Bob Hampton of Placer

"I 've come to live here," announced the girl, sullenly. "That is, if

I like it."

The woman continued to gaze at her, as if tempted to laugh outright;

then the pleasant blue eyes hardened as their vision swept beyond

toward Hampton.

"It is extremely kind of you, I 'm sure," she said at last. "Why is it

I am to be thus honored?"

The girl backed partially off the doorstep, her hair flapping in the

wind, her cheeks flushed.

"Oh, you need n't put on so much style about it," she blurted out.

"You 're Mrs. Herndon, ain't you? Well, then, this is the place where

I was sent; but I reckon you ain't no more particular about it than I

am. There's others."

"Who sent you to me?" and Mrs. Herndon came forth into the sunshine.

"The preacher."

"Oh, Mr. Wynkoop; then you must be the homeless girl whom Lieutenant

Brant brought in the other day. Why did you not say so at first? You

may come in, my child."

There was a sympathetic tenderness apparent now in the tones of her

voice, which the girl was swift to perceive and respond to, yet she

held back, her independence unshaken. With the quick intuition of a

woman, Mrs. Herndon bent down, placing one hand on the defiant shoulder.

"I did not understand, at first, my dear," she said, soothingly, "or I

should never have spoken as I did. Some very strange callers come

here. But you are truly welcome. I had a daughter once; she must have

been nearly your age when God took her. Won't you come in?"

While thus speaking she never once glanced toward the man standing in

silence beyond, yet as the two passed through the doorway together he

followed, unasked. Once within the plainly furnished room, and with

her arm about the girl's waist, the lines about her mouth hardened. "I

do not recall extending my invitation to you," she said, coldly.

He remained standing, hat in hand, his face shadowed, his eyes

picturing deep perplexity.

"For the intrusion I offer my apology," he replied, humbly; "but you

see I--I feel responsible for this young woman. She--sort of fell to

my care when none of her own people were left to look after her. I

only came to show her the way, and to say that I stand ready to pay you

well to see to her a bit, and show her how to get hold of the right

things."