The evening world. Newspaper, July 27, 1915, Page 13

A Western Romance a ee D 1908, by A. ©. McClurg Company.) th, what stiff and formal, his face im- ~ request the privilege of calling upon CHAPTER IIl. (Con timued ) A Reappearance. } HE drew a deep breath, these open words of faith touch- ing her more strongly than . ‘would any selfish faultfind- ing. “Trust begets trust,” she replied, ‘with new firmness, and now gazing frankly into his face. “Yeu can walk ‘with me a portion of the way if you ‘wish, but I am going to tell you the truth—I have an oppointment with @ man.” “I naturally regret to learn this,” he @aid, with assumed calmness. “But the way is so lonely 1 preter walking with you until you have some other She accepted his proffered arm, feeling the constraint in his tone, the formality in his manner, most keenly. Ag older woman might have resented ‘it, ®ut it only served to sadden and embarrass her. He began speaking of the quiet beauty of the night, but she ha@ no thought of what he was SO [Bob Hampton SOBOISORESS LLL LALA By RANDALL PARRISH action of “THE BED MIST," Me, SSO OSS ‘4 # gh sty i: weep Placer’ ig Outdoors of the B striving to speak civilly. “You and I, however, have met before—I am — Brant of the Seventh Cav- ry. Hampton bowed, his manner some- penetrable. “I should have left Miss Gillis pre- vious to her meeting with you,” Brant continued, “but I desired to you -morrow for a brief inter- t 107" "The hour is perfectly satisfactory. You will find me at the hotel.” “You place me under obligations,” said Brant, and turned toward wondering girl. “I will now say good- night, Miss Gillis, and I promise to remember only the pleasant events of met for an instant of warm pressure, and then the two left behind stood motionless and watched him striding along the moonlit road, CHAPTER IV. The Verge of a Quarrel. 'T’S mind was a chaos of conflicting emotions, but @ single abiding conviction never once left him—he retained implicit fatth in her, and he purposed to fight this matter out with Hampton. Even in that crucial hour, had any one ven- tured to suggest that he was in love with Naida, he would merely have laughed, serenely confident that nothing more than gentlemanly in- terest swayed his conduct, It was true he greatly admired the girl, re- SUBMARINES OF ENEMY ARE SIGHTED, ADVISORY BOARD Pust THE SECOND BUTTON AND WRIGHT Witt CARE OF THEN and thority had Droprietorahip ut combined to “the slumbering heart of the young officer. that instant Naida Gillis became to him the one and only one woman in all this world. Aye, and he would fight to win her, never confessing de- feat until final decision came from her own lips, He paused, half in- clined to retrace his steps and have the matter out, He turned just in ume to face a dasziing vision of fluffy lace and flossy hair beside him in the dimly lighted hall, ‘Oh, Lieutenant Brant!” and the vision clung to his arm tenderly. “It fe such a relief to find that you are unhurt. Lr ge | kill him?” Brant stared. “I—I fear 1 scarcely comprehend, Miss Spencer, I have certainly sen, one’s life, What on “To whom do you refer? Really, 1 am quite in the dark.” M we Mr. Hampton, of course. Oh, I know all about it. Naida felt Sattalites morn! at I just or to confide her whole story to me, And didn’t you fight at all “Most assuredly not,” and Brant’s eyes began to exhibit amusemen “Indeed, we parted quite friendly,” “I told Naida I thought you would, | People don't take such things #o neri- ously nowadays, do they? Hut Naida 1s such a child and so full of ro- mantic notions that she worried ter- ribly about it. Ign’t it perfectly de- Patigut what he is going to do for r “I am sure I do not know. “Why, hadn't you heard? He wants to send her East to a boarding school and give ber a fine od: jon. From Léew' way toot with Mr, ie auth i be irk jefinite purpose. Hampton was unable cide what that purpose He entertained no doubt es #F the enmity of the pays ire it even” v in from con: Gite Hampton decided wn to face interview with the Do ing dimmer and dimmer with 2 ° 8S . hb 1 pars , be} to “Livatenant Brant,” she eaid at last, ment, her allghtest elanoe, het’ most Tee Shetty 'S eer Pus THe THIRD Fanaa ech nee tacie wines he beset Me . “yeu do not ask me who the man insignificant word, while her marvel- IS ANNIHILATED BUTTON AND THE foctly splendid Western character.” sired to seo thie man Murphy, an@ ia" lous eyes constantly haunted him, MUSIC MACHINE WILL prosent your" and the soldier's down: Ho had planned. Bis wo “Qertainly not, Miss Naida; it is yet the dawn of love was not even PLAY THE STAR SPANGLED Cast face brightened with anticipa- perfectly prepared to meet of my business.” “| think, perhaps, it might be; the ksow! might help you to under- ‘t is Bob Hampton.” etared at her. “The gambler? a then, your meeting is 18." lied indignantly, her 1! trembling. “He is not a gambler; 74 miner, over in the Black Rai bas mot touched a card in tw reformed, has he? And are the Instrument that has worked miracie?”’ \e" eyes fell. “I don't know, but eo.” Then she glanced up wondering at bis continued “Don't you understand that you are secretly meeting of the worst reputation, one Jength and breadth of this & gambler and fighter.” 1 J t—but don't you know who am emiled grimly, wondering what ee Dderence that could make. 3 you are Miss Naide Hern- i i fi f ‘A ” mt t known? Lieu- AP ei em Naida Gillis.” 7 owed her head. “Yes; do anterstand now why I trust this Bob Hampton?” “ perhaps might comprehend why you Should teat grateful to him, but net why you sees Oe corree® to b, ith bim oc! jestinely, ie sonia not see the deep flush upom her cheeks, but he was not to pitiful falter in her voice. he has been good and true to me,” she explained frankly, “better en ‘anybody else in all the world. don't care what you say, you an others who do not know him, bet lieve in him; I think he is y won't let me see him, the » nor permit him to come to He has not in Gle © years, until yesterda: rising has driven all tl out fram the Black Range, he came down here for no other than to get a glimpse of m learn how I was getting on. I— I saw him over at the hotel just for a moment—Mrs. Guffy handed me a “‘note—and I—I had only just left him 5 when I éncountered you at the. door. "1 wanted to see him again, to talk him longer, but I couldn't man- to get away from you, and I *vaign't know what to do. There, I've told it all; do you really think I am bad beca use—because I like YGampton?” & moment completely non- Yet compelled to answer. h no right to ques- "ten your motives,” he said, at last, abo: pond wir “and I believe your rpose to be ve reproach. I wish I might give a game credit to this man Hampton. it, Mise Naida, the world does not @ften consent to judge us by our own ‘estimation of right and wrong; it pre- fers to place its own interpretation on acts, and thus often condemns the innocent. Others might not see this I do nor have such unquestioning in yor ee she admitted, stubbornly, “put I wanted to see him; I have bee eo lonely for him, and this was the enly le way.’ Brant felt a wave of uncontrollable @ympathy sweep across im, even While he was beginning to hate this man who, he felt, had stolen a pas- am into the innocent heart of a girl balf his age, one knowing little the ways of the world. He saw that bare desert, with those two l-dead figures clasped in each her’a arms, and felt that he under- spore the whole miserable story of a ie trust, a man’s perfidy. hy I walk with you until you meet 7” he asked. “You witl not quarrel?” -“No; at least not through any fault of mine.” » ,& few steps in the moonlight and whe again took his arm, although they ke, At the bridge she er hand and uttered a call, and. Hampton stepped from the concealing bushes, his dare, his het in hie hand, gearcely thought it could be you,” he said, seemingly not altogeth- en eatinfied, “as you were accompa- ‘by another.” at all in the bring him in to ae, He faintly acknowledged. Nevertheless, he manifested an unreasonable dislike for Hampton. He had never before felt thus toward this person; indeed, he had possessed @ strong man’s natural admiration for the other's physical power and cool, determined courage. He now sincerely feared Hampton's power over the innocent mind of the girl, imagining his influence to be much stronger than it really was, and he sought after some suitable means for overcoming it, He had no faith in this man’s professed reform, no abid- ing confidence in his word of honor; and it seemed to him then that the entire future of the young woman's fife rested upon his deliverance of her from the tolls of the gambler. He alone, among those whe- might’ be considered her true friends, knew the secret of her infatuation, and upon him alone, therefore, rested the burden of her release. It was his heart that drove him into such a de- cision, although he conceived it then badd Pog fod vay brain, nd so she was Gillis—poor old Gillis’s little girl! He stopped suddenly in the road, striving to real- ize the thought. He had never once dreamed of such a consummation, and it staggered him. His thought drifted back to that pale-faced, red- haired, poorly dressed slip of a girl whom he had occasionally viewed with digapproval about the post- trader's store at Bethune, and it seemed simply an impossibility. He recalled the unconscious, dust-cov- ered, nameless waif he had once held on his lap beside the Bear Water. ‘What was there in common between that outcast and this well groomed, frankly outspoken young woman? Yet, whoever she was or had been, the remembrance of her’could not @ be conjured out of his brain. He might look back with repugnance upon those others, those misty phan- toms of the past, but the vision of his mind, his everchangeable divinity of the vine adows, would not be- come obscured nor grow less fasci- nating, Let her be whom she might, no other could ever win that iJ she occupied in his heart, His mind dwelt upon her flushed cheeks, her earnest face, her wealth of glossy hair, her dark eyes filled with min- gwled roguery and thoughtfulness—in utter unconsciousness that he was already her humble slave, Suddenly there occurred to him a recollection of an soldier, Silent Murphy, and of the strange, un- guarded remark he had once made in Brant’s hearing. What could the fellow he meant? Was there, in- deed, gome secret in the life history of this young girl?