Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-04-15
1}5p THE B
4A.]BARRlER''
/LTM>N REX BEACH
FRI cc7yRdiiriocs gY HARPER BROTHERS
BY
BEACH
2 III ccpyRioArAocs. sY HARPER BROTHERS

| W. sNohSs
saloon. chr
saloon aud variety house-scven
bartenders. that's all. He's the Teller
that killed the gold commissioner OF
course that put him on the hike again"
How do you mcanT"
"Wcll, lie had record as long as a
sick mans drug bill before he went
Into that country, and when he put the
commissioner away them Canadian OF.
! fclals went after him like they WAS
KILN snakes. and II cost him all he
had made to get clear. II II hud hap.
pcned across the line the coroncrs
Jury would have freed him. cause the
commissioner was drunS and started
the row. But 1t happened right IN
Stark's saloon. and you know Canucks
is stronger than vitriol for law and or
der. Not bein' his first offense, 1t went
hard with him."
"IIe looks like killer" said Burrcll
Yes, but be aln't the common kind.
lie always let's the other man begin
and therefore he amt ever done time"
"Come. now" argued the lieutenant,
! III II were the other man who invaria-
bly, shot first. Stark would have been
killed long ago"
81 don't cnre what would have hap
pcncd. It amt happened. and he's got
notches on his gun till II looks like n
cub bear had chawed II. II you was a
western man you'd know what they
say about him. The bullet aip't been
run to kill him. That's the sayin'
You needn't grin. There's many bet.
! ter man than you believes It."
"Who is It that the bullet hasn't
been run TO klll?" said the traders
deep voice behind them. He had FIN
ished with his duties and now saunter.
cd forward.
"Ben Stark" said Lee, turning
"You know him, JohnT"
| "No: 1 never saw him, but I know
who he Is; used to hear OF him In the
Occur dAlenes."
. That's him l was talking to-" said
! the miner. Hes an old friend OF
mine, and he's going TO locate here"
Burrcll thought he saw Lee wink at
the trader, but he was not sure, for at
that moment the man Of whom they
were speaking rc-cntered. Lee intro
duced him., and the three men shook
hands. While the soldier fell into easy
conversation With the newcomer, Gale
I gazed at him narrowly, studying him
as he studied all men who came as
strangers. AS he was doing SO Alluna
| entered. followed by johnny and Mol
! ly. She had cone for sugar and asked
for II In her native tongue. Upon her
exit Stark broke OF talking to the
lieutenant ana turned to the trader.
"Your squaw. Mr.. Gale?'
The old man noddeN
"Pah-Utc, cha"
| "Yes. Why. do you sayvy the talk?"
"Some. lived In California once"
"where;" The question came like
shot.
"Oh. here and there! followed the
mother lode for n spell"
II don't recall the name" said the
trader after bit.
Possibly. Where were you locatedg 2"
II never III on-any one place long
enough to call 1t home"
II seemed to Burrell that both men
were sparring cautiously In an indi.
rect, lmpersonal manner.
Those your kids, too, eh;" stark
continued.
Yes, and got another one besides
older, girl"
"She's pip too" said mo Greek"
Lee feryently. "She's plumb bcaui!.
full"
"All Of them half breedsf' gges,
toned Stark.
Sure" The traders answer WIS
short, and when the other showed Ia
intention of pressing the subject fur
thcr he sauntered away, but no sooner
was he out Of hearing than Stark said:
"Humph! They're all alike"
"WhoT
"Squaw men,"
This one amt" Lee declared. Hes
different. Amt he, iieutenant?"
HE certainly Is" agreed Burrcll,
This was the first criticism he had
heard of Necia's father. and, although
Stark volunteered no argument, It was
plain that his opinion remained unnf-
| fected.
The old man went through the store
! Mt the rear ana straightway sought Al
luna. Speaking TO her with unwontGd
severity In the Pah-Ute language, he
said;
81 have told you never to use your
native tongue before strangers. That
man In the store understands"
II only asked for sugar to cook the
berries with" she replied.
TRUE, but another time you might
say more; therefore the less you speak
It the better. He is the kind who sees
much and talks little. Address me In
siwnsh or In English unless we are
alone" -.
Suddenly she dropped her work and
came close up to him. "Can he be the
oncT
IL don't know. Stark is not tn.