Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1907-06-27
Partners ct
the Tide
JOSEPH C. LINCOLN
Author q "Csp'n Fri"
!. Copyright, 1905, by A. s. Barnes 81 &c. I
i ~ ss.A*4 ss..s.Ss. s.s++...s..-s
CHAPTER XVIIT-CONTINUED

right. says he. Now that we're re-
enforced maybe we'd better so out and
interview 'em. They might die of old
age if we stay here much longer
80 he winked to me and the fleet
got under way. Me and Brad led off,
like a couple of tugs, and the women
folks strung out behind, like coal
barges, holdin' ON to each others
wrappers and breathin' hard.
1--WE opened the kitchen door and
sailed in-that is, Brad and did. The
coal barges got in lump. SOS to speak,
in the doorway and stayed there.
There was lamp burnin' side Of g
pan of dough on the table, but Jest as
I expected, we was the only humans in
sight.
Looks as If the burglars had got
tired Of waitin' for us and got mad
and gone home says I. Don't know
what they broke into the kitchen for,
anyhow. I've heard Of feller's steal
in redhot stove, but
BRAD looked puzzled, sort. of. I
sartinly heard something movin' out
here he says. Most likely twas a
stray cat, and It's hidin' around some
where's
"But Jest then comes whistle-a
squeal, l mean-from the barges.
Tempy's headlights We're poppin out
of her head, and she was p'intin' d
shaky finger at the floor. There was
big muddy footprints all over 1t.
"Well, own up was set back two or
three rows. Somebody had been there,
that was sartin. I've seen cats with
double paws, but no cats made them
prints.
"'Humph. says l, and Brad agreed
with me.
Il was ,standin' right in front of the
door of the closet where the old maids
kept their pots and pans. And jest
then inside that closet bust out the
most outrageous racket ever you
heard. Bifiity, bang, thumpl And
then coughln and sneezin like forty
packs of thunder crackers.
Il amt narvous man, gin'rally
speakin', but I got up and moved sud
den didn't exactly run, but | kind
of glided over to the sink. Leastways
I was backed up against it when I re-
membered to take an observation.
The women grabbed each other and
screeched. Brad, he turned sort Of
yeller round the gllls. but he was the
coolest one in the bunch.
"The bungin' and barkin' and sneez-
in in the closet kept right up to time.
Whoever it was, he wasn't shirkin'
his work none to speak Of.
"'Come out of that! yells Brad,
maxim a dive for the door.
"Afore he could reach it that door
few open of itself. Out comes some
thin doubled up like a jackknife. 1t
kind of paved the air with its hippe-s
and dove head first for the sink. |
give 1t all the room it nceded-di didn't
want to be selfish.
'Hoo-rash-oo remarks the thing
as IL 1t meant it too. Then it showed
its head into the water bucket.
1.-THE whole congregation was COLI
sider'ble shook up. Nobody felt like
risin and addressln the mourners.
The critter at the water bucket splash
ed and gurgled for a minute. Then 1t
turned round. Its head and face was
water was drlppin' off its chin. Who
was it? You'd never guess In a mil
lion years!
Il swan to man if 1t want Ez Tit
comb
"'Oh, it's the cap'nv squeaked Tenn
by and went down In heap.
'Hoo-rash-oor says Cap'n Ez, sort
Of openin' the conversation.
"'Wellv says l.
"'For heavens saEesv says Brad
But Prissy stepped forard and took
command She didn't looked scared
any more; only kind Of queer round
the mouth and snappy round the eyes.
"'Cap'n Titcomb, says she, If you
please, what were you hidin' in that
closet for? If you can stop sneezin'
long enough to answer. should like
"'Sneezer hollers Ez, gittin' ready
for another explosion. 'SneeZeD says
he kind of through his nose and wavin'
his hand desp'rate. i guess maybe
you'd sneeze if you'd upset the spice
box right into your face and eyes and
had your mustache full Of red pepper!
Seemed likely sort of guess. when
you come to think of it, but Prissy
didn't nav no attention
".Why was you hid in that closetT
says she.
'Well, sir, that was the fust time IN
my life that / ever see Ez Titcomb
clean out of soundin's | snum! You
could see he didn't know what to say,
and when Ez gifts that way things
must be considerable mussed up. He
fidgeted and suffered and picked at
bis watch chain.
'Prlssy,' says he, and then he
stopped 'Prissy,' he says again and
shut up like clam. Prlssy'-
"WellT says Prissy in a sort OF
vinegar on ice voice.
"'Prissy,' says Ez. He looked at
her and at Tempy aud ut Brad. AS
for Brad there was twinkle In his
eye Honest, he looked almost rs
II he was havm' considerable fun out
of the show
IN Re- Coutiuuadl