The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-11-20
The Courage of Captain Plum

pate and Yet dread the moment when tho
lGgiove ahead would stop in his fight,
wnich would al least relieve him OF his
burden OF doubt. They had travelled a
mile trough forest unbroken by path or
road when Nell halted on the edge of a
nttle stream that ran into a swamp.
POINTING Into the tangled fen with a con
iident smile he plunged to his waist in
sI shG water and ~aded slowly through the
slough into the gloom OF the densest all
DER. A few minutes later he turned in
10 the shore and the soft pog gave pla ce
20 hrm ground. Before Nathaniel had
cieared the stream he saw his COM
panion drop to his knees beside a fallen
log and when he came up 10 him he was
uhwrapping sn m!;. a piece of canvas from about
~ q gun IN win u warming gesture he rose
10 ms feet and for twenty seconds the
men stood and listened. No sound came
70 them but the chirp OF startled squlr-
re,s re- ana INC barking OF dog in the di-
ihey haven't turned out the dogs
YET said Neil. holding hand against
MS heaving chest. ''If thcy do they can't
ms r'ne against the log and again thrust
ing an arm into the place where IL had
been concealed drew forth ii small box.
Powder and ball-and grub he
laughed. You sec ! am a sort OF revolu-
ZIONIST and have my hiding places. To-
morrow viii be mortyr.' He spoke
as quietly Ms though his words but car
ried careless jest.
Ing down into the smiling. sweating face
Yes. tomorrow / shall XII Strang"
mere was no excitement in Ncil's
voice as he stood erect The smile did
not leave his lips. But in his eyes there
SRonc that which neither words nor smil-
ing lips revealed a reckless. blazing fury
hidden deep in them-so deep that Ma
thaniel stared TO assure himself what II
face.
Tomorrow / shall XIII Strang." he re-
Fpea,ed: F"a - shall kin him with this gun
through which You saw Marion"
"Marion!' exclaimed Nathaniel MIA
rion- He leaned forward eagerly
questioning. Tell me"
MY sister Captain Plum,'
IL seemed to Nathaniel that every fiber
in his body was stretched To the breaking
point. He reached out. daZcd by what
Neil's arm.
Your sister.who came to you at The
~hipping post"
THAT was Marion"
'And-Strang wife,"
mo-! cried Neil. No not his wife,
lie drew back from Nathaniels touch as
II the question had abbed him 10 the
heart. The passion that had slumbered
his face became suddenly terrible to look
upon. There was hatred there such as
Nathaniel had never seen; Il ferocious.
pitiless hatred that sent shuddering
thrill through him as he stood before it.
After IL moment the clenchcd fist that
had risen above Neils head dropped to
his side. Half apologetically he held out
his hand 10 his companion.
captain Plum, we've got a lot to thank
you for. Marion and L. he said a trem
bic Of the passing emotion In his voice.
obadiah told Marion that help might
come to us through you and Marion
brought the word 10 me at the Jail late
last night-after she had seen YOU al
the window. The old councillor kept his
word! You have saved her,'
Saved her"' gasped Nathaniel From
what? How?" a hundred questions
seemed leaping from his heart TO his
lips
From Straug Good Cod. don't you
understand? ! tell you that l am going
TO Kill Strangl"
Neil stood as though appalled, by his
companions incomprchension. 81 am
going TO kill Strang, tell you!' he cried
again. the firc burning deeper through the
sweat OF his checks.
Nathaniel's bewilderment still shone in
his face.
| softly as if to himself. "And she is
not" His face flushed as he nearly
spoke tho words. obadiah Iied!" He
looked squarely into Nei's eyes. mo,
| don't understand you. The councillor said
| that she-rhat Marion was Strang's wife
| He told me nothing more than that
| nothing OF her trouble nothing about you
| Until this moment I have been com
| 10 do-what | did at the jail"
| Neil gazed at him In astonshment.
| "Obadah old-you-nothing?" h
| asked incredulously.
mot a word about you or Marion ex.
| cept that Marion was the kings seventh