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BOB HAMPTON igjy SYNOPSIS. A .vm Viment of tho Eighteenth In- by J . .... in n nnrrnw LTOrce Anions thorn V ii granger who Introduces himself by ot Hampton, alao GIllls tho s.t ni-r, and his daughter. OIIIIh and t v nty of tho soldlars aro killed dur n a i'.teo days' slogo. Hampton and (V. girl r.nly escape- from tho Indians, rr-.v f;i exhausted on the plains. A onrr, f tho Suvonth cavalry, Llout. Bra:-' In command, find them. Hampton in't Mf girl top at tho Minora' Homo In 51. -1 oi.l. Mrs. Duffy, proprietress. Hainp tnr "i iks tho future over with Miss Gil II the Kid. fihe shows him hor moth tri riMnre and tells him what sho can 5f ) -r rarintaRO and lifo. They decide il,. si . fl llvo with Mrs. Horndon Nalda if,, h i runs ttway from Mrs. Hcrndon's in'l r. 'I .ins Hampton. IIo Inducrs hor to .. ami to nnva naming more 10 uo i i Hampton plays hl last tramo is Ho announces to Red Slavln ! has quit, and then loaves Glon Minn rlioebo Spencer arrives In -i( t to tiuch Its first school. Miss . r meets Nalda. Hov. "Wynkoop, boards at Mrs. Hcrndon's. ' i 9f tl a: :n 51-1 Spet ft N' 1 Lieut. Drant again meot with j , i knowing wno sno is. bno iniorms inn f tu pomlng Bachelor club ball In v" .'f Miss Spencer. Llout. Brant ii silent Murphy, Custer's scout. IIo vj. rt- trouble browing among the Sioux. .: ,11'Ti. ultles nrlso nt tho Bachelor .i Si - i I lav i I. ui a in out: tho admirers of Miss r Llqut. Brant meets Miss Spen . -'k la not his ncqualntnneo of tho f. r-. Sho tellB htm of Nalda, and Ii 'n tally meets her again ns he Is r i' k to the ballroom with a fan for tl.-- Si . rxer. Brant accompanies Nalda n fro.-n the dance. On tho way alio j!' Ii. ft Mm ns to who she Is, and that ii.t is ty meet Hampton. CHAPTER XVI. Continued, (ih. I do, Lieut Brant. It Is not dotit't of you at all; but I am not sure, ev n within ray own heart, that I am d. .!ii?r just what la right. Besides, It wi.l be so difficult to make you, almost & ' ranger, comprehend tho peculiar rci.'iitions which Influence my action. Ewi now you suspect that I am do ffitliii a masked sham like those Dttrs wo discussed to-night; but I ta .e never played a part before, never ik .ik.-d in tho dark. To-night I simply tad to do It." Then attempt no explanation," ho iai !. gently, "and believe mo, I shall n i. inue to trust you. To-night, what-e- you wish may be, I will abide by !t. Shall I go, or stay? In either caso r i have nothing to fear." she drew a deep breath, those open words of faith touching her more itmnsly than would any selfish fault finding. Trufet begets trust," sho replied, with r w firmness, and now gazing fr:.:.k: into his faco. "You can walk with !..e a portion of the way If you wish, but I am going to toll you tho truth I have an appointment with ä mar; ' ' I r.uturally regret to learn this." ho aid, with assumed calmness. "But the way is to lonely I prefer walking with you until you have some other protector." She accepted his proffered arm, feel in K the constraint In his tone, tho formality in his manner, most keenly. An oldr woman might havo resented it, but it only sorvod to sadden and embarrass her. He began speaking of the quiet beauty of tho night, but sho bad no thought of what ho was saying. "I.ieut. Hrant" she said, at last, you do not ask mo who the man Is." "Certainly not. Miss Nalda; it Is none of my business." "I think, perhaps. It might be; tho knowledge might holp you to under stand. It is Bob Hampton." He stared at her. "The gambler? No wonder, then, your meeting Is clandestine." She roplled Indignantly, her Hps trembling. "Ho Is not a gambler; ho la a miner, over in tho Black Itango. He has not touched a card In two years." Oh. reformed has ho? And aro you the instrument that has worked such a miracle?" Her eyes fell. "I don't know, but I hope so." Then Bho glanced up again, wondering at his continued silence. "Don't you understand yet?" "Only that you aro secretly meeting man of tho worst reputation, one knewn tho length and breadth of this border as a gamblor nud lighter." "Yes; but but don't you know who I am?" He smiled grimly, wondorlng what possible difference that could mnko. "Ortalnly; you aro Miss Nalda Horn don." 