Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1907-10-23
CHAPTER XVI-CONCLUDED

As she read the note, Judge Stillman
entered, and it seemed to the girl that
he had aged n year for every hour in
the last twelve, or else the yellow aft
ernoon light limned the sngging hol-
lows and haggard lines of his face
and manner the nervous burden under
which he laborCd.
"AlCc has told me about your on
gagcmcnt and II lifts a terrible load
from me. I'm mighty glad you're going
10 marry him. He's n wonderful man,
and he's the only one who can save
u.s."
what do you mean by that? What
are we in danger off, she inquired,
avoiding discussion Of McNamara's
announcement.
"Why, that mob. Of course. They'll
como back. They said so. But Alec
can handle the commanding officer at
the post, and, thanks TO him, Wen have
soldiers guarding the house hereafter"
"Why-thcy won't hurt us
Tut. tut! | know what I'm talk
ing about. We're In worse danger
now than ever, and IL we don't break
up those vigilantcs thcrcll lie blood
shcd-thats what They're a menace,
and they're trying TO force me or the
bench 50 they can take the law into
their own hands again. That's what
want to see you about. They're plan
ming TO kill Alec and mc-so he says
and we've got to act quick to prevent
murder. Now. this young Glcnistcr Is
one of them, and he knows who the
rest are. DO you think you could got
him to talk"
II don't think quite understand
YOU" said the girl, through whitening
lips.
"Oh. yes, you do want the names
of the ringlcadcrs, so that I can Jail
them. You can worm it out Of that fcl-
low il you try"
Helen looked at the old man in Il hUr
rOr that ut first was dumb. you ask
this of mcT' she demanded hoarscly
ut last.
"Nonscnsc," lie said irritably. This
ISN'T any time for silly scruples. It's
life or death for me, maybe, and for
Alec too" He said the last craftily,
but she stormcd ut him:
ITS infamous! You're asking me 10
bctray the very man who saved us
not twelve hours ago. He riskcd his
life for u.s.
"It isn't trcachcry ut all. It's pro,
lection. II we don't get them, they'll
get us. | wouldn't punish that young
fellow, but want the others. Come
now. you've got 10 do IT,"
But she said NO" firmly, and quietly
went to her own room, where, behind
the locked door, she sat for long time
staring with unseelng eyes, her hands
tight clinched In her lap. At last she
whispered:
I'm afraid It's true. I'm afraid it's
true"
She remained hidden during the
dinner hour, and pleaded headache
when Mcnamara called In the early
evening. Although she had not seen
him since he left her the night before,
b'hi iuS h'i ld'lN l'l'lIlS' W Ntu nm,
yet how could she meet him now with
the conviction growing on her hourly
that he was master rogue? She
wrcstlcd with the thought that he and
her uncle, her own uncle who stood In
the place of father, were consplra.
tors. And yet, at memory Of the
judges cold bloodcd request that she
should turn traitrcss, her whole being
rcvoltcd. If he could ask thing
like that what other hcartcss, selfish
act might he not hc capable Of? All
the long, solitary evening she kept her
room, but at last. feeling faint. slipped
down stairs In search Of Fred, for she
had eaten nothing since her late break
fast.
Voices reached her from the parlor,
and rs she came to the last step she
froZe there In an attitude of listening.