Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1910-12-08

voice shaking 9th d cold. stiSet
anguish. Nathaniel drew back from
that tall, straight figure, step by step,
as though to hide beyond the flicker
ing candle glow the betrayal that had
come into his face. the blazing fire
that seemed burning ont his eyes. If
what Neil had said was true
Something choked him as he
dropped alone upon the bench.
If it was true-Marion was dead!
He dropped his head in his hands
and sat for a long time in silence,
listening to Neil as he walked tireless.
~ over the muddy earth. Not until
there came a rafting Of the chain at
the cell door and a creaking of the
rusty hinges did he lit his face. 1t
was the jailer with n huge armful of
straw. He saw Neil approach him
after he had thrown it down. Their
low voices came to him in an indis-
tinct murmur. After a little he caught
the sound of the thinking gold pieces.
Neil came and sat down beside him
as the heavy door closed upon them
again.
He took It," he whispered exultant-
ly. 'FIe will deliver It this morning.
If possible he will bring us an an.
swcr. | kept out a hundred and told
him that a reply would be worth that
to him"
Nathaniel did not sneak, and after
q moments silence Neil continued:
THE jury is assembling. We will
know our fate very soon"
He rOse to his feet, his words quiv-
ering with nervous excitement, and
Nathaniel heard him kicking about in
the straw. In another breath his
voice missed through tho gloom in a
sharp, startled command:
Good God, Nat, conc here!"
Something in the strange fierceness
of Neils words startled Nathaniel.
like the thrilling twinges of al cleo
trio shock. He dartcd across the cell
and found Marion's brother with his
shoulder against the door.
IT'S opcn!" he whispered. THE
door-is-open."
The hinges creakcd under his
weight. A current OF air struck them
in the face. Another instant and they
stood in the corridor, listening, crush.
ing back the breath in their lungs, not
daring to speak. Gently Neil drew his
companion back into the cell.
"Th"rc's a chance one chance In
ten thousand" he whispered. AT
the end of this corridor there is y
door-thc i~ailcr's door. If that's no.
locked, We can make It run for it! Id
rather die fighting titan here"
He slipped out again, pressing Ma
tlaniCl back.
Wait for me-"
Nathaniel heard him stealing SLOW
~ through the blackness. A minute
later he returned.
"LoCkcd!" he exclaimed.
In the opposite direction a ray OF
light caught Nathaniel's eye.
"Whcre does that light come from?"
he asked
"Through n hole about as big as
you W hands. 1t was made for a
stove pipe, If we were up there we
could see into the jury room"
lltN HlbNtu uu!Nllg uo"H llIt 'oI-
rider until they stood under the apCr-
turc. which was four or five feet
above their heads. Through it they
could hear the sounds of voices but
could not distinguish the words that
were being spoken.
The jury" explained Neil. They're
in a devil of Il hurry | wonder why?"
Nathaniel could feel his companion
shrug himself in the darkness.
"Lord--for my revolver!" he whis.
pered eXcitedly One shot through
that hole would be worth a thousand
notes to the girls!" He caught Ma
yion's brother by the arm as a voice
louder than the others came to them.
~"Strang!"
"YCs--thc-king'' affirmed Neil
laying an eXpostulating hand on him.
"llush!'
Il would like to see"
Even in these last hours of failure
and defeat the fire of adventure
famed up in Nathaniel's blood. lie