'I? You havo not known? Lieut. Urant, I am Nalda GIUIs." He stopped still, again facing hor. "Nalda GIllls? Do you moan old Gülls' Kir'? I It possible you aro tho sarao we rescued on tho prairie two years ago?" Sho bowed hor head. "Yes; do you understand now why I trust this Bob Hampton?" "I perhaps might comprehend why you should feci grateful to him, but not why you should thus consent to meet with him clandestinely." He could not sco tho deep flush upon oer cheeks, but ho was not deaf to tho Pitiful falter in her voice. "BecauBo he has been good and truo t mo," sho explained, frankly, "bet ter than anybody else in all tho world. don't caro what you say, you and those others who do not know him. but 1 bellove In him; I think ho Is a inmi. They won't lot mo hco him. thn Qrndons, nor permit him to como to tho house. Ho has not been In Glen cald for two years, until yesterday. Tho Indian rising has driven all tho minors out from tho Black Itango, and ho camo down hero for no other pur poso than to get a gllmpso of mo, and loarn how I was getting on. I I saw him over at the hotel Just for a mo ment Mrs. Guffy handed mo a note and I I had only jurt left him when I encountered you at the door. I wanted to sco him again, to talk with him longer, but I couldn't manage to get away from you, and 1 didn't know what to do. There, I've told It all; do you really think I am so very bad, be cause becauso I llko Bob Hampton?" Ho stood a moment completely non plussed, yet compelled to answer. "I certainly havo no right to ques tion your motives," ho said, at last, "and I believe your purposes to be abovo reproach. I wish I might glvo tho same credit to this man Hampton. But, MIsa Nalda, tho world does not often consent to Judgo us by our own estimation of right and wrong; it pre fers to placo Its own Interpretation on acts, and thus often condemns tho In nocent. Others might not see Ulis as I do, nor have such unquestioning faith in you." "I know," sho admitted, Btubbornly, "but I wanted to seo him; I havo been so lonely for him, and this was tho only possible way." Brant felt a wave of uncontrolablo sympathy sweep across him, oven "Do You Really Think I am So Very Bad, Because- Bob Hampton?" while ho was beginning to hate this man, who, ho felt, had stolon a pas sage Into tho Innocent heart of a girl not half his age, ono knowing llttlo of tho ways of tho world. "May I walk besldo you until you meet him?" ho asked. "You will not quarrel?" "No; at least not through any fault of mine." A few steps In the moonlight and sho again took his arm, although they scarcely spoke. At tho brldgo sho withdrew her hand and uttered a pecu liar call, and Hampton stepped forth from tho concealing bushes, his head bare, his hat In his hand. "I scarcely thought It could bo you," ho said, seemingly not altogether sat isfied, "as you wore accompanied by another." Tho youngor man took a slnglo step forward, his uniform showing in tho moonlight "Miss GIllls will inform you later why I am hero," ho said, striving to speak civilly. "You and I, howover, havo met before I am Llout. Brant, of tho Seventh cavalry." Hampton bowed, his manner some what stiff and formal, his faco Impen etrable. "I should havo loft Miss GIllls pre vious to her meeting with you," Brant continued, "but I desired to request tho privilege of calling upon you to morrow for a brief Interview." "With pleasure." "Shall It bo at ten?" "Tho hour Is perfectly satisfactory vnn will find mo at tho hotel." "You niaco mo under obligations," nnl,1 llrnnt nil d turned toward tho wondorlng girl. "I will now say good nicht. Miss GIllls. and I promlso to re member only tho pleasant ovents of this nvenitlE." Their hands met for an instant of warm preanuro, and then the two loft ' behind stood motionless and watched him striding along tho moonlit road. CHAPTER XVII. Tho Verge of a Quarrel. Brant's mind was a chaos of con flicting omottgns, but a slnglo abiding conviction ntor onco loft him ho re tat nod Implicit faith in hor, and ho purpoBod to fight this mattor out with 1 Hampton, lüvon In that crucial hour. had any one vonturod to suggest that ho was In lovo with Nalda, ho would merely havo laughod, soronoly confi dent that nothing moro than gentle manly interest swayed his conduct. Nevertheless, ho manifested an un reasonable dlsllko for Hampton. Ho had novor before felt thus toward this porson; Indeed, ho had possessed a strong man's natural ndmlratlon for tho other's physical power and cool, determined courage. IIo now Bincoro ly feared Hampton's power over tho innocent mind of tho girl, imagining his iniluenco to bo much stronger than it roally was, and ho sought after Bomo suitable means for overcoming it. Ho alone, among thoso who might bo considered as her truo friends, know of her secret infatuation, and upon him, alone, therefore, rested the burden of her release. It was his heart that drovo hlra into such a de cision, although he conceived it thou to bo tho reasoning of tho brain. And so sho was Nalda GIllls, poor old GIllls' little girl! Ho stopped sud donly In tho road, striving to realize the thought Ho had never dreamed of such a consummation, and it stag gered him. What was there In com mon between that outcast, and this well-groomed, frankly spoken