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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.
