Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-02-10
SHORT STORY FOR
EVENING HOURS
TGE WAY OF THE WORLD

Move your chair closer. boys, and
fll mp your glasses; faint much OF a /
story. but youll hear It. youl hear it,
and when you do. II YOU don't say old |
man, you're wonder I'll eat me fist |
The speaker was short, thick-set !
man of about so, coarse anu rather III |
kept looking his clothing rough and |
sturdy and altogether he was a typ
teal miner. His companions. much the !
same as himself, were seated around 4
small table on the center of which Z
wcll-hlled bottle stood. with a pack oi
cards for company.
Nearly four years ago was
rapidly promising young miner in Tex
rs. One day in fl of temper killed
my father and mario Wy ESCAPED, lynch
ling, and when the excitement died
down little came over to Black
Rock, for d heard that there was
great luck to be found in the gold
veins scattered around, aud so found
n. began life anew liked the III
plenty Of dash, plenty of sleep. plenty
t. eat, and what's better stu, plenty OF
spirits.
| 81 kept to myself pretty well. didn't
itave friend till old Bentley came
along. but 'twasn't him | AIRED about.
1t was his daughter Jane. the prettiest
sal ever set eyes on. saw them the
very night they arrived and as helped
her down from the team she gave me Il
emile, but that was enough to kindlc
dame that burned brighter every day
She was mighty shy. though: didn't
see her more than one month 10
speak TO, but | logged around the Old
man and was happy II | heard him just
mention her name.
Things were going along quite
smOOthly until one day stranger came
to camp. From the first I hated him,
he was too darn good looking to suit
me, pround I'm, TOO. acted with ease
81 prince. | heard chap ask him
where his home was, one day. and he
answered New England. lie looked it.
: 4 cold-blooded notherner."
who was he, pal?" asked one of the
men in listless sort of way.
John Allen" replied Parker. but
soft, boys, you are quite sure you won't
lrIoak on me? All right, then" as Il
half dozen assured him OF their honor,
| I'm finish. Things went on for a
month or 50, and gradually he and
Jane became friends. ] watched II.
my heart seeming almost ready to
burst with jealousy and hatrej. She
hadn't word for soul when he was
round and he-Curse his fine face -
went every night to the cabin to sing
her love songs in his soft mrllOw voice.
, One morning she came running into
camp and told as he was going away
for few days. He and her younger
brother were going to test another sus-
pected rich spot up the creek. brood
ed on it all day, and when she came the
next noon with her fathers dinner
got from her the exact hour and road
he would take on his return. ! planned
every little incident about to happen
with peculiar calmness for me-
The night they had chosen TO re.
turn couldn't have been better one
for me, dark and still. | waited an
hour, and my patience was badly taxed.
Then he came. saw his fair hair
took a good aim and three shots rang
tout, His horse, CrdZed by the noise
and smoke, rushed for the tall rock.
There was splash, then all was still;
the animal had jumped into the sea.
had done my work well. People were
used 10 shots in Texas. / need not
worry as to their being alarmed until
the bodies were discovered Cautious
ly, | Crept home again and, thinking
$50 intently, II startled me somewh2,
when voice cried: Who's there?'
1T was a woman. II was Jane. !
Ierasped my wits in a second and
knocked the lantern from her hand but
not before she got good look at my
face, Didn't take long for the matter
Ito hush up Miners are too busy 10
lboth with Il supposed suicide The
old man failed, though, fell sick abed.
and | stepped in and paid his debts, in
fact was son to him. aid him |
loved his cal and out of pure gratitude
he begged his daughter to marry me.
She's never been the same since they
found his cap, and the print OF his
horses feet leading up to the water;
II was certain he and his horse were
quietly sleeping in watery bed, She
was grateful for my kindness and
promised for her fathers sake, but she
couldn't bear to stay there, that's how
we happened to come here. After that,
don't you think I've won the prize?
Don't you think"
with a yell, Parker rose to his feet
and stood looking into a very unpleas-
ant looking revolver, Old Ned (oiG
Ned no longer was covering him with
one hand while the other tore OFF the
white wis and whiskers.
Allen" gasped Parker.
Yes, It's |, ! suspected you from
the first | managed TO swim ashore
that bitter night, but suffered dearly
for 1t, Six months | lay at the home
of a good doctor, unable even to tell
my name. When I came TO look for
my little girl she was gone and thew