young woman? Yet, whoever she was or had been, the remembrance of hor could not bo conjured out of his brain. Ho might look back with repugnance upon thoso othors, thoso misty phantoms of tho past, but the vision of his mind, his ever-changeable divinity of the vino shadows, would not become ob scured, nor grow less fascinating. Suddenly there occurred to him a rec ollection of Silent Murphy, and his strange, unguarded remark. What could the fellow havo meant? Was there Indeed some secret in tho life history of this young girl? some -Because I Like story of shame, perhaps? If so, did Hampton know about It? Already daylight rested white and solemn ovor tho silent valley, and only a short dlstanco away lay tho spot whore tho crippled scout had made his solitary camp. Almost without vo lition tho young officer turned that way, crossed tho stroam by means of tho log, and clambered up tho bank. But It was clear at a glance that Mur phy had desortod tho spot Convinced of this, Brant retraced his stopB to ward tho camp of his own troop, now already astir with tho duties of early morning. Just In front of his tont ho encountered his first sergeant "Watson," ho questioned, as tho lat ter saluted and Btood at attoutlon, "do you know a man called Silent Murphy?" "Tho scout? Yes, sir; know him as long ago as when ho was corporal In your father's troop. IIo was roduced to tho ranks for striking an ofllcor." Brant wheeled In astonishraont. "Was ho ovor a soldier In tho Sev enth?" "Ho was that, for two enlistments, and a mighty tough ono; but ho was always quick enough for a fight In Hold or garrison." "Has he shown hlmsolf hero at tho camp?" "No, sir; didn't know ho was nny whero around. Ho nud I were novor very good friends, sir." Tho lieutenant remained silent for several moments, endeavoring to per feet some feaslblo plan. "Dispatch an order to tho telegraph ofllco," ho finally commanded, "to in qulro If this man Murphy receives any mosBagos thoro, and If thoy know whero ho Is stopping. Send an Intel Hgcnt man and havo him discover all tho facto ho can. When he returns bring him In to mo." Ho had onjoyed a bath and a shave, and was yet lingering over his cof fee, when the two noldlor entered with their report Tho norgeant step ped aside, and the orderly, a Uli, boy ish looking felTow with a pugnacious chin, saluted tftlfHy. "Well, Bane," and tho officer eyed his trim appearanco with manifest ap proval, "what did you Bucccid In learn ing?" "Tho operator said this yero Mur phy had novor bin thar hlmsolf, sir, but thoro wus several messnga com for him. Ono got hero thiB marnln'." "What bocomea of them?" "Thoy'ro called for by another fol- lor, sir." "Oh, they are! Who?" "Red Slavln wus tho nam he give mo of thot other buck." When tho two had dlnappoarod, nrant sat back thinking rapidly. Thero was a mystery hero, and Buch actions must havo a causo. Something eith er in or about Glencald was com pelling Murphy to keep out of Bight but what? Who? Brant was un ablo to get it out of his head that all this secrecy centered around Nalda, Perhaps Hampton know; at least ho might possess somo additional scrap of information which would holp to solve tho problem. Ho looked at his watch, and ordered his horso to be saddled. It did not seem qulto so simple now, this projected intervlow with Hamp ton, as It had appeared tho night be fore. In the clear light of day, he began to realize the weakness of his position, tho fact that ho possessed not tho smallest right to speak on be half of Nalda GIllls. Nevertheless, tho die was cast, and perhaps, provided an open quarrel could bo avoided, tho meeting might rosult in good to nil concerned. Hampton welcomed him with dis tant but marked courtesy, having evi dently thought out his own Imme diate plan of action, and schooled him self accordingly. Standing there, tho bright light streaming over them from tho open windows, thoy presented two widely contrasting personalities, yot each exhibited in figure and faco the evidences of hard training and iron discipline. Hampton was clothed in black, Btanding straight as an arrow, his shoulders squared, his head held proudly erect while his cool gray eyes studied tho faco of tho other as he had been accustomed to survey his opponents at the card table. Brant looked the picture of a soldier on duty, trim, well built, erect, his reso lute blue eyes never flinching from tho steady gazo bent upon him, his bronzed young faco grave from tho seriousness of his mission. In both minds the same thought lingered tho vague wonder how much the oth er know. Tho elder man, however, re tained a bettor self-control and was first to break the silence. "Miss GIllls Informed mo of your kindness to her last evening," ho said, quietly, "and