The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-09-05
SHERIFF Of kONA

Continued from Page Ten.)
ignored the fellow. kaluna was looking
for trouble. He took it as a personal
grudge that Lyle was trying TO appre-
bend his sister In half dozen ways
he advertised his displeasure at Lyle 5
presence. but Lyle ignored him. L
imagine Lyte was bit sorry for HIM,
for the hardest duty of his office was
the apprehension of lepers. 1t IS not
nice thing to go into man S house
and tear away father, mother, or
child. who has done no wrong, and to
send such one to perpetual DANISH
ment on Molokai. OF course, 1t IS
necessary as protection to society,
and Lyte, I do believe, would have
been the first to apprehend his own
father did he become suspect.
"FinalIy. Kaluna blurted out: Look
here, Gregory, you think you re going
to find Kalaniweo, but you re not.
s.KaIaniweo was his sister. Lyle
glanced at him when his name was call
ed, but he made no answer. kaluna
was furious He was working himself
up all the time.
* I'm tell you one thing he shout
ed. you IL be on Molokai yourself be-
fore ever you get Kalaniweo there. II
tell YOU what you are. You've no right
to be in the company of honest men.
You've made terrible fuss talking
about your duty, haven It you? You We
sent many lepers to Molokai, and know
ing all the time you belonged there
yourself.
'"I'd seen Lyle angry more than once,
but never quite SO angry as at that
moment Leprosy with us, you know,
is not a thing to jest about. He made
one leap across the floor, dragging ha-
luna out of his chair with clutch
on his neck. He shook him back and
forth savagely, till you could hear the
half caste s teeth rafting.
/" What do you meant Lyle was de-
manding. Spit it out, man, or III
choke it out of you!'
you know, in the West there is
certain phrase that a man must smile
while uttering. So with us of the is
lands, only our phrase is related to
leprosy. No matter what Kaluna was,
he was no coward. As soon as Lyle
eased the grip on his throat he an
swered:
"'I'n tell you what mean. You
are a leper yourself
sLyte suddenly flung the half-caste
sidewise into a chair, letting him down
easily enough. Then Lyle broke out
into honest, hearty laughter. But he
laughed alone, and when he discovered
it he looked around at our faces. L
had reached his side and was trying to
get him to come away but he took no
notice Of me. He was gazing, fascinat-
ed. at Kaiuna, who was brushing at his
own throat in Hurried nervous way,
as if to brush off the contamination of
the fingers that had clutched him. The
action was unreasoned, genuine.
"Lyte looked around at US, slowly
passing from face to face.
% Ny God, fellows! My God!' he
said.
He did not speak it. 1t was more
a hoarse whisper of fright and horror.
1T was fear that futtered in his throat,
and I don't think that ever in his life
before he had known fear.
Then his colossal optimism asserted
itself, and he laughed again.
. 4 good joke-whoever put it up
he said. THE drinks are on me. l
had a scare for a moment. But, fell
lows, don t do 1t again, TO anybody.
It's too serious. I tell you [ died a
thousand deaths in that moment L
thought of my wife and the kids, and
His voice broke. and the half caste,
still throat brushing, drew his eyes.
He was puzzled and worried.
John, he said, turning toward
me-
His joviai, rotund voice rang in
my ears. But I could not answer. I
was swallowing hard at that moment
and besides [ knew my face didn t Look
just right.
9. John. he called again. taking a