The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-02-16
A MOUNTAIN BRIGAND.
By ALFRED R. CALHOUN.
copyright, 1924, by the Author.1
(Continued.)

That night there was another carouse. |
The ST pplies just brought in were bro
ken oppn in the most reckless way, and |
except ng the rations, which were taken |
charge of by old Kit, the people helped |
themselves as they pleased Some raid |
ers from tho direction of McNIinnville |
had returned that day with number |
of fat cattle one of which had been |
killed IN anticipation of young Kits re- |
turn, and as soon as it was dark the |
fresh meat was being roasted at half
dozen huge oampfres. The nearly naked |
children ran about with half cooked |
chunks of beef in their hands, and they |
| flung it at each other, after their hun
ger was appeased, and shouted like
! young savagos, as, in truth, they were.
Even the yellow dogs had happy night
of it and lay down, gorged, by the fires.
/ Old Kits private table fairly groaned
under its heap of food A dozen bayo
nets driven into the rough planks an
swered for candlesticks, and, as was his
habit, he asked a blessing before eating
and seemed to regard his prosperity as
q reward from heaven for leading an
upright life.
AlltI Ntilutt, VI huDpSl, thOuSh
the gang had the savage habit of disre-
garding fixed times for meals and eating
whenever they were hungry, Molly Nc
Gee brought her father his fiddle and
perched him on the head Of a barrel
near the fire Whisky having been dealt
out with unusual liberality, the people
were wild with excitement, and the
dancing that followed was even more
fast, furious aud abandoned than that
which Collins took part in on the night
of his arrival.
although | told Molly was sick,
she would have me out, and then she
hung on to me and danced me about till
felt sick in earnest She made me lie
down on blanket in one of the tents
and said she would bring me some
medicine, and she did. 1t was boiling
hot whisky, sweetened with sorghum
molasses. l objected, but she would
have her own way. She lifted me up in
her lap rs if | had been a sick baby
and she drunken giant of nurse.
Then she held that tin cup to my mouth
and told me if | didn't drink every
id drop of it she d hug me to death.
preferred to die drunk, SO | swallowed
all the stuff didn't manage to spill. "
Collins had now learned all that it
was necessary to know about the rem
1.zvons strength and methods of these
neonle bnt to Get safely back and com.
r,nnicate bis tnovledge to his superior
Ulcers at Cumberland gan would re-
miro moro fact and daring than it did
to Join the gang.
The next day he was a sick man. sure
enonyb INIT TO avoid Molly's attentions
and her medicine he kent ON his feet.
On Saturday another raid was to start
in rho direction of the Kentucky line.
and Coll;ns who now felt that he had
won the confidence of the gang. insisted
an heinz ,pe of fine marty I'm to this
time hc had supposed that Molly Nc.
] Coos ,ttcut;op was such as she mipht
beve bestowed ON any recruit to her ia.
tbnr's force Init as soon as he asked to
on north with this expedjtion the old
man ,tartled him by saving:
MOLLY and mes done talked hit all
ryer. She's a mighty fine gal, is Molly,
ana th,r olu't a unmarried man in the
nornrains on she couldn't have eff so be
,he,d saw the word. But she's mighty
ticklor is Molly. and from the fust she
sot hcr eva onto Won. so | reckon Won
uns mouts well git married. Ned
Owen ulster preach afoah the wah, and
[ reckon no remembahs enough of the
business to make the hitch so She IL hold.
And so, my son, think you uns he'd
bettah not 90 this trip, for hit wouldn' 4
look decent to git married and then run
Off"
Collins on his arrival had announced
himself as a single man, SO he coul6
not we'll take refuge under the plea Of
!. being married. In the circumstance.
he must get married if he remained, sc
he determined to get away that Friday
night. He still retained the arms he hat
brought with him, and, like his lawess
companions he carried them about will
him as he did his hat or any other arti
Gle of clothing. 1t was old Kit McGee'.
orders that the men should always have
their arms within reach, but even with
out these instructions they would have
done 80 from force of habit.
About l o'clock the next morning
and when even the tireless ours appear
!. ed to be asleep, Collins slipped from
it,. IT, and s. with o.. his !. boots ssr ii; rs: