Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-11-08
CHAPTER N-Continued.

CHAPTER N-Continued.
That Keeri had foreseen about how
che matter would turn, was sufficiently
evinced by his conduct. Beyond the
observations we have recorded, not q
word escaped him; but he stood lean
Ing calmly against the door OF q pew,
In the attitude OF q man who considers
himself master Of the situation.
AZ to Alma and Ralph, they had
taken very little notice Of the intruder,
the prompt action of Bullet having as
sured them that he would do all that
could be done in his own interest and
that of the bridal couple. Alma, it is
true, could not refrain from darting
sundry glances Of scorn and indigna-
ton at the rejected sutton, and Ralph
was only restrained by sense of dig
nifty from the instant chastisement Of
the intruder; but both of the contract
Ing parties may be said to have rather
endured than resented the intrusion.
We'll, what is decided" whispered
Alma to her father, as Bullet returned,
flushed and excited, to her side.
we must 60 home Immediately"
was the answer, in correspondingly
low voice THE conveyance in still in
waiting. "I'll explain all as soon as we
are by ourselves.
! This conclusion was 80 different from
that expected by Alma that she could
neither restrain her tears nor her
anger. -
) Is that tawny rascal, then, SO high
and mighty that we must be his hum
bic victims?" she demanded, excitedlv.
"Hushl Let us have no further scene
here" enjoined Bullet, nervously.
Nothing Is particularly amiss-if you
do as tell you. The priest has given
me instructions. We must leave at
once"
The gravity Of her fathers tones i'm
pressed the girl even more than the
words, and she no longer delayed the
departure. Keeri waited in his serene
attitude until the bridal couple and
Bullet had returned to their carriage,
and then he stalked quietly away, pay
Ing little heed to the suppressed jeers
and reproaches of which he was the
object from the younger portion of the
guests, whose pleasure he had thus
troubled.
In three minutes more the little
church was deserted, and the bridal
party were leaving the town behind
them.
ITO go home is our first step, of
course" whispered Bullet, indicating
by nod an unwelcome listener in the
person Of the driver of the carriage.
ITS only at home that shall be able
to talk with you freely"
Hardly word passed until the ride
was over, although it was one, it will
be remembered, Of nearly an hours
duration.
"You may watt" said Bullet to the
driver, whom the party had aligbted.
Il shall probably require your services
The bridal couple were soon seated
with Bullet in the privacy Of their lit
tie sitting room, and then the bold and
still angry eyes Of Alma turned inquir-
ingly to her father.
can now tell you ALL" said the cx-
sailor in whisper, after looking ner-
vously around. THAT wretched Keeri
had the basement OF the church full Of
sailors from the dock and Kanakas
from all points of the compass. He
ffty or sixty armed men at his
heels, and he came there intent
upon an unheard of disturbance.
To kill Mr.. Benning outright, and to
carry you off again to the hills, Alma,
were two well-defned points OF his
plan; and my own life, Of course, was
not accounted OF the value of a feather.
TO save not only our own lives but
those OF our invited guests, the pastor
enjoined me by everything sacred to
take the course have taken"
You have done well in needing the
pastors advice, of COURSE" said Ralph;
"but 1t is not necessary that Alma and
/ should abandon our idea of getting
married. We can ali slip off quietly to
some near village of the interior, and
there have the marriage ceremony per-
formed, and the whole affair ended, l
should say, within two or three hours. "
1.-THE very course was intending to
take--the very course in fact, advised
by the PASTOR" cried Bullet, jubilant-
ly. sit was in this Wow that l have
kept the carriage in waiting. In this
way we shall turn the tables COM
pletely upon Keeri; for after you are
once married, OF course, all his schemes
and Vaccinations will fall to the
ground, for tho simple reason that they
will be utterly futile"
Let us be off at once" proposed
Alma, arising. '"There's the little
chapel on the other side of Pearl Bay
MIR. Hapgood Scarcely five miles dis
tant, and that is probably as good q
place for us as any other"
"At any rate, it is the place have
mentally selected" said Bullet, giving
his daughter look OF secret intelli-
gence. "You and Ashley had better
look to your toilets, and we'n be off for
Mr.. Hapgood's in q few moments"
It seemed to Ralph that Bullet was
anxious to say few words in private
TO Alma, and he accordingly availed
himself Of the suggestion about his
toilet to retreat to his own apartment.
Alma, in like manner, was about retir-
ing to her room when her father inter-
cepted her on the stairs.
aJust one word, but very important
one," he whispered. AN I've said
about Keeri's band Of desperadoes is o
JIG, made up under the spur of the
moment. The real difficulty is, as the
pastor informed me, that Keeri came
TO the church with the intention Of de-
claring who Ashley Is, and with the
fNrthor intanfiOn ~ ohOwinO that wa