Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-06-21
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Nathaniel was certain that by this
time Neil had abandoned his search
for the captured Typhoon and was
probably padding in s1e direction Of
st. James. With the hope Of inter.
cepting him he pulled an eighth Of
mile from the shore and rowed slowly
toward the head of the island. There
WIS no moon, but countless stars
g1owed in clear sky and upon the
open lake Nathaniel could see for
considerable distance about him. For
another hour he rowed back and forth
and then beached his boat within .
dozen rods of the path that came down
from Obadiah's.
It WAS 10 o'clock. Two more hours!
He had tried to suppress his excite
ment. his apprehension, his eagerness,
but now as he went back into the
darkness Of the forest they burse out
anew. What If Marion should not
keep the tryst? He thought OF the
spies whom Neil had eaid guarded the
girls home-and Of Obadiah. Could
he trust the old councillor? Should
he conflde his plot to him and ask his
assistance? AS the minutes passed
and these thoughts REQUIRED again
and again in his brain he could not
keep the nervousness from growing
within him. He was sure now that
he would have to fight his battle with
out Neil. He saw the necessity Of
GOODNESS, Of judgment, and he began
to demand these things Of himself,
struggling sternly against those symp-
toms Of weakness which had replaced
his confidence Of short time before.
Gradually he fought himself back into
his old faith. He would save Marion
without Neil, without Obadiah. II
Marion did not come to him by mid
night 1t would be because Of the
guards against whom Neil had warned
him, and he would 60 to her. In
some way he would get her to the
boat, even If he had to fight his way
through Arbor Croche's men.
With this return Of confidence Ma
thanieps thoughts reverted to his
present greatest need, which was food.
Since early morning he had eaten
nothing and he began to feel the
physical want in q craving that was
becoming acutely uncomfortable. If
Obadiah had not returned to his home
he made up his mind that he would
find entrance to the cabin and help
himself. A sudden turn in the path
which he was following. however, re-
vealed one Of the councillors windows
aglow with light, and as he pressed
quietly around the end Of the build
ing the sound Of a low voice came to
him through the open door, Cautiously
he approached and peered in. A large
oil lamp. the light Of which he had
1sen In the window, was burning on
s table ID tho big room but the voice
came from the little closet into which
Obadiah had taken him the preceding
night. For several minutes he
crouched and listened. He heard tho
chuckling laugh Of the Old councillor
and then an incoherent raving that
set his blood tingling. There is q hor-
ror In the sound Of madness, horror
that creeps to the very pit Of ones
soul. that sends shtvering dread from
every nerve center, that causes one
who is alone with 1t to sweat with
nameless fear. It was the voice Of
madness that came from that little
room. Before It Nathaniel quailed as
II clammy hand had reached out
from the darkness and gripped him
BY the throat. He drew back sh1vering
In every limb. and the voice followed
him, shr1eking now in a sudden burst
Of insane mitth and dying away a
moment later in q hollow cabling
laugh that seemed to curdle the blood
In his veins. Mad! Obadiah Price was
mad! Step by step Nathaniel fell
back from the door. He felt himself
trembling from head to foot His heart
thumped within his breast IKE tho
beating Of q, hammer. For an instant
there was silence silence in which
strange dread held him breathless
while he watched the glow in the door
and listened. And after that quiet
there came suddenly cry that ended
In the exultant chattering Of a name.
AZ the sound Of that name Ma
thaniel sprang forward again. It was
Marion's name and he strained his
ears to catch the words that might