The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-14

THE
CONSPIRACY OF MRS. BUNKER.
--A-s-s------..-sss
THE
BY BRET IIARTE.
COPY, tytL 1899. BY Francis Bird Hun.
PART III,

During that evening and the next Mrs. Bun
ker. without betraylng her secret. or exciting
the least suspicion on the part OF her husband.
managed to extract from hin not only rough
description OF Marion which Tailed with her
own Impressions. but short history Of his
career. Ho was famous politician who had
held high office in the South: he was an ac-
complished lawyer: lie had served in the
army; he was fiery speaker: he had a sngu-
lar command OF men. He was unmarried. but
there were queer stories Of his relations with
some OF the wives OF prominent officials. and
there was no doubt that he used them in some
OF his political intrigues. He. Zephas. would
bet something that 1t was a woman who had
helped him OIL Did che speak?
Yes! she had spoken. 1t made her sick to
sit there and hear such stories. Because a
man did not agree with some people in politics
1t was perfectly awful to think how they would
abuse him and take away his character. Men
were so awfully jealous. too: IL another man
happened to be superior and fine looking there
wasn't anything bad enough for them to say
about him. No! she wasn't a slavery sympa-
thizer either. and hadn't anything to do with
mans politics. although she was Southern
woman. and tho MacEwans had come from
Kentucky and owned slaves. or course. he.
Zephas. whose ancestors were Cape Cod
Qunkers. and had always been sailors. couldn't
understand. She did not know what he meant
by saying what long tail our cats got" but
II he meant to call her cat. and was going to
uso such language to her. ne had better have
stayed In San Francisco with his Vigilante
friends And perhaps It would have been bet
ter IL he had stayed there before he took her
away from her parents at Martinez Then she
wouldn't have been left in desert rock with.
ont any chance OF seeing the world. or ever
mailing a fripnlc w a n n
1t was their first quarrel. Dlscreetly made
np by Mrs. Bunker in some alarm at betraylng
herself: honestly forgiven by Zephas In Il
rude. remorseful consciousness Of her limited
life. One or two nights later. when he re-
turned. It was with a mingled air Of mystery
and satisfaction. well. Mollie." he said
cheerfully. 1T looks as II your pets were not
as bad rs thought them"
MY pets!" repeated Mrs. Bunker. with a
faint rising OF color
We'll. call these Southern Chivs your pets.
Mollie. because you stuck up for them 80 the
other night. But never mind that now. What
do you suppose has happened? Jim Rider.
you know. the Southern banker md Spectator.
who's regular big Injin among the 'Chvs.'
he sent Cap Simmons down to the wharf while
] was unloadin to come and see him. Well. l
went, and what do y'u think? He told me lie
was gettin' up an American Fishin' Company.
and wanted me to take charge Of frst-class
schooner on shares. Said lie heard Of me
afore. and knew I was an American and
white man. and Just the chap ez could knock
them Eyetalians outer the market"
Yes" interrupted Mrs Bunker quickly. but
emphaticaly. 1.-THE fishing interest ought to
be American and protected by the State. with
regular charters and treaties"
II say. Mollie." said her astonished but ad-
miring husband. you've been readin' the
papers or listenin' to stump speakin'. sure"
Go on" returned Mrs. Bunker. impatiently
land say what happened next"
Well" returned Zephas. II first thought
you SEQ. that it had suthn' to do with that
Marion business. particularly ez folks allowed
he was hid:n' somewhere vet. and they wanted
me to run him of So I thought he might as
well know that wasn't to DO bribed. so ups
and tells him how I'd been lynn of Sancelito
tho other day workin for tho other side agin
him. With that he laughs says he didn't want
any better friends than me. but that must he
Twin In the backwoods not to know that Wyn-
yard Marion had escaped. and was then at sea
on his way to Mexico or Central America.
Then We agreed to terms. and the long and
short OF 1t Is. Mollie. that I'm to have the
schooner. with q hundred and fifty dollars q
month and 10 per cent shares after q year!
Looks like biz. eli. Mollie? old girl. but you
don't seem pleased"
She had put aside the arm with which he
was drawing her to him. and had turned her
white face to the window. So he had gone
this stranger-this one friend Of her life-she
would never see him again. and all that would
ever come OF it was this pecuniary benefit to
her husband. who had done nothing. He
would not even offer her money. but he had
managed to pay his debt to her in this way
that their vulgar poverty would appreciate.
And this was the end OF her dream.
You don't seem to take it in. Mollie." con-
tinued the surprised Zephas. 1T means a
house in Frisco and a little cabin for you on
the schooner when you like"
Il don't want It! l won't have it.! shall
stay here" she burst out with half.passion =
ate. half-childsh cry. and ran into her bed
room. leaving the aStonished Lephas helpless
in his awkward CONSERVATION.
by Gum. Imust take her to Frisco right
or or shell, DO havin the high strikes here
alone ! ouGhor knowfd it would come to
this" But. although he consulted Gap 4"
Simmons tho next day. who informed him it
was al! woman'S ways when struck" and
advised him 10 pay out al! tho line lie could at
such delicate moments she had no recurrence
OF tho outtreak. On the contrary. for days
and weeks following she seemed ca!mer. Old
! or. aud more Growed up although she re-
sisted changing hsr seashore dwelling for San
| Francisco. sho accompanied him on ons or
| two Of his deep sea" trips down tho coast.
| and seemed happier on their southern limits
She had taken 10 reading tho political papers
| and speeches. and some cheap American his
| tories. Capt. Bunker's crew. profoundly con-
WINGED that their shippers wife was "wo-
mans rights" fanatic. Will, the balsiul mali.
ties Of " sea lawyer supeIadded, maivelel
| at his bringing her.
| II was on returning home from one Of these
trips that they touched briefly at San Fran
| cisco. where the Secretary OF the Fishing
Company came on board. Mrs. Bunker was
startled TO recognize In him one OF the two
| gentlemen who had taken Mr.. Marion of in
| the boat. but as he did not appear to recognlz
her even after an awkward introduction by
| her husband. she would havo recovered hor
| equnnimity but for a singular incident. As her
| husband turned momentarily away. the Secra-
Al II. an,, all. las