
y j completely la
the darfc" he said. nnSSffi? &.
D0 PibMty that this inystertoue
f-Vdrpow-
JjJOZ
I'lZpr a. if douhtin. W
'Tdead manl Not Ollller
"No. It Is not QUIls. I hare told
you this much so that . you might
comprehend how Impossible It la for
its frt nhltnirji iur fat T la I,
r "V " -
vocably fixed. Please do not queetion
me any more: cannot you see how I
am suffering? I beseocb your pity; X
beg you not to prolonr this useless
Interview. I cannot bear It!"
"Nalda, as you have asked It. I
will go; but I m better, stronger.
because I have heard your Mpe ay
you love roe. I am going now, my
sweetheart, but if I live, I ehall come
again. I know nothing of what you
mean about a dead man being be-
tween us. but I shall know when 1
come back, for, dead or olive, no man
shall remain between me and the gtrl
I love."
"This thbj is different," she eoh
bed, "different; it 1s beyond your
power." ,
"I shall never beMeve so until T
have faced It for myself, nor will I
even say good by, for, under Ood, I
urn coming back to you."
He turned slowly and walked away,
As his hand touched the latch ot the
door he paused and looked longingly
back,
"Nalda."
f$he glanced up at him.
"You kissed me once; will you
again?"
She rose silently and crossed over
. j,,, ner hands held out, her eyes
uplifted to his own. Neither spoke
M h0 drew her gently to him, and
. i. -1 I .
their Hps mot.
"Say It once more, sweetheart?"
"Donald, I lovo you."
A moment they stood thus face te
f n nn fnarllnr- ilia MA.t 1 . mmtr n I
eternity within the depths ot each
other's eyes. Than slowly, gently,
she reloasod herself from the deep ot
m, gtrong arms,
"You believe In ne now? You do
nnt R0 away blaming me?" she quee-
toned, with quivering lips,
"There Is no blame, for you ore
doing what you think right. But I
.m mino ut, -m. m. mti.
woman; coming ba'ck to love and
you.'
(To Ds Continued.)
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