—some story of shame, perhaps? If so, did Hampton Know about it? Already daylight rested white and solemn over the silent valley, and only a short distanoe away lay the spot where the crippled scout had made his solitary camp. Almost without volition the young officer turned that way, crossed the stream by means of the log, and clambered up the bank, But it was clear at a glance that Murphy had deserted the spot. Convinced of this, Brant re- traced his steps toward the camp of his own troop, now already astir with the duties of early morning. Just in n front of his tent he encountered his first sergeant. “Watson,” he questioned, as the “do you know a man called Silent Murphy?” “The scout? Yes, sir; knew him as long ago as when he was corporal in your father’s troop. He was reduced to the ranks for striking an officer.” Brant wheled in astonishment. “Was he ever a soldier in the Sev- enth?" “He was that, for two enlistments, and a mighty tough one; but he was always quick enough for a fight in field or garrison.” “Has he shown himself here at the camp “No, sir; didn't even know he was anywhere CaM bd oa I were never very good frie sir. ‘The Heutenant remained silent for several moments, endeavoring to per- fect some feasible plan, “Despatch an orderly to the tele- raph office,” he finally command ‘to inquire if this man Murphy celves any messages there and if they know where he is stopping. Send an intelligent man and have him discover the facts he can. When he returns seh rel ton cote Sars when the two soldiers entered with their report. The sergeant stepped Tooktig. fellow with’ & f ooking fellow w: a Dp jous chin, saluted stiffly. \soaaas “Well, Bane,” and the officer eyed his trim appearance with manifest “what did you succeed in “The operator said this yere Mur- phy hed never bin thar himself, sir, but there wus several messages co! fer him. One got here this mornin’ and was called for “Red Slavin was the naine he gave me of thet other buck.” When the two had disappeared, There was a mystery he: actions must have a cause. Som thing either in or about Glencaid was compelling Murphy to keep out of Who? Brant was unable to get it out of his head that all this secrecy centred around Naida. ‘With those incautiously s as a clew, he suspected tl Knew something about he: knowledge was the cause for his present erratic actions. Hampton knew; at least be might Possess some additional scrap of in- formation which would help to solve He looked at his watch, and ordered his horse to be saddled. It did not seem quite so simple now, this projected interview with as it had appeared the In the clear light of in the words of the other as if the; had been a blow. te fh he spoke firmly. rue your meanin; biuntness, determined to reac! gist of the matter at once. i Miss Gillis authorize for these courtesies?” Hampton smiled with calmness, holding an unlighted cigar between his fingers. as to that I do not remember. merely mentioned {t as expressing the natural gratitude of us both.” “You speak as if you possessed full authority to express her mind as well as your own.” The other bowed gravely, his “My words would naturally bear some such construc- The oMficer hesitated, feelli doubtful than ever regarding felt like a prisoner standing bound before bis mocking barged come for the ‘Possibly I mis- 'D! you to thank me some one else. sight—but what? sitting erect in bis chair, and speak- ing with more rapid lecture me on morality, and demand my yielding up all influence over this mission is assured of I have listened with some degree of calmness in this room al- ready to one such addre: rendered to its reasoning. Bu mit me to say quite plainly, Brant, that you are not the person from whom I will quietly listen to the: had very little expectation that “You should bave had remained away entirely. Ject broached, it night before, day, he began to realise the weakness of his position, the faot tl sessed not the smallest right on behalf of Naida Gillis. no relationship whatecever to he: and should he venture to assume any, it was highly probabie the older man uld laugh contemptuously in his knew better than to be- eve Hampton would ever let go un- to do #0; he com- here, and the