Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1910-08-04
CHAPTER {.
The Two Oaths.
cOPDRIGhr 10.

tHNN't - 30 80 ~ ANSA~
important han the smoking of an
enormous pipe. Clouds of strongly
odorec smoke, tinted with the lights
OF the setting sun. had risen above his
bead 10 unremittlng volumes for !he
last half hour. There was infinite con.
tentment in his face, Notwithstanding
the Fact that he mad been meditating
OF . subject that was not altogether
pleasant. But Captain Plum was, In
Il way, q philosopher. though one
would not have guessed this fact from
his appearance. lie 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.
pOsure to the sea, was Just now lighted
up by eyes that shone with an up.
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
~ "i'' SiiaibhI uICdtt
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
silhouctted 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 vas no other sail.
AT his back he was shut in by q dense
growth Of trees and creeping vines,
md unless a small boat edged close in
around the end Of Beaver island his
place OF cOnCcalmcnt must remain un.
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 O
long barreled revolver from under q
coat that he had thrown aside and
examined It carefully to see that the
powder and ball were In solid and that
none of the APPS was missing From
the same place he brought forth a
o'iS buNhISu ~ lbNlI HIS WAIST, |
showed the revolver into It's holster,
and dragging the coat to him, fshed
out q letter from an inside pocket II
was a dirty. much worn letter. Per.
haps he had read 1t a score of times.
he read 1t again now, and then, refill.
Ing his pipe, settled back against the
rock that formed "A rest for his shout.
narS and tnrpn1 hIg ,,,, L.. A. III
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 a 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 !
Tor hours. Back in the thickct he
heard the prowling Of some small ami.
mai. There came the sleepy chlrp OF
a bird and the rustling of tired wipss
settling for the night. A strange still.
ness lowered about him, and with It
there came over him a loneliness that
wac chilling, Il loneliness that made |
him homesick. 1t was a new and I'M.
pleasant sensation to CAPTAIN Plum |
lie could not remember lust when he
haG experienced 1t before; that ia. II
he dated the present from two weeku |
ago tonight. 1t was then that no Let.
ter had been handed to hil> in Chi.
Ea1n npl a. hal l,.,.
his soul nnd "A prick to his conscience
ever since. Once or twice he nsd
made up his mind to destroy IL. hut
each time ne had repented at the last
moment. In q sudden revulsion at his |
weakness he pulled himself together.
Crumpled the dirty missive into a ball |
and flung n out upon the white rim
OF beach
At this action there came Il QUICK /
movement In the dense wall of yerdure
behind him Noiselessly the tgngle OF
vines separated and q head thrust
Itself out In time to ace the bic of
paper fall short Of the water's edge /
Then the head shot back az swiftly
and as silently as q %serpent's. Per.
haps Captain Plum heard the xioat.
ing chuckle that followed the move.
ment. II so he thought il only some !
night bird In the brush,
"Heigh-ho!" he exclaimed, With
some return of his old cheer, its
about time We were starting" lie
Jumped to his feet and began brush. |
ing the dust of his clothes. When
he had done, he walked out upon the
rim OF beach and stretched himself