Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1910-10-28
CHAPTER Il.-Continued.

For several minutes Captain Plum
stood as if the sudden apparition had
petrified him. He listened long after
the sound of retreating footsteps had
died away. There remained behind
faint sweet odor of lilac which
stirred his soul and set his blood
| fighting. It was beautiful face that
he had seen. He was sure Of that and
yet he could have given no good YER
bal proof of it. Only the eyes and
the odor of lilac remained with him
and after a little the lilac drifted
away Then he went back to the log
and sat down. He smiled as he
thought of the joke that he had I'M
Willingly played on Obadiah. From
his knowledge of the Beaver Island
Mormons he was satisfied that the
old man whe displayed gold in such
reckless profusion was anything but
bachelor. In all probability this
was one of his wives and the cabin
| behind him. he concluded. was for
some reason isolated from the harem.
Evidently that little saintess is not
a flirt," he concluded, cor she would
have given me time to speak to her.
The continued absence of Obadiah
Price began to fill Captain Plum with
impatience After an hours wait he
reentered the cabin and made his way
to the little room, where the candle
was still burning dimly To his as
constituent he beheld the old man
sitting beside the table. His thin face
was propped between his hands and
his eyes were closed as if he was
asleep. They shot open instantly on
Captain Plums appearance.
I've been waiting for you, Nat he
cried, Strengthening himself with
spring-like quickness. waiting for
you a long time, Natl" He rubbed
his hands and chuckled at his own
familiarity Il saw you out there en-
joying yourself What did you think
of her, Nat?" He winked with such
audacious glee that, despite his own
establishment, Captain Plum burst
into a laugh. Obadiah Price held up
a warning hand. "Tut, tut, not so
loud!" he admonished. His face was
map of wrinkles. His little black
eyes shone with silent laughter.
There was no doubt but that he was
immensely pleased over something.
Tell me, Nativity did you come to
| st. James,"
He leaned forward over the table,
his odd white head almost resting On
it, and twiddled his thumbs with Won
derful rapidity "Eh, Nat?" he urged.
why did you Gomez
Because it was too hot and unin-
teresting lying out there in calm,
dad" replied the master Of the Ty-
| phoon. We've been roasting for 36
| hours without breath to fill our sails
| came over to see what you people
are like. Any harm done?"
mot a bit, not a bit-yet," chuckled
the old man. And what's your bust.
ness, Nat?"
"Sailing-mostly."
"Ho, no, no! of course, I might
have known it. simultaneously
Why certainly you sail. And why
do you carry pistol on one side of
you and knife on the other, Nat?''
'Troublous times, Dad. Some of
the fisherfolk along the Northern End
aren't very scrupulous. They took a
cargo of canned stuffs from me a
year back"
And what use do you make of the
four-pounder that's wrapped up in
tarpaulin under your deck, Nat? And
what in the world are you going to do
with five barrels of gunpowder?"
"How in blazes-" began Captain
Plum.
20, to be sure, to be sure-they're
for the fisher-folk," interrupted Oba-
diah Price. BLOW 'em up, eh. Nat?
And you seem to be young man of
education, Nat. How did you happen
to make a mistake in your count?
Haven't you II men aboard your sloop
instead of eight, Nat? Aren't there
II instead of eight? Eth, Nat?"
"The devil take you!" cried Captain
Plum, leaping suddenly to his feet
his face flaming red. Yes, I have
got IL men and I've got gun in
tarpaulin and I've got five barrels of
gunpowder! But how in the name OF
kingdom-come did you find 1t out?''