The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-06-06

great. blond. moon faced barkeeper ana
watched by group Of shabby ioungcn
''it's very plain. Bradford, that tn's
whole scheme has been idiotic.
"Aha'' giggled Alec. you're bscs-
ing outi / thought you wouldi ne
called for three more glasses OF peef'
having drank his own, and the DAT
keeper, with great alacrity. whisked All
the glasses away and supplied US with
fresh ones.
Hathaway slipped in between BRAD
ford and myself. YES, Alec, ne anx-
iously whispered. Frank is backing
out, and very sensibly. The idea OF
/ three sane men like ourselves attempt
! ing this bravado game Of stiffness In
| five different placesl We might regres
| il all our lives Come, now. let's go up
/ town and call the bet of. -
/ But Bradford tossed his head stub
/ bornly. He was the best fellow in the
world at ordinary times. but drink,
even ia limited supply. had the ugly
trick OF demoralizing him
Not bit Of it, - he muttered The
bet isn't of Mt all. Frank Amberleyls
got to begin" Then he loudened his
voice SO it could be heard in every cor
ncr Of the big, vulgar gilded tavern
"How much money. Frank, did you say
you had about you tonightS"
ALEC" pleaded Hathaway's low
voice, "look at that gang Of rowdies
over iherol We'd best all concede that
we've behaved like fools. Do pull your
self together. old fellow. and
How much, Franki" cried Bradford.
with an obstinate smile and saucy
shoulder shrug
Something in his tones challenged my
reckless anger. | spoke as loudly ns he
did and at once began to act out my
proarranged part.
Five thousand dollars" said
Then from one pocket drew one roll OF
sham bank notes and from another the
second. Twenty-Five hundred dollars
in each of those little packagesr Hero
lifted them both and gave to escb
little ostentatious flourish. Then re-
placed them, adding. still in tones clear
and high, 1T makes me feel kind OF
nervous, but still | don't doubt I'll
, get home all right.
'Oh, Jack aud will see you safely
homer' cried Bradford. with q glance
group of loafors
Just then something touched my arm.
A young woman, who must have en-
: tered the place but few minutes ago.
stood at my side. Some trick Of the
garish light left her face In partial
shadow, but could see that II was
J very pale and hollow checked as IL from
want
"Oh. sirv' she said to me In trem-
bling voice, ''if you've got all that
money, perhaps you'll spare me just a
few coinsl I've never (I swear it to you'll
been in such place as this before But
was so sick that lost my chance Of
work in the big shirt factory not far
off. and tonight my landlady has turned
me into the streets, and, oh, SIR
Frank. what's the matter?' few
from Alec Bradford's lips rs he saw me
reel little and put my hand dizzilt 70
my head.
Good God, Ruth It's youi"
caught her to my breast and show
cred kisses on her poor wasted faoe
My two friends got us a carriage -
fore long learned afterward that
Ruth behaved like the strong. brave lit
tie creature she had always boen,
though the tears streamed down hsr
shrunken cheeks. but that babbled in
the silliest way and narrowly escaped
being dragged to prison a. disordsrly
bacchanal:an.
Ruth Is at home with Clara and my
self now. and we are both very happy in
her company. though the return of
kealthful bloom to her cheeks often
makes us believe that one admirer out
: of u half dozen whom we know may
soon partially rob us Of her. ~
Bradford would never accept my
money, but insisted ON calling the bet
Z. ''of. F" And. by the way. as he lives
not far from our Kansas town. and &C.
companied me with my sister back inss
e the west, | should not be greatly sur
prised if
But perhaps, as their mutual affaira
r nre still quite unsettled. sister Ruth
might object to further details ON that
rather delicate point Edgar Fawceti
in Once Week.