Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-12-03

n new glittering revolver. Then he
walked straight up TO his friend with
1t and made his entry a dramatic one:
Here. Bray, is the shooter l prom.
ised.'
- say--dont do thst--drop it,
Smith"
Smith laughed boisterousiy.
Bray gave him a frantic push back
wards, took out his handkerchief and
touched his forehead. Then he slowly
held the thing to his eyes, as IL expect
ing to see 1t red with blood
by George!" laughed Smith, you
DO look scared, Bray"
You frightened the life out of me.
you asst"
1T 3 not loaded"
Its like your head"
"Oh, come! only touched your
forehead with the cold muzzle."
Ana did you make special pur.
chase for that wonderful purpose?"
1T made you look an awful coward.
anyhow" Smith retorted Il don't
know what you want with a revolver.
You haven't the courage 10 stand up
90 one. ] fancy poor Old Fifoot would
find more use for 1t. I'd better take II
10 him"
Smith. still burlesGuing. turned with
the revolver in his hand, and made
elaborate preparations for a sudden and
furious flight
"Oh, stop that fooling." Bray said
testify.
He took the revolver from Smiths
hand, and put the shining thing at the
farthest end OF the room upon the writ.
ing table.
whats that YOU said about Fifoot?"
nc asked seriously, coming back to the
side Of Smith at the doorway,
Smiths round. clean.shaven face had
until that question, beamed with tina
good humor OF a comparatively young
man with q settled income. But he
suddenly became as serious as his
friends tone.
To-day is the last straw for Fifoot,
said he. shaking his head. Things
have been going the wrong way with
him for long time"
Bray frowned. That's why I've
neither seen nor heard of him, then"
he muttercd.
Poor old Fifoot," Smith said, ten.
derby: Pm afraid it's up with him"
Bray said: II shall so to him
straight away. Most likely | shall be
able to be of use to him."
Smith smiled and said: you are
very old friends-you and Fifoot? I've
heard him say before now. that you
were the only man he called friend "
There's very little one Of us would
not do for the other. Now" Bray ad.
ded with nervous hurry. "I'll have to
set through these things quickly and
be on. You'll excuse me. know,
Smith. ! haven't even asked you "a
, sit down. But your news about Fl,
foot
Smith bowed meekly, with an over.
done air of resignation that made
Bray laugh in spite OF himself.
You're a pleasant visitor" he de.
clared. First you terrify me with a
slx-shooter then horrify me with bad
news OF my oldest friend"
AT least" said Smith, do not
blame me for being as sorry as your.
self about Fifoot."
Bray took his hand with an impulse
Of tenderness.
Il know that, old man."
Also" went on Smith, with a de,
tached air, give me credit for having
gone to a great deal of trouble in get
ting that particular brand of weapon al
your special request. You will be able
now 10 start on any war-correspondent
expedition-eyen to the ends of the
earth-confldent that you have in your
righthand hip-pocket the most modern
and perfect of life-preservers."
Thanks very much. indeed, OLD
man"
Now, conscious of having done my
duty. will go away and die happy,
said Smith, and he retired with a fu
neral expression.
Bray's face expressed the serious
side OF Smiths joke. He closed tn,
door and turned quickly back 10 hi.
papers. The cloud upon his face mean,
the sorrow in his heart at his friend.
misfortunes.
A little iron-gray had begun TO ap
pear in Bray's dark hair-the sign moi
so much Of age as the hard struggling
OF youth 10 make a position in the
world. Bray felt he had not struggled
UNNECESSARILY. HIS name now stood
for good work and his income mad be
come steady. He wore short tawny
beard and that calm, stold look of a
reliable man.
He sat down TO finish the work that
he must send out without delay
The light from the window on his
left shone upon the white polish of the
revolver. The sinister glitter made
Bray shudder. He picked up the
weapon carefully and slipped II into
a dark corner of his table out of sight.
Then he drew his papers towards him
and set about his work.
"I'll finish II straight away" he
promised himself Then | can ruin
away to see poor old Fifoot He'll be