In her behalf I sincerely thank you. Permit me to offer you a chair." Brant accepted it and sat down, feeling the calm tone of proprietorship In tho words of tho other as If thoy had been a blow. His face flushed, yot he spoke firmly. "Possibly I mis construe your moaning." ho said, with some bluntness, determined to roach tho gist of tho matter at once. "Did Miss Gülls authorize you to thank mo for thoso courtesies?" Hampton smllod with provoking calmness, holding an tmllghtod cigar botweon his fingers. "Why, really, as to that I do not remember. I merely mentioned It as expressing tho natural gratitude of us both." "You speak as if you possessed full authority to express her mind as well as your own." Tho other bowod gravoly, his faco Impassive. "My words qulto naturally boar Bomo such construction." The ofllcor hesitated, fooling moro doubtful than ovor regarding his own position. Chagrined, disarmed, ho foil llko a prisonor standing bound before his mocking captor. "Thon I foar my mission hero Is useless." "Entirely so, if you come for tho purpose I suspect," said Hampton, sit ting eroct in his chair, and speaking with moro rapid utterance. "To lec ture mo on morality, and demand my yielding up all Influence over this girl such a mission Is assuredly a fail ure. I havo listened with somo de gree of calmness In this room already to ono such address, and surrendered to Its reasoning. But permit mo to say quite plainly, Llout Brant, that you aro not tho porson from whom I will quietly llston to another." "I had very llttlo expectation that you would." "You should havo had still less, and romainod away ontlroly. Howover, now that you aro hero, and tho sub ject broached, it becomes my turn to say something, and to say it cloar ly. It seoms to mo you would ox hlbit far bottor tasto and discrimina tion If from now on you would coaso forcing your attentions upon Miss GIl lls." Brant loaped to his feot, but tho other novor dolgned to alter his posi tion. "Forcing my attentions!" exclaimed 'ho ofllcor. "God's mercy, man! do you reallzo what you uro saying? I havo forced no attentions upon Mian Plllls." "My referenco was rathor to futuro possibilities. Young blood la ?rov orblally hot and I thought it wlno to warn you In tlmo." Brant stared into that lmporturbod faco, and somehow tho very sight of fta calm, inflexible rosolvo served to clonr his own brain. Ho felt that this cool, Bolf-controllod man was npoak ing with authority. (TO UK CONTINUED.) When tho unexpected happens tk 'I told you so" chap Is in his glorj. IN BABY MILLINERY DISTINCTIVE 8TYtES FOR THE LITTLE ONES. Poke Bonnets, Now the Latest Thing In Paris, Will Soon Be the Rags in This Country Embroidery Is Much Used. Little girls 'twlxt cradlo and kinder garten have millinery styles as well as their mammas. Indeed, women who would never attempt to trim their own chapeaux aro making tho most charm, lng llttlo confections of velvet, silk and fur for their tiny daughters. Pat terns como In plenty, and as for ma terials, tho remnant boxes of tho stores aro full to overflowing with pieces just largo enough for baby millinery. Wido flaring rims havo gone out, and the now Bhapcs aro close, being usually ovor a fitted foundation of white flannel, but tho trimmings save the plainness. Very quaint aro the tight little cap shapes with soft rib bon rosettes or bunches of flowers just over each ear. Some finnlky peo ple still claim that baby simplicity is spoiled by millinery flowers, but this idea is out of date. What could bo moro babyish than a tiny bunch of drooping snowdrops, such as the shops aro showing, looped together with a narrow white ribbon? These bonnets are trimmed round the face with a flat ruche, like tho ono which baby's mamma wears In her collar. A plain bonnet shape, quite untrimmed, could be decorated at home with tho ruchlng and flowers to mako ono of these fascinating little head dresses. Tho strings come out USEFUL LITTLE WATCH STAND. Convenient for Hanging on Wall by the Side of Bed. Tho accompanying sketch illustrates a useful llttlo "watch stand." It Is in tended for hanging on tho wall by the Bldo of a bed at somo suitable spot whoro it may bo easily seen. Its con struction is very siinplo, and for It wo shall require a piece of wood about ono-half inch in thickness, and about 6 Inches long by 4Vj inches wide. Tho front of the wood should bo cov ered over evenly with velvet which can be turned ovor the edges and glued to tho back. In front, whero In dicated In tho sketch, aro screwed two llttlo brass hooks, on tho one tho watch is hung, and ovor tho other tho chain rosts. Two rings similar to thoso used for hanging up small pictures are screwed into the upper COULD NOT WEAR THE HAT. French Actress Victim