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

felt his nerves leaping again to action,
his arms grew tense with new ambi'
tion--almost he forgot that death had
him cornered and was already pre-
pairing to strike him down. Another
thought replaced all fear Of this. A
few feet beyond that log wall were
gathered the men whose bloodthirsty
deeds had written for them one or the
reddest pages in history-men who
had burned their souls out in the de,
struction of human lives, whose pas
sions and loves and hatrcds carried
with them life and death; mon who
had bathed themselves in blood and
lived in blood until the people of the
mainland called them the leechcs.'
The Mormon jury" Nathaniel
spoke the words scarcely above his
breath.
I'D like to take n look through that
hole, Neil" he added.
Easy enough-if you keep quiet
Here!" He doubled himself against
the wall. Climb up on my shoui
ders."
No sooner had Nathaniers face
come to a level with the hole than q
soft cry of astonishmcnt escaped him
Neil whispered hoars"ly but he did
not reply. He was looking into q room
twice as large as the dungeon cell
and lighted by narrow windows whose
lower panes were on a level with the
ground outside. At the farther end
of the room. in full view, was n plat
form raised several feet from the
main floor, On this platform were
seated ten men. immovable as statues
every face gazing straight ahead. ID
rcctly in front of them, on the lower
floor. stood the Mormon king, and at
his side. partly held in the embrace
OF one of his arms was Winnsome!
Strang's voice came to him in n
low, solemn monotone, its rumb!inS
depth drowning tie words he was
speaking. and as Nathaniel saw him
lift his arm from about the girls
shoulders and place his great hand
upon her head he dug his own fingers
fiCrccly into the rotting logs and an
~ bbl Z III lll'
did not need to hear what the king
vas saying. It was a "pantomimc in
which every gesture was understand
able. But ever Neil. huddl"d against
the wall, heard the last words OF tie
prophet rs they Numbered forth IN
sudden passion.
"Winnsome Croche demands the
death of her fathers murderer"
Nathaniel felt his compan'On's
shoulders sinking under his weight
and he ,capcd quickly to the floor.
"Winnsome is there" he painted
desperately. DO you want to see
her."
Neil hesitated.
mo. Your boots gougc my shou.
der. Take them Off"
The scene had changed when Ma
thanicl took his position again. TIL"
jury had LETT its platform and va
filing through a small door. Win"
some and III" king were alone.
The girl had turned from hin. sue
was dra;ht" pale and yet she va
WOndrOusly beautiful, so beautiful w
Nathaniels breath came In aulcE
dread rs the king approached her. lie
could see the triumph in his eyes, a
terrible c~aGcrncss in his face, Ike
seized Winnsome's hand and spoke
to her in a soft, low voice. 50 low that
it came to Nathaniel only in a muir
muir. Then, in a moment. he began
stroking the shimmering glory of her
hair, caressing the silken Curls be.
tween his fingers until the blood
seemed as if it must burst like hot
sweat from N~athaniel's face. Sudden.
ly Winnsome drew back from him, the
pallor gone from her face, her eyes
blazing like angry stars. She had re
treated but a step when the prophet
sprang to her and caught her in his
arms, straining her to him until the
scream on her lips was choked to 6
gasping cry. In answer to that cry &
yell of rage hurled itself from Nathan
icl's throat.
"Stor, you hcll.hound." he cried
~threateninGly. stop"
CTO BE CONTINUEDD