Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-10-14

.
ed down. hot as cinders. The man
and the burros clattered around
swerve of the gorge, and all beheld
ahead an untethered buckskin pony a
little man sitting upon rock, placid
ly smoking a cigarette. It was Frek
Muldoon, II.
His real name is forgotten. He call
ed himself after the greatest trailer OF
them all, the man who stopped the lone
war OF Crooked Knife, Apache. Like
the first Muldoon, he worked alone.
shot from the hip, brought back his
man. and drank himself still In dull
seasons. Moreover, he was OF the same
jockey-build, and, like the FIRST Frek,
could bide his thirst. camel-fashion.
In short, a man would be just as safe
running with a can OF nitroglycerine
Through a jammed freighthouse in the
dark as to have the second Frek on
his trail.
"Hulo, sheriff" Ditsey called pleas
antly. Say" Muldoon questioned.
squirting up at the other, who're you
hitched to this trip"
Ditsey grew wise, looking at the
little, SCARED. gritty face below. He
scrutinized the canon and the sky, and
answered mildly: Pears { me I'm
hittin' It up alone, sheriff"
Muldoon was quiet for half-min-
ute. then volunteered: I'm out for a
sneak, Ditsey, that's too mean fur
shootin'. That's why I'll take him
back alive-alus exceptin' the chance
that he squirms. II he squirms, ride
back to Campinas alone, and | guess
the populace will take my word fur
his funeral. crossed the canon two
days ago back at the Milton trail. The
trail said thay was two OF you. Ditsey,
quit lynn"
rs the chap you want young Teller
with a clean face. sheriff." the pros
pector asked craftily. after a pause.
II reckon you couldn't miss It Wild
err" Muldoon remarked. His sQuinty
black eyes were storming the others
intelligence.
What did he do over your way
this feller?" Forncrook faltered.
Among other trines. he killed a
man fur money--a decent man! He's
clean loco when there's money in
sight"
. There was another pause. In which
the prospector struggled with primary
laws and memory OF the morning;
while Muldoon listened intently, his
ear close to the limestone wall OF the
canon. The latter raised his head
, finally with a smile as hard and cold
as ice.
1--WE known you fur years. Ditsey,"
he said slowly. you amt no trailing
: arburtrs that I'D sicken an die II the
props was knocked from under. There
amt no better man in these parts. bu,
! II you happened onto a prlck-eared
dirty-eyed, pox-branded pardner. then
: I'm goin' to take him back to Cam
pinas, er leave him here fur--the
pore vultures. Somebody's commit"
; Muldoon read all that he cared to
know In the face OF the other. He
bent forward to listen a second time;
and Just at this instant Ditsey leaped
sheriff were taken away without ten
derness.
II want { return tn compliment
sheriff" the man on top painted. Thar
amt better man than you In these
parts-but he's my pardner! So fur es
knows. he's been square-done his
days work each daylight. 'ceptin' to,
day. I can't stand by. sherin-you see
can't. being his pardner.'
Il didn't think you'd do 1t. Ditsey.'
Muldoon muttered with little appear.
ance Of hate.
) I'm his pardner, sheriff! hopes
= didn't hurt you"
/ IF you'd a-stumbled onto any gold,
: Muldoon said gloomily after a moment
he'd a-been workin' 1t alone. That's
: the sort OF a pardner he's a-been tc
Q you! I'll get him, Ditsey!"
5 I've taken care OF one Forncrool
: when this war newer country
! sheriff"
Thus they represented their laws
while the twilight crawled up from thu
river bed and dimmed the ribbon o
r sky. They both heard footsteps now
a but as "Firepox" turned the swerve o
I the gorge, only Muldoon saw him
e Ditsey was covering the sheriff will
: all his eyes and some mental rein
p fOrcement
Y Here's man SEES he wants you
d FirepoX." Forncrook called withou
e moving his head. EFF you don't wan
i t see him, grab snack Of provisions
!. from the packs-an' git! I'll keep thu
} sheriff here till tn mornin'!"
! There was a low, shaking cry from
S "Fire-pox," then a frenzied clatter o
I boots, which sound the distance quick
: ly dwindled
I 9TH scut!" Ditsey muttered.
e Muldoon's lips were curled contem
: ptuously. you ought to have seen tn,
e sneak creepin creeping round tn
: bend, his hand at his holster" he re
n marked absently. "He didn't seem t
n h. l.. IT,