cf London Res taurant Etiquette. Somo of tho Fronch ladies do hot understand at all tho prohibition In London on what they consider dlnnor dress. There is ono llttlo French actress now playing in London who, as ono of her first experloncos In the British capital, was taken out to sup por, and, to do honor to tho occasion, put on her largest nnd most gorgeous hat. Her escort looked at It doubt fully, but hoped for tho host Sho was stoppod at tho sacred portals of a restaurant, and was askod to remove her hat. What this means to n lady only thoso can toll who have been to mati nees nnd havo soon tho display of tempor when a whole row of ladlos In tho stnlls have boon told that tho peo ple behind can not soo tho stage. The little actress mado a gallant attempt to bo allowed to retain hor headgear. Sho announced to tho pollto gentle man at tho door that sho was a Mo liammodan, and offord to tako oft hor shoes if only sho wore nllowcd to re tain her hat. Tho mighty hat, how over, had to bo removed. Rough Elbows. Rough elbows aro a great blemlßh to a pretty arm, and they should bo avoided by every dainty girl. Avoid leaning on tho elbows, as this tends to toughen and coarsen tho skin. Prob ably tho host remedy known Is to rub tho elbow with common ablo salt Tho slight friction will stlmulato the blood and skin nnd mnko It grow firm and smooth. At night rub a small amount of mutton tallow or cold cream Into tho elbow. . from under tho rosotto ovor tho ears, and aro usually of wide ribbon. Soft taffeta, by tho way, 1b best for bon net strings, as it may bo washed so much better than tho Batln-flnlshod ribbons. White corduroy is a good material for tho bonnet itself, as It washes llko cotton, and Ib very warm. Women who lovo embroidery on all tho things of babydom are making llt tlo laco and batiste embroidered cov ers for bonnets and lining them with quilted Bilk. TAiq two may bo merely basted together along tho edges, so that frequent laundering Is possible. Tho flowers are dainty on these, rose buds being very appropriate. Black velvet with a band of fur makes a very durable dark bonnet cap. If ono haB a small piece of squirrel or ermine, it could bo mado into a flaring band, which turns away from tho face ovor the black velvet, while the strings are of pale blue or pink ribbon. Somo of those bonnets still havo tho flat ruchlng Inside just ovor tho face. Plain little felt bonnets of tho soft eat material may bo bought very rea sonably and trimmed at home. In thoso also tho trimming Is mostly ovor tho eara Instead of on top. Some of the shapes are llttlo moro than soft hats, which one can poko into all sorts of quaint shapes and trim. Poko bonnets, with fronts to bo filled in by ruffleB of lace and soft white lawn, aro i tho latest French importations, and tho llttlo maids of Franco aro said to bo wearing them almost entirely. This means that tho poko bonnet bought this season will bo qulto tho rago another winter. It Is a good plan to uso small safety pins In putting on the strings and all the trimming which comes off now and theu to be laundered. edge, by which tfao "stand" may bo suspended from tho wall. If It Is do sired to use the stand on a table, then It Is an easy matter to fix a sup port at tho back similar to tho support of an ordinary photograph frame. A Dream of Gray. Ono of tho smartest gowns that has been displayed this season, or any other, Is dosigned principally to carry out tho boauty of a slender, graceful figure. It is carried out in a tender shade of rose messallno, with Dolly t Vardon flounces on tho sloovos and skirt Tho topmost flounco on tho skirt Is mounted with a heading of fine hand-made lace, run through with silver gauzo ribbon. Tho top of tho skirt is severely plain, falling in grace ful folds from the hips. Tho overbodlco is of tho rose messa line, with an ombrolderod outlino, and this Is worn ovor an exquisite guimpe. Wine Bath for Hair. If It were possible to follow a Fronch fashion and wash tho hair oc casionally in wlno, It Is said that tho hair would be wonderfully stimulated. Tho French peasants originated this fashion, and they used white wine for blondes nnd rod for brunottos. That tho wlno has tonic qualities Is certain, but if ono can afford this wino bath It Is not advisablo to use it but occa sionally, lest the alcohol Uke away tho pretty luster of the hair. CHILD'S DANCING FROCK. Child's dancing school frock of whits batlsto with embroidered dots. Tho blouse has a yoko of lace and tucked plain batlsto, which Is bordered with laco Insertion and rufllo. Tho skirt Ib Blmllarly trimmod, tho upper band put on zig-zag fashion. Tho Bhort, puffed sleeves nrs fin ished with laco rufflea. Tho sash, prettily knotted In tho back, Is of bluo llbertv.