The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-01-27

bturNlUNu OF III. uI' NtU women 10 llllcs
back at ella Bond. It's a plant, ma
iot: that's what | believe.
old plurmcr kicked the toe of his
shoe into th' sandy soil and hung n
reflective bead. Il wish you hadn't
shut your eyes. he drawlcd ut length.
81 wouldn't, sin, If | hadn't thought
You'd keep yours open You slept all
night, sir, you and Mr.. Dawes, while
| rode alongside with finger ON trigger
every minute.
Absorbed in their gloomy conversa-
ton, neither man noticed that the wood
en- shutter in the adobe wall close at
hand had been noisclessly opened from
within, Just an inch or two. Neither
knew, neither could see that behind it. in
the gathering darkness of the short sum
mer evening, shadowy form was
crouching.
Then you think we must stay here,
do youy' queried the paymaster.
Think | know it. Why, the range
ahead is alive with Apaches, and we
can't stand 'em off with only half a
dozen men. Your clerks no count,
major.
Old Plummer stood irresolute. His
clerk, IA consumptive ana broken down
relative, was at that moment lying
nerveless ON rude bunk within the
ranch, benoaning the fate that had i'm
PEELED him TO seek Arizona in search of
health He was indeed of little
"count, " as the paymaster well knew.
After moment $ painful thought the
words rose slowly to his lips:
well, perhaps you know best, so
here we stay till tomorrow night, or at
least until they get back"
One could almost hear the whisper
in the deep recess of the retaining wall
--sibilant, gasping. Some one crouch
ing still farther back in the black
depths of the interior did hear.
Santa Maria!'
But when moment later the propri-
etor of this roadside ranch, this arti-
fetal oasis in IA land of desolation,
strolled into the big bare room where
half u dozen troopers were doing or
gambling it was with an air of conf
Dental joviality that he whispered to
the corporal in charge:
Our fren, the major, he riffuse me
sell you uardiente-mescal, but wait
tonight"
"Oh. d-n it, Moreno, we'll be half
/ way to Stoneman by that time, " in
! ta,r,,n+ad fine troonar o,,ite savapelv.
"Wbn.s to know where we GOT the
stuff? Well make 'em believe Dono-
van,s sonod brorpbt If in from Ger.
| o1vo,s civ mo n drinl, now onvboy
vo, informal ,r.eoea, I'm all bn,nt ont
with sncb a dnv nc tbis We've pot 70
+borc WON'T Iva onv time tbon ;,
"uusb cabalIero. thev come NOT to
night You will rest here. F."
s,yVb,, how. i, l,lo,os do ,,o,, ,,,o,y -,
"SoffIvr-I know NOT kno,v
noting vet mira,-I know They fall,
lone in the corral-the major and that
Mo Of sarooont-.for him I snon INV
fnper Look voni,, And Moreno
cave n fin ipdica+iva of combined de.
fance and disdain
Don't Won count on his not finding
ont Moreno It's all easy onoupb Sc
far os ,be noior,s concerned but tba,
blackpuard Feenv's different, tel
Won He'd hear fine gnrgle Of th,
spigot if he were 10 miles across the
ella, and be here to bust things before
you could serve out gill-d-n
him! He's been keen enough to put
that psalm singing Yankee on guard
over your liquor. How are you going
to get at it anyhow"
/ For an answer the Mexican placed
the forefingcr Of his left hand upon his
lips and with that of the right hand
pointed significantly to the hard beaten
earthen floor.
"Ah, l have mine" he whispered
you will not betray, Ell? Shu-u
/ Hush! He comes now"
The gruff voice of Sergeant Feeny
broke up the colloquy.
Corporal Murphy, take what men
You have here and groom at once. Feed
and water too. Moreno, l want sup
| per cooked for eight in 80 minutes
| Drop those cards now, You men. Yor
should have been sleeping as | tolt
| you, so as to be ready for work to.
night.
'Shure we don't go tonight, ser.
geant.
"Who says that?" demanded Feeny
quickly, whirling upon his subordi
mates. The corporal looked embarrassed
and turned to Moreno for support
Moreno, profoundly calm, was as pro
foundly oblivious.
Moreno there" began Murphy
finding himself compelled to speak.
/ ~" gravely, courteously protested
the Mexican, with deprecatory shrul
of his shoulders and upward lift of eye
brow. 81? What know II do but
say the Corporal Donovan is not come
How know you go not out tonight?"
Neither you nor the likes of yor
knows, was Feeny's stern retort
1--WE go when we will and no questions