Page 42 (1/2)

She swung off fiercely, and the h the circling, red dust cloud created by her hasty

feet The truth is, Mr Hampton possessed troubles and scruples of his

own in connection with this contemplated call He had never met the

lady; indeed, he could recall very few of her sex, co

respectability and refine the past ten

years But he retained so been

associated with a strenuous poker game at Placer, in which he also held

a prominent place, and it would seem scarcely possible that the wife

did not knohose bullet had turned her for some weeks into a

sick-nurse For Herndon he had not even a second thought, but the

possible ordeal of a woue was another matter A cordial

reception could hardly be anticipated, and Hampton mentally braced

his, also, but these he brushed aside for the

present He was not the sort ofhe had fought out his more serious battles in

loneliness and silence Now he had work to acco to stay with the Kid--after that, quien sabe? So he smiled

somewhat soberly, swore softly to himself, and strode on He had never

yet thron his cards merely because luck had taken a bad turn