Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-11-17

of the pen he finished addressing his
letter. Then he saddled his pony,
and. leading II before Captain Crews
tent, saluted and said:
Captain I'd like leave of absence
till midnight"
Crews eyed him furtively from the
corners of his bright, gray eyes, saw
the end of a letter peeping from the
pocket of his blouse. coughed. hesitat.
ed and then drawled: "All right, Holli.
day; ! won't ask you what you're up
to, but ! don't mind telling you that
the boys are saying ugly things"
Il know it, sir. hope you don't be-
lieve everything you hear?"
"N-no-oo, but Holiday! You will be
careful what you say and do, won't
you? I've my heart set on getting this
Pete Dimitri. There are seven war.
rants out for him, and I'd give a week
OF my life If this troop could land
him."
'Ill not spoil our chances, sir. You
can bet on that"
But when he had ridden away, the
Captain summoned Tompkins and
said:
Tommy, don't like the idea Of
spotting one of my own men. but"
"l'll watch him like a hawk, sir"
anticipated the bow-legged bully.
But not word to anyone, Tom. And
promise me?"
Yes. Captain"
IF II turns out that Holiday Is all
right you'll stop this backcapping and
make friends with him."
IN go you better, sir; III beg his
pardon"
He has leave till midnight. So have
you"
And Tompkins, grinning malicious.
ly, got on his pony and trailed away
toward the river. And all that day
like a stealthy shadow Tompkins
stallied his man.
At o'clock, from his hiding place
in a doorway, Tompkins saw the
dude" come out of Wah Lees res.
taurant mount his pony and lope leis.
urely away toward the west. A mile
from town he turned toward the river,
and riding in the shallow water SO as
TO leave no trail, went pacing slowly
downstream toward the low wooden
bridge which spanned the shallow riv.
er between old Paso del Norte and the
American town. Tompkins, riding
out of sight and hearing in a parallel
with his quarry, saw Holiday stop like
a blacker shadow in the shelter of the
bridge, his pony's head almost on a
level with the low floor of the central
span. Tompkins crossed the approach
and driving his pony down into the
ooze OF the eastern side dismounted
and tied II among the willows. Then
he crept into the yellow shadows till
he was opposite Holiday, raised him.
self into the low timbers of the bridge
and peered up and down the viaduct
Panhandle Pete" he should see at
this lonely rendezvous? Even as he
watched he saw the outlaw skulking
along the western sidewalk of the
bridge. He loitered, scanned the
American approach, turned his back
upon the little mule car which passed,
and then, with light spring, sat upon
the top rail of the fence.like guard
and began to make a cigarette. He
was lighting II when suddenly from
the opposite side Tompkins heard the
whistle of lariat. A woman scream.
ed, Run, Pete, rum" and the bulky
body Of the outlaw fell backward into
the water. The watcher dropped
down into the sand, got out his revol.
yer, mounted his pony and scrambled
out of the black shadows toward the
shore. AS he reached the level he
saw horseman streaking eastward in
a long cloud of dust that rose high into
the moonlight, and as he gained the
approach Tompkins saw the scared
woman standing under a street lamp
looking wildly after the vanishing
cloud.