Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-12-21
CHAPTER XI.

your post, Mr.. Lane, and knowing that
| am here-yes, here they come"
CHAPTER XI.
JOYOUS REsToRATIoN
TIE event verified the word, the
father and daughter hurrying into the
oflice-the former pale and with his
head bound up, and the latter flushed
and nervous.
"So I've found you, villain, have II"
cried Bullet, angrily, as his eyes rested
apon Kulu. "What do you mean by
robbing me? Traitor! spy robber!
Where are those papers?"
"Draw it mild, old man." returned
Kulu, coolly. Having procured the
reading of the papers by friend, |
was struck by their Importance, and
instantly came to the conclusion that |
ought to serve Mr.. Kemplin instead of
serving you. AS the papers are now in
his possession, and as he is present to
speak for himself"
| A yell of CONSERVATION escaped the
ex-sailor as his gaze encountered the
young Chicagoan, who sat looking from
him to Alma with strange smile OF
wonder and contempt.
The latter at sight of him had
dropped into q chair, unable to articu-
late the least expression af her sur
prise at encountering him so uneX-
pectedly in Mr.. Lanes office.
"Ah-Mr. Benning." stammered Bull
let.
The scornful smile of Ralph deep
ened.
These, then, were the conspirators
who hau taken advantage Of his mis-
fortune.
"The Benning business is just now
under q cloud" he said, quietly.
The words struck chill to the hearts
of the father and daughter, but the
latter rallied her powers for a final eff
fort.
What! Don't you recognize me, dear
Ashley?" she demanded, rushing to
Ralph's side and throwing her arms
around his neck. Don't you know your
own poor Alma?"
eyes, the trouble is know you too
well, replied Ralph, as he gently, but
firmly, repealed her embraces. "The
conspiracy in which you and your
father have been engaged attests that
you have a fair share of brains, and
YOU will not now fail to use them. You
will accordingly comprehend that your
projects are all detected and exposed,
and that all that is left you and Mr..
Bullet is graceful retreat,
What! do you mean to repudiate
me, to prove false to your vows, after
going to the church with me to be mar
ried?" demanded Alma, in a shrill voice
of wrath that would have disenchanted
the most ardent wooer.
ASK Benning," returned Ralph,
with smiling scorn; TASK Benning
wherever and whenever you can find
him! AS to myself, Miss Bullet, my
name is not Benning, nor am your
sutton, nor your friend, even; and it is
hardly necessary to add that under no
circumstances will 1 have any dealings
with you or with your father!"
Monster! L"
silence, my child" interrupted tho
ex-whaler, clapping his hand over
Alma's mouth. "Our harpoon hasn't
held worth q cent this time, and our
whale has escaped! We shan't fill our
barrels this wage, but there's no &C.
casion to rage or SWIVEL. Not a word!
Let's retreat in good order. If you
want husband, there's Keeri still at
our disposal"
80 he is" exclaimed Alma, starting
up and drying her eyes, and I'll marry
him before the days ended"
Bravo! that's the true spirit" COM
mented Bullet "If you can't strike a
forty-barrel whale, why, put up with
one of twenty. Not a word to any of
these ruffians. A dignifed silence is
our best reply to them"
And with this he stalked from the
office, dragging his daughter after him,
neither of them looking behind them.
THAT disposes of all that business,
, commented Ralph, as the smile OF
scorn faded from his face and a look OF
, keen anxiety settled upon it. Let us
now turn to more important matters.
To begin with, Kulu, it seems that you
are out of Mr.. Bullets employ"
That's clear enough, sir"
, as there anything to prevent you
from taking service with me?"
} Nothing, sir. 1 shall be very
J glad"
"You are in my employ, then, from
this moment. Like all of your people,
} you are, doubtless, something of a
sailor?"
Il have been at sea ten years, sir.
an that case hurry home as soon as
| you can and get your affairs in readi'
| ness to sail Immediately"
) 81 don't need to go home, sir. I can
| leave my horse with my brother, who
|, works Just around the corner, and be
ready in five minutes to take hold Of
j any Job you may give me"
( "Good," said Ralph. Sect rid Of
your horse and come back here"
t Kulu vanished.
"And now for a few words more
) about the Nor'wester," resumed Ralph
) turning to Mr.. Lane. You think she
| is lost in the ice, and the ladies with
= her?"
t @That is rather Mr.. Hadley's opinion
: than mine, of course, was the answer
: "He judges by the weather that fol
= lowed his withdrawal from the shiT
that her situation soon became one o.
, great peril. He believes, in fact, thai
, she was promptly destroyed, and thai
l all those left in her persisted"
But he has no certainty to this
effect?"