Gilpin observer., 1910-09-22

away could not have heard him when
he spoke.
Il know more than that, Nat" he
whispered. Listen! little while
ago-say two weeks back-you we're
bccalmed off the head of Beaver ls-
land. and one dark night you were
boarded by two boat-loads of men
who made you and your crew prison
ers. robbed you of everything you had
and the next day you went back to
Chicago. Eh?"
Nathaniel stood speechless
And you made up your mind the
pirates were Mormons, enlisted some
of your friends. armed your ship
and you're back here to make us set
tie. Isn't 1t so. Nat?"
The little old man was rupuing his
hands eagerly, excitedly.
You tried to get the revenue cut
ter Michigan to come down with you,
but they wouldn'.-ho ho, they
wouldn't! One of our friends in Chi
cago sent quick word ahead of you
to tell me all about it, and--Strang.
the king. doesn't know"
He spoke the last words in intense
earnestness.
Then. suddenly. he held out his
hand.
Young man, will you shake hands
with me? VIII you shake hands?-
and then we will go to ST. James!"
Captain Plum thrust out hand and
the old man gripped 1t. The thin
fingers frightened like cold clamps of
steel. For a moment the face of
Obadiah Price underwent a strange
change. The hardness and glitter
went out of his eyes and in place
there came a questioning, almost an
appealing, look. His tense mouth re-
laxed. 1t was as if he was on the
point of surrendering to some emotion
which he was struggling to stife
And Nathaniel. meeting those eyes,
felt that somewhere within him had
been struck strange chord of SYM
pathy. something that made this lit
tie old man more than halfmad
stranger to him, and involuntarily the
grip of his fingers frightened around
those of his companion
Now we will go to ST. James, Cap
tain Plum"
He attempted to withdraw his hand
but Captain Plum held to it.
Not yeti" he exclaimed There
are two or three things which your
friend didn't tell you. Obadiah Price!"
Nathaniel's eyes glittered danger.
ously.
when | left ship this morning
gave explicit orders to Casey. my
mate
He gazed steadily into the old
mans unfiinching eyes.
Il said something like this: Casey,
I'm going to see Strang before come
back If he's willing to settle for five
thousand, we'll call it off. And If he
isn't-why. well stand out there
mile and blow ST. James into hell!
And if | don't come back by to-mor-
row at sundown. Casey. you take COM
mand and blow 1t to hell without mel
So. Obadiah Price. If there's treach-
cry"
The old man clutched at his hands
with insane fierceness.
There will be no treachery. Nat.
swear to God there will be no treach-
Still Captain Plum hesitated
who are you? Whom am I to
follow"
IA member of our holy Council of
Twelve, Nat, and lord high treasurer
of his majesty, King Strang,"
Before Captain Plum could recover
from the surprise of this whispered
announcement the little old man had
freed himself and was pattering aw-
fully through the darkness of the
next room. The master of the Ty-
phoon followed close behind him.
Outside the councillor hesitated for a
moment. as II debating which route
to take. and then with a prodigious
wink at Captain Plum and a throatful
of his inimitable chuckles, chose the
path down which his startled visitor
of short time before had fed For
15 minutes this path led between
thick black walls of forest verdure.
Obadiah Price kept always a few
PAGES ahead of his companion and
spoke not word. At the end of
perhaps half mile the path entered
into large clearing on the farther
side of which Nathaniel caught the
glimmer of light. They passed close
to this light, which came from the
window of large square house built
of logs, and Captain Plum became
suddenly conscious that the air was
filled with the redolent perfume of
lilac. With half dozen quick strides
he overlook the councillor and caught
him by the arm.
Il smell lilac!" he exclaimed.
Certainly, so do L. replied Obadiah
Price. I'VE have very fine lilacs on
the island"
And ! smelled lilac back there"
continued Nathaniel. still holding to
| the old mans arm, and pointing a
thumb over his shoulder. II smelled
EN- back there When-"