Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1899-12-23
: CLANCY'S CLAIM
Thy RALPH TURNER.1
CHAPTER |.

1S41. Tnere were three VI ehehi,
John Burton and wife and Bes-
sic, the daughter, miss OF IL then
a black-eyed, dark-haired romp with
hint of the flirt in her even then. The
Frisco of that epoch was town OF
scarcely more than 400 inhabitants,
and Bess, by virtue of her good looks.
that would not have attracted any at
tention In a larger community, was de-
cidedIy one Of the 400" and rejoiced
in the worship Of dozen warm admir-
ers, each of whom believed himself the
most favored by tickle Bess.
Burton pere had been a cook In
New Orleans hotel, and his wife, prior
to their marriage, was a waitress In
the same establishment. Having ac-
cumulated snug competency by their
Joint earnings, they set out for the Pa
cific Coastal that day terra incog-
nita to the bulk of mankind-soon az
ter San Francisco was taken by the
United States I'm 1916, with the hope of
increasing their little fortune. The
first move toward that end was the
opening of an eating house, where
pretty Bess attracted considerable at
tention in her capacity of waitress.
The girl was naturally precocious, and
her mothers sly hints were never lost.
Remember, Bess" said that astute
female, that a squeeze of the hand or
even a kiss, IL unseen, will not hurt
you; but don't go too far. and never
accept attentions from one man to the
exclusion of all others. but keep plenty
of strings to your bow and make each
one bei.eve he Is your choice; then you
can pick and choose. Nothing SO
spoils a girls chances as falling In
love; nobody but a fool ever falls In
love nowadays" Being DESTROYS on
making a good match, the daughter
was ready enough to follow this sage
advice. But, unfortunately, among her
admirers were two who were In dead
earnest. One was wealthy Spaniard.
son of a wealthy cattleman, with an
avowed hatred of everything American
except the pretty little Southern who,
with her capricious wiles, stung him
to madness, and then lured him back
with loving whispers and secret caress-
es that seemed SO ardent yet meant so
little. The other troublesome sutton
was a Sergeant in the American army
a blue-eyed, bronze-faced chap with
warm golden tints in hair and NOUS
tache. He was 26 years old. an athlete
in build. frank and good humored in
disposition, and had the easy, dashing
way in the company of women COM
mon to his class. One Saturday even
ing at supper Tito de Vega the Span
ish iover, managed to seize the girls
hand as she served his order and gave
1t fervent pressure, and whispered
that he was obliged to go to South San
Juan in answer to summons from his
father Would Bess manage to see
him for a few moments the follow
ing morning, and alone? She would
try-she could not promise for GER
tain; IL she did not he mustn't think
hard of 1t, as he knew her time WASH
her own; "and, anyway, I'll wish you
good luck and good-by now, Tito" and
she withdrew her hand and tripped of
to the kitchen. BY o'clock the dining
room was deserted by all save Hiram
Clancy, the American officer Mrs.
Burton was sitting behind the casn
counter abstractedly gazing into va
cancy. for it sometimes paid not to be
too observing. Burton peIc was still
in the recesses of the kitchen, and Bess
was deity gathering up the dirty
dishes, humming a lively air the while.
In the course of her trips to and from
the kitchen she paused at C.ancy's Ia
BILE with a predatory Most through,
Hiram" Then sinking her voice to a
caressing whisper, I'm 80 glad they're
all gone; l don't dare show how mucn
l think of you before all the other
men," and the long lashes yelled her
eyes In seeming confusion, and then
they were slowly raised to steal look
at her sutton with the perfection OF
counterfeited bashful naivete. Then
why did you let that greaser hold youf
hand SO long, awhile ago." the girl
flushed, angrily. Am / to blame =.
my position. forces me to bear the in
suits of every low ruffian?" Then her
eyes filed "If you do not care enough
about me to protect me, you might at
least .,eep silent and not taunt me
when you know all l have to endure;
and - then - I-love-you-so,"s she
sobbed out, "and no one besides father
and mother have ever kissed me but
Just you. You are very unkind-very
cruei to me-" Mother burton had dis
creetly put out all the lights save the
one on the counter during this by-play
and dim sort of twilight reigned In
the room. The Sergeant was more
Loves thrall than ever, now. Don't
Bess-don't, sweetheart; ! can't bear
to see you cry. l was only little
jealous because love you So" and hi
tried to clasp her waist. mo. YOU
never loved me, or you would not treat
me So" she rejoined, and then walked
slowly over to table nearer to thu
door of the kitchen and farther from
the light. He followed "Bess." HI
said, as he gained her side and essayet
to take her hand, II leave the service
next month, and my father writes thai
il I'll come home and settle down he'll
do the square thing. Theren be
good living in 1t, anyway, and a chance
to see something of life, for New Yorl
is a sight digger place than San Fran
cisco, Bess; and, besides, the whole es
tate comes to me at his death, and tina
means O cool $4,000 at least. dom