Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-12-14
CHAPTER discontinued.


.eyinced by his conduct. Beyond the
observations we have recorded, not
word escaped him. but he stood lean
ing calmly against the door OF pew,
In the attitude of man who considers
himself master OF the situation.
AS 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, 1t Is
true, could not refrain from darling
sundry chances of scorn and indigna-
ton at the rejected sutton, and Ralph
was only restrained by Il 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.
well, what Is decided?" whispered
Alma to her father, as Bullet returned,
flushed and excited, to her side.
I'VE must go home Immediately"
was the answer, in a correspondingly
low voice "The conveyance in still in
waiting. "rll explain all as soon as we
are by ourselves.
This conclusion was so different from
2 that expectedSby Alma that she could
neither restrain her tears nor her
anger.
rs that tawny rascal, then, so high
and mighty that we must be his hum
BILE victims?" she demanded, excitedly.
"Hush! Let us have no further scene
here" enjoined Bullet, nervously.
Nothing is particularly amiss-if you
do as 1 tell you. The priest has given
me instructions. We must leave at
once"
The gravity Of her fathers tones Inn
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.
"To 90 home is our first step Of
course" whispered Bullet, indicating
by nod an unwelcome listener In the
person OF the driver of the carriage.
ats only at home that | shall be able
to talk with you freely"
Hardly word passed until the ride
was over, although 1t was one, 1t will
be remembered, of nearly an hours
duration.
"You may watt" said Bullet to the
driver, when tho party had alighted.
II shall probably require your services
= further"
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.
Il can now tell you all, said the ex-
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
must have had, the pastor thinks,
fifty or sixty armed men at his
heels, and he came there intent
upon an unheard of disturbance.
TO kill Mr.. Benning outright, and tC
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 feather
To save not only our own lives but
those of our invited guests, the pastor
enjoined me by everything sacred tc
take the course | have taken"
~You have done well in needing the
pastors advice, of COURSE" said Ralph
S'but it is not necessary that Alma anC
I should abandon our idea Of getting
married. We can all slip off quietly tt
some near village of the interior, anc
there have the marriage ceremony per
formed, and the whole affair ended,
should say, within two or three hours.
"The very course was intending t.
take-the very course, in fact, advised
bv the pastor" cried Bullet, jubilant
ly. sit was in this view that | have
kept the carriage in waiting. In Thu
way we shall turn the tables com
pletely upon Keeri; for after you are
once married, of course, all his scheme
and Vaccinations will fall to thu
ground, for the simple reason that the.
will be utterly futile"
''Let us be off at once" proposed
Alma, arising. "There's the littl
/. chapel on the other side Of Pearl Bay
Mr.. Hapgood's-s scarcely five miles dis
tant, and that is probably as good
place for us as any other"
Eat any rate, It is the place / hav
mentally selected" said Bullet, givinI
his daughter look OF secret intelli
gence. "You and Ashley had bette
look to your toilets, and we'll be OF 10
Mr.. Hapgoods in a few moments"
1t seemed to Ralph that Bullet wa
anxious to say few words in privat
to Alma, and he accordingly availe
himself Of the suggestion about hi
toilet to retreat to his own apartment
Alma, in like manner, was about retll
ing to her room when her father intel
cepted her on the stairs.
Just one word, but a very importan
one" he whispered. All I've sal
about Keeri's band of desperadoes is
lie, made up under the spur OF tn
moment. The real difficulty is, as tn
pastor informed me, that Keeri cam
to the church with the intention OF dc
claring who Ashley is, and with tn
further intention of showing that W
also know who and what he is. )"
aBut how can Keeri have learne
Ashleys IDENTIFY" breathed Alma.
"The Lord only knows; but, perhaps
from the three sailors of whom | hav
snoken-the three who have bee