The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-02-05
The Sheriff Of SiSkyOu.
By BRBT HARTB.
copyright, 1894, by tho Author.l
Continued.

"
that, the major had apparently forgot
ten his desire to hear his guest talk, for
he himself at once launched into an |
elaborate exposition of his own affairs !
and specious and equally elaborate !
defense and justification of himself and |
denunciation of his accusers. For near
" half an hour he reviewed step by
step and detail by detail the charges
against him, with plausible explana-
ton and sophistical argument-always
with singular prolixity and reitera-
ton that spoke of incossant conscious
ness and self abstraction. OF that dash
ing self sufficiency which had dazzled
his friends and awed his enemies there
was no trace. At last even the set smile
of the degraded recipient of these con-
fidences darkened with dull, bewilder-
ed disgust. Then, to his relief, step
was heard without. The majors man
ner instantly changed.
"Well, he demanded impatiently as
Dawson entered.
II came to know what you want
done with him." said Dawson, indicat-
ing the fugitive with contemptuous
finger.
Take him to your cabin.
my cabinl HIM" calculated Daw-
son, turning sharply on his chief.
The majors light eyes contracted,
and his thin lips became a straight line.
81 don t think you understand me, Daw-
son, and another time you d better wait
until I've done. 1 want you to take
l.; 30. ~, tbn,, al N,tt Of
it yourself. You understand? want
him near me and alone
Dawson was not astonished the next
morning to see Major Overstone and
the half breed walking together down
the gully road, for he had already come
to the conclusion that the major was
planning some extraordinary reprisal
against the invaders that would insure
the perpetual security Of tho camp
That he should use so insignificant and
unimportant a tool now appeared to him
to be quite natural, particularly as the
service was probably one in which the
man would be sacrificed. Tho ma
jor," he suggested to his companions
"ain't going to risk white mans skin
when he can get an Injin' hide handy. "
The reluctant, hesitating step of the
half breed as they walked along SEEM
ed to give some color to this hypothesis.
He listened sullenly to the major as he
pointed out the strategic position of the
Bar. "That wagon road is the only ap-
proach to Vineyards, and dozen men
along the rocks could hold it against a
hundred The trail that you came by
over the ridge drops straight into this
gully, and you saw Whit that would
mean to any blanked fools who might
try it. OF course we could be shelled
from that ridge if the sheriff had a
howitzer or the men also knew how to
work enc, but even then Wa could &C.
oupy the ridge before them" He paus-
ed moment and then added: 81 used
to be in the army, Tom. saw service
in Mexico before that cub you got away
from had his first trousers. I was
brought up as gentleman--blank 1t
all land here am. F"
The man slouched on by his side,
casting his surly, furtive chances from
left to right as if seeking to escape from
these condolences. Nevertheless the ma
jor kept ON through the gully until
reaching the wagon road they crossed it
and began to ascend the opposite slope,
half hidden by the underbrush and
larches. Here the major paused again
and faced about. The cabins of the set
Element were already behind the bluff.
The little stream which indicated the
bar, on which some perfunctory min
ing was still continued, now and then
rang out quite clearly at their feet, al
, though the bar itself had disappeared.
The sounds of occupation and labor had
ut last died out in the distance. They
were quite alone. The major sat down
on bowlder and pointed to another.
The man, however, remained sullenly
standing where he was, as if to accent
as strongly as possible the enforced
, companionship Either the major was
too self absorbed to notice it or accepted
it as q satisfactory characteristic of the
half breed race. He continued conf
IDENTIFY:
Now, look here, Toni l want to
leave this cursed hole and get clear out
OF the state. Anywhere-over the Ore
gon line into British Columbia or to the
coast, where l can get coasting vessel
down to Mexico. 1t will cost money,
but I've got it. 1t will cost lot of
risks, but IN take them. l want some
body to help me-some one to share
risks with me and some one to share my
luck if | succeed. Help to put me on
the other side of the border line by sea
or land, and I'll give you 81, 900 down
before we start and 1000 when Pm
safe +"
The half breed had changed his
slouching attitude. 1t seemed more in
dolent on account of the loosely hang
ing strap that had once held his haver-
sack, which was still worn in sloven-
ly fashion over his shoulder, as kind
of lazy sling for his shiftless hand.
well, Tom, is it go2 You can
trust me, for you'll have the thousand
In your pocket before you start. can
trust you, for I'll kill you quicker than
lightning if you say word of this to
any one before l go or play single
trick on me afterward. "
Suddenly the two men were rolling
over and over in the underbrush. The
half breed had thrown himself upon the
major, bearing him down to the ground
The haversack strap for an instant whirl-
ed like the loop Of lasso IN the ar and
descended over the majors shoulders
pinioning his arms to his side Then the
half breed, tearing open his ragged
blouse, stripped of his waist belt and
rs dexterousiy slipped it over the ankles
of the struggling man.