Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-04-24

anu moss, Wnlle tnOse piuylnR TOulette
and bank" left the tables, followed
by the dealers.
Hes thief" said Runnion mop
ping the sweat from his brow. II
caught him after your grub pile, Stark.
He dropped a crate Of hams when I
came upon him and tried to run. but
dropped him." A trickle Of blood
from the negro's hend showed how he
had been felled.
"why didn't you shoot?' growlcd
Stark angrily, at which the negro half
arose and broke into excited denials
Of his guilt. Runnion kicked him saw
agely, while the crowd murmured up.
prevail.
lie me see him." said Lee. elbow
ing his way through the others. Fix
ing his one eye upon the wretch, he
spoke impressively.
You're the first downright thief I
ever seen. Was you hungry"
"No; he's got plenty" answered one
Of the tenderfeet. lies got bigger
outfit than I have"
Then l reckon It's divine mnnifes-
tation," said mo Creek" Lee tenrfully.
This black party is goin' to furnish
IN example as will elevate the moral
tone Of our community for a year"
what y'all aim to dor whined the
thief.
Were goin' to try you" announced
the one eyed miner. "and II you're
found guilty. as you certainly are goin'
to be, you'll be flogged, after which
perdicament you'll have a nice ride
downstream on a saw log without
your laundry"
But the mosqultoes"-
TOO bad you didn't think Of them
before. Let's get at this, boys, and
have It over with"
A miners meeting was called on the
spot and a messenger sent hurrying
TO the post for the book In which was
recorded the laws Of the men who had
made the camp. The crowd was de-
termiucd that this should be done To-
gully and as prescribed by ancient Gus
tom up and down the river There
was no defense for the culprit, and he
offered none. being too scared TO do
more than plead. The proceedings
were quiet and grim and were well
nigh over when Lieutenant Burrell
walked into the saloon. lie had been
In his quarters all day. fighting fight
with himself, and In the late evening,
rebclling against his war with his con-
science, he had sailed out and, drawn
by the crowd In Stark's place. had en-
tered.
A man replied to his whispered ques-
ton, giving him the story, for the
meeting was under Lees domination.
and the miners maintained an orderly
and businessllke procedure. The mat
ter Of fact, relentless expedition Of the
affair shocked Burrell inexpressibly,
and, seeing Poleon and Gale near by, he
edged toward them, thinking that they
surely could not be in sympathy with
this barbarous procedure.
"You don't understand, lieutenant"
said Gale In a low voice. This Niger
is a thiefv
Gentlemen" announced Burrell,
standing near the ashen gray wretch
and facing the tentful Of men, this
man is thief, but you can't kill him."
Stark leaned across the bar, his
eyes blazing. and touched the lieuten-
ant on the shoulder.
do you mean to take hand In all
Of my affairs"
This Isn't your affair. It's NINE"
said the officer. This Is what / was
sent here for. and It's my particular
business. You seem to have overlook
cd that important fact"
"He stole my stun, and he'll take his
medicine"
~ say he won'tv'
For the second time In their brief
fair into each others eyes. Few men
had dared to look at Stark thus and
live, for when a man has once shed
the blood Of his fellow q mania OBJ
sesses him, a disease obtains that Is
incurable.
The two men battied with their eyes
for an opening. Lee and the others
mastered their surprise at the inter
ruption and then began to babble IN
I'll Burrell turned from the gambler
and threw up his arm for silence.
There's no use arguing" he told
the mob. You can't do II. I'll hold
him till the next boat comes; then I'll
send him down river to st. Michael's."
He laid his hand upon the negro and
made for the door. with face set and
eyes watchful and alert. knowing that
hairs weight might shift the bal
ance and cause these men to rive him
like wolves.
Lees Indignation at this miscarriage
Of Justice had him 80 by the throat as
to strange expostulation for a mo-
ment till he saw the soldier actually
bearing or his quarry.
stop that" he beloved. ITO HI
with your law' We're goin' accordin'
to our own" An ominous ecno arose,
aud In the midst Of It the miner In his
blind fury. forgetting this exalted posi-
tion, took a step too near the edge OF