The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-04-05
Honolulu, T.. II.

came over me that I deserved to be
whipped-even by Paul. So I went
away, trying to stifie my rage at my
SELF
I found Spriggs and Paul still on the
crest OF the island, in the hot sun
The retreating tide had left the schoon-
er heeled over on the beach and saw
the Kanakas under Captain Pix busily
at work scraping her sides and paint
ing her. Paul looked at me over his
shoulder What did she say?" he in
quired. Then, so quickly that l but
heard a roar and felt a blow in my
shoulder, he shot me. AS fell I heard
Spriggs cry out and then 1 lost con-
sciousness.
I came to my senses slowly and with
great agony. / was on my face and
the sand had worked into my mouth
and throat. 1t must have been minutes
before I was able to turn over slightly.
Then / saw that it was night. The
stars were blurred before my eyes, but
l perceived that was still at the crest
of the hill. Gradually 1 managed to
stir little and even get to my knees.
Far down I saw two lights that
marked the resting place Of the schoon-
err. gazed at these till my eyes clear
ed a little. Then, with infinite pain
and wrenchings. sat up.
It all came back to me. my wild race
to the Station to ask Miss Jenkins
whether she was going to marry Paul.
my return, his sudden question and
then the thunder Of his revolver fired
almost at my head. There was no
need to ask where I was shot. The
wild agony in my shoulder and the
stiffness Of my neck told me that. I
tried to get TO my feet. As I did so
it struck me that 1 had heard Spriggs
cry out as I fell. Was IL for me or
himself?
| puzzled over this. II It were for
me, why was lying here in the dark
ness? Had ne been killed, too? II for
himself, where was his body? And
why had not Paul, as he called him
self, finished the Job and assured him
self OF my death?
/ went over this in my mind while I
was on my hands and knees in an at
tempt TO stand. I finally achieved an
upright position and was overjoyed TO
find that I could navigate a little. I
turned my face away from the schoon-
er below me. turned it toward the Sta
ton. spriggs, alive or dead, could wait.
I was going 10 assure myself or the
welfare Of Miss Jenkins.
It was a weary two miles down the
slope and several times I had 20 rest.
But at last came in sight of the green
arbor that sheltered her house and for
the first time I realized that 1 did not
know what hour Of the night IL was.
There was no moon and the stars were
so blurred that 7 could not discern
their characters. But at that instant
heard a sound that made the question
superfuous. From the dark clump that
the Station came a clear, high
note that rose into the air, scared
moment and then died down the breeze
In an exquisite fall. Following 1t there
broke gently on the ear the strum Of
guitar and then, as 7 lost that, the
voice rose again. It was a mans
voice.
I crept down the path like a hunted
beast Ny nails dug into my palms
as I painfully drew nearer and nearer
the station where that man was sing
ike an angel, TO the
woman I loved. All the blood in my /,
tortured body responded to my rage. /
He had killed me that he might sing /
to the woman had tried 10 protect. ! ]
reached the tangie Of vines and peered /
cIutching at my own throat /
10 stiff. the cry I feared would burst f,
through and discover me.
I saw Paul. all IN white, leaning back 4
n chair against the wall by the door. I
In another chair on the porch Miss I
Jenkins was sitting, some sewing in 4
her lap, her eyes fixed on her WORK, /
Ter head bent slightly towards the /
singer. He finished the song and drop 4
ped the guitar TO the floor. tive tired /
gou.~ he said. gently.
NO she answered him, aft has been
very pleasant. / have heard no music
or almost six months"
There are plenty Of instruments
around here he said Surely Spriggs
vas q musician"
She paid no attention 70 the tense OF
ne verb He can only play mechani-
al things" she answered. And L
never had curiosity enough TO ask him
o let me hear Them"
you must have had hard time
lere." !