The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-04-15
FROM AMBUSH.
An Old Quarrel Renewed That Led to
Certain Death,


Down here in the foothills of the noun
tain range is hamlet. That means a
store, blacksmith shop, church, n shoe
maker and three or four houses-perhaps
30 residents in all. 1t was founded 90
years ago For half century people have
been riding in from distance of eight or
ton miles to make their purchases or call
for mail or visit the blacksmith. On rainy
days crowd Of farmers sit about the
store to gossip, and again when tho wealth
er is pleasant the men work at home, and
the women ride in and make few pur-
chases and visit for awhile at tho same
place. Yesterday was a rainy day. Old
men, men of middle age, boys Of l6 and
Is came to town. There were mules to be
reshod, boots to be mended, tea and to
baoco to be purchased. Now and then one
confidently inquired for mail at the post
office and was handed out n letter or the
weekly county paper. There were peace
and good nature for half day. Every
body shook hands and made friendly in
quiries and felt at peace.
At noon there was less jollity, less jok-
ing. The bottle of moonshine whisky had
been handed about until two or three men
were drunk, two or three more silly and
reckless, the remainder ohurlish and i'll
tempered Men who had shaken hands
like brothers at 8 O'Clock in the forenoon
were looking askance at each other at
MONDAY. Not only that, but they were
silent and thinking-thinking over the
incidents and events Of the past half dozen
years and cropping for something to raise
a quarrel about. By and by one Of the
long haired, angular mountaineers-one
of pair who had sat close beside each
other for an hour without speaking-fnds
the excuse sought for and turns and
makes bitter remark. 1t is bitterly re-
sented. Next instant both are on their
feet and have knives in their hands. Be-
fore they can use thom, however, other
men spring forward and separate them,
and one is led away. An old wound has
been opened. honor impugned. Some said
1t were better to let them fight 1t out then
and there; others said reconciliation
might be effected. While they were argu
ing one Of the principals walked out to
where his mule stood dejectedly In the
rain and mounted and rode away. The
crowd looked after him, but no man CALLED
him q coward What they whispered tc
each other was:
Tom gwine home to git his gun and
ambush Dan! Dan better not go home to
day."
They not only whispered it to each 9th
er, but to Dan, who still held his wicked
looking knife in hand and used it to cut 4
silver from the barrel on which he sat al
he replied:
Eyes; Tom will ambush me on the road
We'd hev better fit 1t out right yere."
From that moment he was doomed
man. He fully realized it, and he did moi
bluff or buster or seek to conceal his tru'
feelings. His way was lonely one Nc
one else rode that way. To remain in towr
overnight would subject him to genera
contempt. To request any one to ride
home with him would make him coward
In the eyes of all. When the rest went, he
must go. Tom would be waiting for hin
In some roadside thicket or behind som'
great rock, but he must go forward jus
the same He heard them talking abou
a reconciliation, and their words brought
a smile of contempt. True, a quarrel hat
sometimes been patched up, but II botl
principals lived on 1t was sure to breal
out again. After the lie had been passed
and knives drawn 1t was foolish to talk o
peace. He must not even sanction sucf
talk, or the boys would whisper to eacf
other that he was afraid.
Two o'clock, 8 O'Clock, 4. 1t was tn,
same leaden sky, the same monotonou
patter of raindrops. After o'clock tn,
men had avoided Dan. They knew wha
he knew-that no was a doomed man
When the mark Of death Is placed on I
living man, he must live out his hour
alone. All living men pass him by. A
O'Clock half dozen men mounted ant
rode away. As they did so they looked
over their shoulders TO see II Dan wa
coming. He saw them do 1t and waiteI
ten minutes. Then he mounted and rod
after them.
Two miles away the trail he must tax
branohed off the main road. At that spo
he halted for moment He had paid tn
storekeeper a small balance he owed him
He had gone to the blacksmith and squared
accounts. He had scrawled brief missiv,
to his wife, telling her what to do afte
his death. Was there anything further
Was he quite readys He had not offere,
his hand nor said goodby to any Of tn,
men, but that was not expected of him
Yes; he was ready, and he picked up tn
lines and urged his mule forward. 1t wa
three miles from the main road to hi
home. The way offered a hundred spot
for ambush. In some one Of the ooverti
the assassin would be lying with cooke,
rife to send a bullet through his heart
1t mattered not which one. Death woul,
come Just the same. He might dismoun
and leave the trail, but that would b
cowardice. He might turn back and reacl
home by long circuit, but that would b
oowardice again. mol He would go {,
his death like n man-as his father AM