Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-06-06
CHAPTER I.
The Two oaths.

~ III dllcTuOOu III IuO carry Bull.
OF 1856 Capt. Nathaniel Plum,
ter and owner of the sloop Ty-
N, was engaged in nothing more
,rtant than the smoking of an
-mous pipe. Clouds Of strongly
red smoke, tinted with the lights
ae setting sun, had risen above his
in unremitting volumes for the
half hour. There was infinite con-
Ement in his face, Notwithstanding
fact that he had been meditating
Ia subject that was not altogether
lsant. But Captain Plum was, in
way, philosopher. though one
lid not have guessed this fact from
his appearance. He was, in the first
place, a young man, not more than
eight or nine and twenty, and his
strong, rather thin face, tanned by ex-
posture to the sea, was just now lighted
up by eyes that shone with an I'M
bounded good humor which any in
slant might take the form of laughter.
At the present time Captain Plum's
vision was confined to one direction,
which carried his gaze out over Lake
Michigan. Earlier in the day he had
been able to discern the hazy outline
of the Michigan wilderness 20 miles
to- the eastward. Straight ahead,
shooting up rugged and sharp in the
red light of the days end, were two
islands. Between these, three miles
away, the sloop Typhoon was strongly
silhouetted in the fading glow. Be
yond the islands and the sloop there
were no other objects for Captain
Plum's eyes to rest upon. So far as
he could see there was no other sail.
At his back he was shut in by a dense
! growth of trees and creeping vines,
and unless small boat edged close in
'ound the end OF Beaver island his
lace OF concealment must remain IN
discovered. At least this seemed an
assured fact to Captain Plum.
In the security of his position he be-
gan to whistle softly as he beat the
bowl Of his pipe on his boot heel to
empty it of ashes. Then he drew
long barreled revolver from under
coat that he had thrown aside and
examined it carefully to see that the
powder and ball we're in solid and that
none Of the caps was missing. From
the same place he brought forth a
belt, buckled it round his waist,
showed the revolver into it's holster,
and dragging the coat to him, fished
out a letter from an inside pocket. 1t
was q dirty, much-worn letter Per-
haDs he had read it a score Of times.
He read It again now, and then, refill
lng his pipe, settled back against the
rock that formed a rest for his Shout
$,r h ic in
ton of the sloop.
The last rim of the sun had fallen
below the Michigan wilderness and in
the rapidly increasing gloom the sloop
was becoming indistinguishable. Cap
tain Plum looked at his watch. He
must still wait little longer before
setting out upon the adventure that
had brought him to this isolated spot.
He rested his head against the rock,
and thought. He had been thinking
for hours. Back in the thicket he
heard the proving of some small ami
NAL There came the sleepy chirp OF
4 bird and the rustling Of tired wings
settling for the night. A strange still
ness lowered about him, and with it
there came over him loneliness that
was chilling, loneliness that made
him homesick. It was new and I'M
pleasant sensation to Captain Plum.
He could not remember just when he
had experienced It before; that Is, II
he dated the present from two weeks
ago tonight It was then that the let
ter had been handed to him in Chi
csgo and it had been q weight upon
his soul and prick to his conscience
ever since. Once or twice he had
made up his mind to destroy it, but
each time he had repented at the last
moment. In sudden revulsion at his
weakness he pulled himself together,
crumpled the dirty missive into ball
ana flung 1t out upon the white rim
Of beach.
At this action there came quick
movement in the dense wall OF verdure
behind him. Noiselessly the tangle of
vines separated and a head thrust
atsalf out IN time to see the bit Of
perer fall short Of the waters edge.
Then the head shot back as swiftly
and as silently as a serpent's. Per-
haps Captain Plum heard the gloat-
Ing chuckle that followed the move
ment. II so he thought it only some
night bird in the brush.
"Heigh-ho!" he exclaimed, with
some return of his old cheer. its
about time we were starting!" He
Jumped to his feet and began brush
Ing the sand from his clothes. When
he had done, walked out upon the
rim of beach and stretched himself
until his arm bones cracked.
Again the hidden head shot forth
from its concealment. A sudden turn
and Captain Plum would certainly
have been startled. For it was weird
object, this spying head; its face dead
white against the dense green of the
yerdure, with shocks Of long white
hair hanging down on each side, fra
ming between them 9 pair IF eyes that
cleaned from cavernous sockets. like
black glowing beads. There was un-
uistakable fear, a tense anxiety in
those glittering eyes as Captain Plum
walked toward the paper. but when
he paused and stretched himself, the
sole Of his boot carelessly trampling
the discarded letter. the head disap-
reared again and there came another
-atisfied bird-like chuckle from the
am Of the thicket-
81 plain Plum now put on his coat,
-