Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-06-28
CHAPTER XII.
&The straioht peath.n

NJ Iu0 dungeon OOOr.
It opened and Jeekum's ashen face
shonein the candlelight For moment
his frightened eyes rested on the two
men still standing in their last en-
brace of friendship. A word Of be.
trayal from them and he knew that
his own doom was sealed.
He came in, followed by four men.
One of them was MacDougall, the
kings whipper. In the corridor were
other faces, like ghostly shadows in
the darkness. Only MacDougalIs face
was uncovered. The others were hid
den behind white masks. The men
uttered no sound, but ranged them
selves like specters in front of the
door, their cooked rifles swung into
the crooks Of their arms. There was
a triumphant leer on MacDougall' g
lips as he and the jailer approached.
As the whipper bound Neil's hands
behind his back he Kissed in his ear:
'This will be a better job than the
whipping, damn you!'
Neil laughed.
"Hear that, Nat?" he asked, loud
enough for all in the cell to hear.
''MacDougall says this will be better
Job than the whipping He remem-
bers how thrashed him once when
he said something to Marion one day"
Neil was as cool as though acting
his part in a play. His face was
flushed. his eyes cleaned fearlessly
defiant. And Nathaniel, looking upon
the courage of this man, from under
whose feet had been swept all hope Of
life, felt twinge Of shame at his
own nervousness. MacDougall grew
black with passion at the haunting re-
hinder of his humiliation and tight
ened the thongs about Neirs wrists
until they cut into the flesh.
THAT'S enough, you coward" ex-
claimed Nathaniel, as he saw the
blood start. "Here-take this!"
Like lightning he struck out and his
fist fell with crushing force against
the side of the mans head. Mac
Dougall toppled back with a hollow
groan, blood squirting from his mouth
and nose. Nathaniel turned coolly to
the four rifles leveled at his breast.
"A pretty puppet to do the kings
commands!" he cried. IF there's a
man among you let him finish the
work."
Jeekum had fallen upon his knees
beside the whipper.
Great God!" he shrieked. You've
killed him! You've stove in the side
of his head!"
There was q sudden commotion in
the corridor. A terrible voice doomed
forth in roar.
/. let me I'M"
1 Strang stood In the door. He gave
. single glance at the man gasping
and bleeding in the mud. Then he
looked at Nathaniel. The eyes of the
two men met unflinching. There was
no hatred now in the prophets face.
Captain Plum, would give tenth
of my kingdom for brother like
you!" he said calmly. "Here-I will
finish the work" He went boldly to
the task, and as he tied Nathaniels
arms behind him he added "The vicis-
STUDIES of war, Captain Plum. You
are man-and can appreciate what
they sometimes meant"
A few minutes later, gagged and
bound. the prisoners fell behind two
Of the armed guards and at COM
mand from the king, given in low
tone to Jeekum, marched through the
corridor and up the short fight Of
steps that led out of the Jail. To Ma
thaniels establishment there was no
light to guide them. Candles and
lights had been extinguished What
words he heard were spoken in whis-
pers. In the deep shadow of the prison
vail third guard joined the two
ahead and like automatons they strobe
through the gloom with slow, meas
ured step. their rifles held with SOL
dierly precision. Nathaniel glanced
over his shoulder and saw three other
white masked faces a dozen feet
away. The king remained behind.
He shuddered and looked at Neil.
His companions appearance was al
most startling. He seemed half a
head taller than himself. yet he knew
that he was shorter by an inch or
two; his shoulders were thrown back,
his chin held high, he kept step with
the guards ahead He was marching
to his death as coolly as though on
parade.
Nathaniers heart beat excitedly as
they came to where the scrub Of the
forest met the plain. They were ia
king the path that led to Marion's!
Again he looked at Neil. There was
no change in the fearless attitude of
Mar1ons brother, no lowering of his
head, no faltering in his step. They
passed the graves and entered the
opening in the forest where lay
Marion's home, and as once more the
sweet odor Of lilac came to him,
awakening within his soul all those
things that he had tried to sttfie that
he might meet death like a man, he
lelt himself weakening, until only the
cloth about his mouth restrained the
moaning cry that forced itself to his
lips. II he had possessed a life to
give he would have sacrificed It gladly
hen for a word with the Mormon
king, last prayer that death might
be melted to him here. where eternity
would come to him with his glazing
Eyes fixed to the end upon the home
II his beloved, and where the sweet
hess of the flower that had become Z
,art Of Marion herself might soothe
he pain of his final moment on earth. |
His heart leaped with hope as q
harp voice from the rear commanded |
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