Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-11-30
AN IDYL OF HONOLULU.
A Bold Stroke for Husband. Written for
This Paper
BY LEON LEWIS.

you set eyes on him you know that
Alma is not far distant. / dare say we
are within few rods of her person.
Take care that the internal Kanaka
does not see or hear us. He'd probably
sooner murder the poor child than per-
NIT us to take her from him"
BY this time the Kanaka had fin
ished his keen survey of his surround
ings, without detecting the presence OF
the two men, and commenced making
his way down an abrupt declivity to-
ward small steam that wound its shin
ing course along the bottom OF the mar
row valley. A pail he carried in his
right hand indicated clearly enough
that he was seeking supply of water
for himself or for his captive.
"We have him!" breathed Bullet in
Ralphs ear, as his grim smile gave
place to look of the sternest resolve.
"You see the point for which he is
making? From our present position we
can almost drop ourselves upon him at
the instant he is filling his pail. Do
not hurt him any more than is neces-
sary. He's almost crazy, you know,
with his love for Alma-and it's little
to be wondered at, for she's girl of a
million.
The sternness of the old sailors
countenance showed that this sugges-
ton was more designed to influence
alph than to spare the Kanaka.
do just as you see ME do, my dear
Benning," added Bullet, when Keeri
had nearly reached the brook, "and we
shall have him safe and snug in less
than O minute"
The event proved the business of the
old mans calculations. At the very
instant Keeri stopped beside the sUream
to fill his pail, the two men hurled
themselves upon him.
The contest that followed, however,
was as desperate as it was short. The
supple Kanaka exerted himself so vio-
lently that Ralph and Bullet had to set
themselves earnestly to work before he
was overpowered and bound securely.
SO you've gone to keeping house
in the hills, have your" sneered Bullet,
when at last the Kanaka lay painting
and helpless at his feet. where is my
daughter?"
Don't you wish you knew, old man?"
was the spiteful answer.
"We shall have to extract the de-
sired information from him, 1 think, ."
suggested Ralph, quietly. "A good
sousing in the nearest pool will prob
ably loosen his tongue"
II dare say. Let's try it."
The two men laid hold of the'Kanaka
Immediately, with an air which showed
how earnestly they were in quest of in
formation.
"If the water don't fetch him, we'll
tie him up by the thumbs, sailor fash
ion muttered Bullet, as he and Ralph
bore their prisoner toward a consider
able pool, which had formed at bend
in the stream. "He must tell us where
Alma is or we'll souse the breath out of
his body"
The determination of his captors
could hardly have failed to affect the
Kanaka.
Hold on" he suddenly muttered.
The two men stopped.
"I'll tell you where the girl is" he
said, "since l have been such fool as
to allow you to nab me. She is here
with me-living in one of these caves.
She is now my wife, Mr.. Bullet.
Partly by soaring her and partly by
coaxing 1 have induced her to marry
me-"
"You had better tell that to the
Marines" said Bullet, coldly. Il know
Alma too we'll to credit your impudent
lies. Your coaxing and threats have
been equally useless"
you forget, old man, that Alma has
been betrothed to me for years." said
the INSCRIPTIONS wooer, as he turned
his malignant glances upon Ralph.
'She has always thought everything
of me, and has long been deceiving you
and the young American"
Shut up, or I'll throw you into the
brook" interrupted Bullet, alarmed
lest these falsehoods should have the
effect intended; that of making trouble
between Ralph and Alma. "All you
have to do is to show us where the girl
is, and Well hear what she has to say
about these matters. And the sooner
you tell us where she is the better it
will be for you.
Keeri bit his lips vengefully, but
soon mastered his rage and mortifca-
ton.
She's up there, he muttered. jerk
ing his head toward the spot where
the two men had first seen him. IF
you'll set me free I'll show you the
way to our hiding-place."
Ralph and Bullet exchanged glances.
Il see no objections to setting him
upon his pins, said the latter, $50 long
as we keep sharp lookout upon him. "
The feet Of Keeri were accordingly
free, and he was assisted to an upright
position.
This way" he enjoined. IF you
leave me in this fix, however, you'll
have to help me.
"Oh, we'll help you fast enough, re-
turned Bullet. flake hold of him, my
dear Benning. Between us we shall be
able to manage him."
The trio began the ascent of the de-
clivity Keeri had 80 lately traversed,
and were soon in a most difficult and
dangerous spot-a narrow ledge upon
the face of precipice that lowered
fifty or sixty feet above the bottom OF
the valley we have mentioned. And
then it was that the Kanaka suddenly
precipitated himself against his cap
tors with all his might, in an attempt
to tumble them from this elevation into
the rocky depths below. 1t was only
by the watchfulness and vigorous dex-
terity of Ralph that this attempt was
thwarted.
"The treacherous snake!" muttered
Bullet, when he had recovered his foot.
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