Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-05-05
(Continued)

/ 10 you ara crossed QUICKLY 10 the
door Of his bedroom and flung Il open
| On the threshold he paused storkstill
| The place was empty. A draft sucked
through the open window, flirting with
| the curtain and telling the story of the
traders exit.
"If you're looking for your coat, It's
here" he heard Stark say. Get into
It, and wen go for him"
The lieutenant's mind was working
fast enough now, in all conscience, and
he saw with clear and fatcful eyes
whittier he was being led. at which
sudden reckless disregard for conse.
| quenccs seized him. lie felt blind
fury Mt being pulled and hauled and
driven by this creature ard also an un.
reasoning anger ut Gales detection.
But It was the thought Of Nccia and
the horrible net Of evil In which this
man had ensnared them both that
| CALLED him most. He determined to
fnih this thing here and now.
Meade went TO his bureau. took his
re- Diver from the belt where he had
hung It and came out into the other
Ioohi. StuiN, setihS 'uc "'up'I' VA
claimed
"You don't need that. He won't re.
sist you"
1--WE decided not to take him." said
Burrcll.
Decided not to take him. shouted
the other. "Have you weakened?
Don't you intend TO arrest that mani"
"No" cried the soldier. "I'vc lis
tened TO your lies long enough. Now
I'm going TO stop them once for all.
You're too dangerous TO have around"
They faced each other silently mo-
ment: then Stark spoke IN very quiet
voice. though his eyes were gllttering.
whats the meaning Of this? Are
you crazyT
scale was here just before you came
and told me who killed your wife. !
know"
"wellf"
"It's pretty late. This place is lonely.
This is the simplest way"
The gambler fell to studying his an.
tagonist and when he did not speak
Burrell continued:
"Come, brace up! I'm giving you a
chance"
But STARK shook his head.
Don't be afraid" insisted the lieu
tenant. There are no witnesses. II
you get me. nobody win know, and
your word is good. II not It's much
simpler than the other" Then when
the gambler still made no move he In
sisted. You wouldn't have me kill
you like rattlesnake"
"You couldn't" said the older man.
"You're not that kind, and I'm not the
kind to be cheated either Listen. I've
lived over forty years, and | never
took less than was coming to me.
won't begin tonight"
You'll get your share
"Bah! You don't know what mean.
don't want you. It's him I'm after.
and when I'm done with him I'll take
care oGyou. but l won't run any risk
right now. You might put me away,
there's the possibility, and | won't let
you or any other manor woman ell
ther, not even my glrl-cheat me out
Of Gale. Put up your gun"
The soldier hcsltatcd, then did as he
was hidden, for this man knew him
better than he knew himsclcf.
81 ought to treat you like mad dog,
but can't do 1t while your hands are
up. I'm going to fight for John Gale,
however, and you can't take him."
an have his carcass hung TO my
ridgepole before daylight"
Stark turned to go, but paused Mt
the door. "And you think you'll mar
ry Necia do youi"
81 know IT,"
as that so? Suppose you find her
first."
"What do you mean? Waltz
But his visitor was gone, leaving be-
hind him lover already sorely vexed
and now harassed by new and sud
lien apprehension. What venom the
man distilled! Could 1t be that he had
sent Necia away?
Stark traced his way back 10 his
cabin In ten times fierccr mood than
he had come, reviling cursing, hating,
Back pnst the dark trading post he
went, pausing to shake his clinched
| INST ana grind out an oath between MS
teeth; past the door Of his own saloon,
which was alight and whence came
the sound Of revelry, through the scat
tered houses, where he went more by
feel than by sight, up to the door Of
his own shack. He closed the door
behind him now and locked 1t. for he
had some thinking to do, then felt
through his pockets for match, and,
striking It, bent over his lamp to I'D
Just the wick. II fared up steady md
strong Mt last, flooding the narrow
place with its illumination. Then he
Strengthened up and turned toward
the bed to throw off his coat, when
suddenly every muscle Of his body
leaped with an uncomfortable spasm,
as IL he had uncovered a deadly ser
pent coiled ana ready TO spring.