Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-04-15
(Continued)
".


f pity for Necia upon learning
= her fathers relation to Al
luna. but this also largely vanished
when he found that the girl was en-
tlrcly ob!ivious to Its Significance. He
had tried her In many subtle ways and
found that she regarded the matter In
nocently, rs customary and therefore
In the light Of an accepted convention,
nor did she seem to see anything IN
her blood or station to render her infe-
rlor to other women. She questioned
him tirelessly about his sister, and he
was glad Of this, for It placed no con-
straint between them.
As for her. each day brought n keen
err delight. She unfolded before the
Kentuckian like some beautiful wood.
land flower and through innumcrable,
unnoticed famillartlcs took him into
her innermost confidence
\ month OF this went by, and then
Runnlon returned. lie came on an up
going steamer. The manner OF his
corning was bold, for he stood fairly
upon the ships deck. and his smile
was evil now. MS II Ind been before.
With him was n stranger. When the
boat was Mt rest Runnion sauntercd
down the gangplank and up to the
lieutenant, who stood above the land
Ing place and who noted that the scar,
close up against his hatband. was
scarce healed. lie accostcd the officer
with an 1nsolent assurance.
"Well. I'm back again, you sec, and
I'm back to stay"
every well. Runnion. Did you bring
nm outfit with your
"Yes, and I'm pretty fat besides"
He shook well laden gold sack ut the
officer.
what do you want In this place
anyhow" demanded Burrell curiously.
None of your id business" the
man answered. grinnlng.
Re sure 1t isn't" rctorted the lieu
tenant. because Il would please me
right down to the ground II II were.
I'd Ike TO get you"
Tin glad we understand each 9TH
cr," Runnion said. falling Into CONVEX
sation with the stranger. who had
been surveying the town without leav-
Ing the boat. Evidently this man had
a voice In Runnion's affairs, for he
not only gave him instructions, but
bosscd the crew who handled his mer-
chandIse, and Meade Burrell concluded
that he must be some Incoming ten
derfoot who had grub staked the des-
perado to prospect In the hills back OF
Flambeau. IS the two came up past
him he saw that he was mistaken.
This man was no more Of a tcnderfoot
than Runnlon. On the contrary, he
had bearing OF one to whom new
countries are old. who had trod the
edge of things nll his life. There was
n hint of the meat eating animal about
him. His nose was keen and hawk
like, his walk and movements those of
the predatory beast. and as he passed
by Burrell observed that his eyes were
Of peculiar cruelty that went well
with his thin lips. He was older by
far than Runnion: but, while the latter
was mean visaged and staggering, the
strangers manner was noticeable for
Its repression.
Impelled by an Irresistible desire to
learn something about the man, the
lieutenant loitered after Iunnion and
his companion and entered the store
IN time to see the latter greet No
Creek" Lee, the prospector, who had
come Into town for more food. Both
men spoke with Iuletrestralnt.
Mine years since ! saw you, Stark"
said the miner. where you bound?"
"Thc dlggIngs," replied Stark as Lee
addressed the stranger.
'"Mlnius nowY'
mo; same old thing, but I'm grub
stalking few men, as usual. One Of
them stays hero. l may open house
In Dawson II the camp Is rs good as
they say 1t Is"
This here's good phce for you"
Stark laughed nolselessly ana with
out mirth. Zine! There must be Il
hundred people living here"
Never mind; you take II from me-"
said The miner positively, "and get In
now on the quiet. There's something
loing." His one sharp eye detected
the lieutenant close by, 10 he drew his
friend inside and began talking to him
earnestly aud with such evident effect
as TO alter staTk's plans on the mo.
ment, for when Runnlon entered the
store shortly Stnrl; spoke to him quick
ly, following which they both hurried
back to the steamer ana saw to the
unloading of much additional freight
and baggage. From the volume and
variety of this merchandise 1t was evil
dent that Mr.. Stark would In nowlse
be burden to the community.
Burrell was not sufficiently versed
In the ways OF mIalng camps to know
exactly what this abrupt change Of
policy meant, but that there was some
thing In the air he knew from tie
mysterious manner Of mo Creek" Lee
ana from the suppressed excitement
OF Doret and the trader. His curlosl-
~ got the better of him finally, and he
fell into talk with Lee, inquiring about