Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1900-03-15

bad in the night light. There are
banana and rice fields on the other side
of the road. and think we can dodge
our pursuers among them. After that
We'll have to take care Of ourselves as
best we can"
We had a short council of war We
recognized the fact that we were re
duced to eStremities. and my plan was
the only one that seemed to yield us
the shadow of chance. Necessity was
behind us with a sharp stick, forcing
us up to the issue. Our resolve taken.
we wasted no time. but slipped back
toward the Waikiki road. We did not
stop at the edge to see if the spies were
about.
'Now," said Mortimer. run for it,
boysw
We dashed into the road and in a
moment were across it into a banana
field. expected to hear shots and to
feel the twinge of a bullet, but neither
gun nor pistol was fired Instead
heard the thump of footsteps They
wanted to take us alive and hang us!
Heavens. how the thought made me
run. dashed down by a row of ba-
mana bushes and ran lightly for so
yards. Then slipped and fell into one
OF the drains between the rows But
l was out again in moment. wiping
the muddy water from my lips. and
ran on. | looked around for nv com.
panlons. but saw nothing of them, nor
did hear any footsteps except my
own. hoped their fortune had been
as good as mine and that they, too, had
escaped. Beyond the banana fields was
a thicket of algaroba bushes, where /
lay for long time resting. The thick.
ct was so dense that lay like wild
beast in his lair and felt safe from OBJ.
seryation and pursuit neither heard
nor saw anything. and felt sure that
had eyaded pursuit. | crept out of
the bushes and looked at myself.
was plastered with mud. and one of
the tails of my dress coat was gone.
What was to do? did not think
about it long took the boldest course.
for had gone through so much in one
night that | was not willing to go
through any more. 1t was not yet day.
l would go back to the hotel, slip into
the cottage unobserved and go to sleep.
Then things could take care of them.
selves. | had not done anything that
was hanging matter.
started back to Honolulu and trude-
ed along unmolested. though am will
ing to confess that was badly scared
several times. Twice, at first glance. |
took bushes by the wayside, waving
slightly in the sea breeze, to be men.
once native on a pony passed me,
whistling. But reached the cottage
unspoken by Il soul and with deep
thankfulness entered my bedroom and
again locked the door behind me.
buried my tattered and discolorcd
evening dress in the bottom of my
trunk. Then | crept into bed and soon
forgot all alarms in sound slumber.
awoke late in the day. dressed my
sell With great care in n suit of white
duck and Went out on the street. /
saw that must affect bold and care.
less air.
But was struck with surprise and
were about, and their manner and the
mysterious whispers in which they
laiKeu 10 eacn otner indicated that
something of great Importance had oc-
CURED. dared not ask NV fears at
once told mo what il was. My friends
had been taken. and the whole plot was
discovered. Should | confess my guilt
ffnl. I, ~ .,.l,. 4
advantage of the present opportunities
and escape:
sauntered down toward the palace.
Nobody seemed to pay any heed to me,
ana | grew bolder. Al the main gate
TO the palace yard saw armed guards.
Then ! was right. The explosion had
come felt very sorry for Mortimer
and Conway and Hughes. There was
a great crowd before the gate, kept
back Il little by the rifles and bayonets
of the guards
pressed into the crowd and. looking
over the heads of some people shorter
than |. saw three men. in torn and
muddy evening dress. leaning discon-
solately against the iron fence. They
' s, u
and they looked as if they had just es-
capped from the bush and the mre.
They were not prisoners The crowd |
seemed to care nothing for them. |
pushed my way through and tapped
Conway on the shoulder
What is this? What does it meany"
| asked.
He raised his crushed silk hat from
his eyes and looked gloomily at me-
Why. haven't you heard%' he said. |
THE missionaries have dethroned the
queen and established the republic!
Long live the republics"
They All Like school.
I'm not going TO school today" she
cried jnbilantly "Oh. Pm sorry for,
YOU girls who'll have to sit at yorr