sub- turn to becomes my say something, and to gay it clearly. It seems to me you would i better taste and discrimination if from now on you would cease forcing your attentions upon Mise Gillis.” Brant leaped to his t but oer never deigned to alter his po- attentions!” exclaimed "God's mercy, man! do you realize what you ere saying? ave forced no attentions upon Miss Jess he was obi! prehended the on such @ character, as well as his probable indifference to moral obli- gations, Nevertheless, the die was cast, and perhaps, provided an o7 quarrel could be avoided, the meet! might result in good to all concerned. Hampton welcomed him with distant but marked courtesy, having evidently thought out his own immediate plan and schooled himself ac- Standing there, the bright ght streaming over them from they presented two widely contrasting personalities, yet latter saluted and stood at attention, ach exhibiting in figure ee of hard tra! Hampton was clothed in “My reference was rather to future blood is prover- bially hot, and I wise warn you in time.” Brant stared into that 1i sight of its calm, inflexible resolve gerved to clear his own brain. He felt eelf-eontrolied man was speaking with authority. “Wait just a mom: last. “I wish this open windows, proudly erect, while his cool gray eyes studied the face of the other as he had been accustomed to survey his oppo- 1 nents at the card-table. Brant lool the picture of @ soldier on duty, trim, well es grect, Bis reno ate ie eyes never flinching from the steady gaze bent upon him, his bronzed young face @eeply interested in her krave from the seriousness 4 Neither was a man to te mince words, or to withheld blows; yot each instinctively felt that this waa an occasion ra! straint. came thought lingered—the vague wonder wag « how much the other knew. eelf-control, and was first to break “Mins Gillis informed me of yout kindness to her last eventn, juietly, “and in her behalf nk you. Permit me to offer you a amay as etdt Peaster, Se, Brant slightly inclined bis head. “I may have had something of that nature in my mind.” “Well, Lioutenant Brant,” and the older man rose to his feet, his still smiling, “so: enough to say that it wag the con- ception of a but whatever it was, the tables have unexpectedly turned, Without further reference to , My OWN personal interest in the young lady, which is, however, consider- able, there remain other weighty reasons, that I am not at liberty to discuss, which make it simply im- posmible for you to sustain any relationship to Miss Gillis other than that of ordi: social friendship.” “You—you claim the right”—— ¥4 “I distinotly claim the right, for the reason that I possess the right, and no one bas ever yot known me to relinquish a hold once fairly gained. Jeutenant Brant, if I am any judge of faces you are a fighting man by nature as well as profession, but there is no opportuntity for your La doing any fighting here. is irrevocably settled—Naida Brant was breathing hard. “De was mean to inginuate «nat there nan understanding, aeegem t j= tween your" be ‘alter 5 araay knowing how best to resent such utterance. “You may place your own con- struction upon what I ve said,” was the quiet answer. “The special relationa existing between Miss Gillis and myself chance to be no business of yours. However, I will consent to say this—I do enjoy a relationship to i her that gives me complete authority thet to eay what I have sald to you. regret having been tan gd by your now persistency to speak with such pista Rees, but this al Prove sufficient to control the actions of @ gentleman.” For @ moment the soldier did not ask pardon for my unwarranted in- a, door h used and gtan: r he pat a ood Yet standing: with one hend pressing with one the back of the chair. semen “Before | go permit me to ask a single foe” he ead, frankly. “I was a friend of old Ben and he wae @ friend to my father before me. Have you any reason to suspect that he wae not Naida Gillis er?” Hampton took one hasty step for- ward. “What do you mean?” he ex- opined, flercely, hia eyes two coals of 3 Brent felt that the other's disp! of irritation gave him an Sneapested TNotntng that neod awaken anger, I am eure. Something caused me to re harbor the sugpicion, and 1 natural! you would know about {' au In I wondered if some such knowledge i a e7ooune 4 ur very deep interest in fer @o entirely to yourself.” eres to fingers twitched in é as I suppose, ir arene {a to pro- voke a quarre! ‘you wil find me due read@y to date ‘yd acoomm: you.’ An instant they stood thus, eye te eye. Suddenly Brant’s yoored to the girl whose name woul: be amirched by blow struck be- CG land he forced he th ae BANNER. is my trade, yet I have never sought a personal Nor is there any cause only purpose in asking was to forewarn you, and her through tion had been me might be impolite able to brand it #0,” hom? “A fellow known as Bil ® Government scout “I have beard of him. Where is reason. Toelegr ceived for him other man has called for ¢! “Whot" “Red Slavin.” anything in it?” glad we have had this talk together, 'y worry that my duty me to eay what I have and exceedin; said. Some time, how. sincerely thank me for 4 you escaped eo ' your father once, and I ghould ike CHAPTER ¥. A Slight Interruption. Mt impossible to nurse seomingly had no real omuse for ex He began, besides, prohend something of his influence over Nalda; eves perience himeelg the power dominating spirit. Out of & feeling of respect had been Yet Brant wae far trem bel: isfed. Little by little he Fy Z i i ft u sfFk 4 i i 3°s a tion. “Do—do 7% sealy ese would be proper jut the; #o differently out here, don't they? ob, I Wish you would.” Feeling somewhat doubtful as to what might be the result, Brant knocked upon the door he bad just closed, and, in response to the voice within, opened it. Hampton sat upon the chair by the window, but as impse of the returned “Mr. Hampton,” said Brant, trust I may be pardoned for troubling you, but this is Miss Spen- cel great admirer of Western life, desirous of making your ac- quaintan Mias Spencer swept ly for- ward, perenne igahed. ber hand ex- tended. “Ob, Mr. Hampton, I have so wished to meet with yau ever since I first read your name in Aunt Ly- a lettere—Mrs. Herndon is my s most particular friend, and she tells me so much about you. She is such he felt so badi: your meeting wit ant fearing you might quarrel! It was such a relief to find him unhurt, but I felt ¢ , BO as to rellov entirely, I have two special fri Mr. Moffat and Mr. McNeii—perhaps you know them?—who have told me 80 much about these things. But I do think the story of your acquaintance with Naida is the mos romantic I gers. He entered the almost threshold of “He'e there ee Pyoeg dy! het ere te a shot at ¥ Hampton's genial ecalle gaty 8 ened as he carelessly lahted cigar between “It seems to rather nervous ness, Jim. walk in the and let “Slavin, alt down!" ‘The terse, imperative words fairly to cut the air, bearded gambler, who A a nd Up to the opposite si of the eyes never once table, and planted himself on ft, degerting the — pee, a Ory same my dear frien ve come and take these ever beard of—exactly like @ play on - stage, and I could never forgive myself if I failed to meet the int wom? actor. I do not wonder Naida fairly worships you.” most certainly appreciate your frankly expressed, eisreets ine wal nding with sly in this community to whom my pect Mar merits are b 4 t. So many are misjudged in world that it ls quite a relief to realize that even one lo appreciative, and the blessing be- comes doubled when that one chances to be so very charming a young bE Miss Bpencer sparkled inatantly, her cheeks rosy. “Oh, how very = fully you said that! you would some time tell me about your exploits, Why, Mr. Hampton, per- haps, if you were to call upon me, you might see Nalda, too. wieh you knew Mr. Moffat, but, as you don’t, al “Large and heavily set, with a red beard. He was exceedingly polite when informed of his mistake, and waid he merely had a message to de- Hver to Mies Gillis, But he refused to tefl it to me.” The glances of the two men met, but Brant wae unable to decipher the meaning Mdden within the gray eyes, Neither ke, and Miss Spencer, wh, never iaing what her chatter Meant, rattied merrily on. “You see, there are #0 many who to me now, because of my pub- tion here. Bo I thought noth- t first, until 1 discovered your impetuous disposition. this was exaggerated, but careful man and prefer te ‘drop,’ and so I Prt eerehy iy ri ta call, I regret the but ‘trust you are somewhat later.” hat with calm deli! table. “No doubt, Mr. Slay move that hand agai: system with lead,—you some very natural curioal ing the object of my unant yet I hope no less welcome, visit.” Slavin's only reply was a roaming the his bloodshot eyes furtively. “I msuspected ag much,” went on A 1 Mave telt hurt had you vese ent upon such an occasion. why you are. hibitin, terest Nelda Giles S imlorest tm Slavin straightened bands clinching nervo' '” pevepleaog, appearing on ‘t rehead. “I tun. was here you e4 so fine sense of humor was really quite proud of you. truly, I think you do Your memory can scareely tolling oh fa age - Naess motion like that and you righ there! You know mai a na [Se Seer te ehy ever tay sires Gane 01 m, I'll hanor you with a second ere's Silent by rage be would bur! himse! table, Then sureony the nes (4 brute went limp, his arown 1 Serer iiatas! will be so anxious, Iam com to have met both,” m bowed ly, and Brant conducted her silently down the outs able jar wr¥ou devill” he roared, “what do yeu ag GOING AWAY FOR A VACATION? Remember The Evening World prints each week a complete up-to-date nove week's reading! Have The ning World sent to your sum mer add Ve