The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-10-30
The Courage of Captain Plum
BY JAMES OLIVER CURwooD.

| had followed and sat himself down on a
, inviting Nathaniel p by u a Dull % of the Sleeve
| to do the same. There were three OF
these hummocks, side by side. and Cap
tain Plum chose the one nearest the old
man and waited for him to speak. But
the councillor did not open his lips.
Doubled over until his chin rested almost
upon the sharp points OF his knees, he
gazed steadily at the beacon. and as he
looked II shuddered and grew dark. like
a flerhy that suddenly closes It's wings.
With a quick spring the councillor
Strengthened himself and turned TO the
master Of the Typhoon.
You have good nose. Nat" he said
'but your ears arc not SO good
sh,,h-h-h,'' He lifted hand warnineiy
Captain Plum listened. He heard low
voices and then footsteps-volces that
were approaching rapidly, and were those
OF women, and footsteps that were al
most running. The old man caught him
by the arm and as the sounds came near
er his grip tightened.
Don't frighten them, Nat. Get
down.
He crouched until he was only a. part
OF the shadows of the ground. and fol-
lowing his example Nathaniel slipped be-
tween two OF the knolls. A few yards
away the sound OF the voices ceased and
there was a hesitancy in the soft tread
of the approaching steps. Slowly, and
now In awesome silence. two figures
down n the opat. Da6s arS oesy
Nathaniel could see that they turned
their faces toward them and that for a
brief space there was something OF ter
ror In the gleam he caught Of their eyes.
In a moment they had passed. Then he
heard them running.
"They saw us!'' Captain Plum ex-
claimed.
Obadiah hoped to his feet and rubbed
his hands with great glee. What a
temptation. Nat!' he whispered. What
a temptation to frishten them out OF
their wi,sl No. they didn't see us, Nat
they didn't see US The girls are always
frightened when they pass these graves.
Some day"
Graves" almost shouted the master
OF the Typhoon. "Graves-and we Sit
ting on 'em"'
That's all right. Nat-that's all right
They're my graves. so we're welcome TO
sit on them. / often come here and sit
for hours at a time, They like to have
me, especially little Jean-the middle one,
Perhaps I'll tell you about Jean before
you go away
him he would have seen that soft mys-
terious light again shining in the old
councillors eyes. But now Nathaniel
stood erect his nostrils shifting the air.
catching once more the sweet scent Of
lilac. He hurried out into the opening.
with the old man close behind him, and
peered down Into the starllt gloom into
which the two girls had disappeared. The
an instant al Obadlahs cabin began TO
haunt him. He was sure now that his
sudden appearance had not been the only
cause OF its terror, and nc felt that he
should have called out to her or followed
until he had overtaken her, He could
easily have excused his boldness, even If
the councillor had been watching him
from the cabin door He was certain that
and that the fright which Obadiah had
attempted TO explain was not because of
the graves. He swung about upon his
companion, determined TO ask for an eX-
his thought.
Don't let little scent OF lilac dis
turb you so; young man. he said with
great unpIeasantness.E He went ahead
and Nathaniel followed him, assured
that the old mans words and the way
In which he had spoken them no longer
left Il doubt as TO the identity OF his
night visitor. She was one OF the coun-
cllors wives. so he thought. and his own
interest in her was beginning 10 have an
irritating effect; In other words. oba-
diah was becoming jealous,
For some time there was silence be-
tween the two, Obadiah Price now
walked with extreme sloWness and along
nearer 10 the town below. Nathaniel
could that he was absorbed In
thoughts OF his own, and held his peace
Was It, possible that he had spoiled his
\
! pretty face and bunch of lllacs? The
thought tickled Captain Plum despite the
! deicacy of his situation and he broke
into an iny9iInn'ary 1a%g Ths laugh
though some one had thrust a bayonet
| against his breast.
MAT: you've got good red blood in
you" he cried .whIrling about. Dye
lord deliver us!' exclaimed the as
tonishod Captain Plum. 'IIatc-love-
what tho
eyes, hate" repeated the old man with
fierce emphasis. so close that his breath
struck NatlIaniels face. you can love
a pretty face-and you can hate
know you can; II you couldn't ! would
| send you back to your sloop with tho
package tonight. But as II is I am 60
ing To relieve you OF your oath. Yes
Nat, i give you back your oath-for
Nat stepped a pace back and put his
hands on his pockets as il to protect
the gold there.
You mean that you want to call OF
The councillor rubbed his hands unit
the friction of them scnt a shiver VI
Nathaniel's back mot that, Nat-O
no. not that! The bargain is good, The
package, But you need not do II lmme
diateIy Understand? | am lonely bach
there in my shack. | want company
You must stay with me week, Jh
LiIacs and pretty faces, Nat! Fo. no. no
You will stay a week, won't you. Nat?'
lie spoke so rapidly and his face uu
dcrwcnt so many changes. now betray
ing the keencst excitement now wrinkleC
in an ogrcish. banterInG grin, now almos
picading in its earnestness. that Nathan
lei know not what to make of him. EIt
looked into the beady eyes, sparklinI
with passion, and the cat-lke glitter o
them set his blood tinglng, Wha
strange adventure was this old MAI
dragging him into? What were the mo
1 81, H. trc In yln hat la,
behind this mysterious creatures appar
ent faith in him? He tried to answc
these things In the passing OF a momen
before he replied. The councillor saw hi
hesitancy and smiled
81 will show you many things Of inter
est Nat" he said, II will show you jus
one tonight. Then you will make III
your mind. oh? You need not tell m'
until then"
He took the lead again and this time
struck straight down for the town. The,
passed u number OF houses built Of log
} and Nathaniel caught narrow CLEANS o
light from between close-drawn curtains
In ono of these houses he heard the cry