The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-11-13


EN-, and fed 'em, and drank with 'cm-
and he would have had them stay until
morning only they were anxious 10 hurry
with their report TO Strang. Under
stand, Nat? Eth? Do you understand ?"
What did Casey tell them?" gasped
Nathaniel.
Obadiah hunched his shoulders
Enough to warrant bullet through
we'll fool them. Nat. Wen fool them!
You shall board your ship and hurry
away with the package. and then you
shall make love to-. Strangs wife-for
she will go with your
He stopped to enjoy the amazement
that was written in every lineament of
the others face. Tho red blood surged
into Nathaniels neck and deepencd on
his brozed cheeks. Slowly the reaction
came. When he spoke there was an un-
easy gleam In his eyes and his voice was
as hard as steel.
"She will go with me, Councilor And
why?'
Obadiah had laughed softly as he
watched the change. Suddenly he jerkcd
himself erect
"sh-h-hr he whispered Keep cool,
Nat! Don't show any excitement or fear
Here comes the man who is to kill you!
He made no move save with his eyes:
'He is coming to speak with me and
TO get a good look at YOU" he added In
excited haste. Appear friendly. Agree
with what I say. He is the chief OF
sherlffs:: the kings murderer-Arbor
He turned as If ho had just seen the
softly. "Winnsome's father!'
Arbor Croche! Nathaniel gave an in
voluntary shudder as he turned with
Obadiah. Croche. chief OF sheriffs. the
scourge of the mainland the Attila of
the Mormon Kingdom. whose very name
caused the women of the shores to turn
white and on whose head the men had
secretly set n price In gold without
knowing e his hand went under his coat
Obadiah saw the movement and as he
advanced TO meet the officer Of the king
he JerI.ed the srm back fiercely. Hali
a dozen PAGES away the chief OF sherifs
paused and bowed low. But the coun-
the King. smiling and nodding his head.
All. Croche." he greeted. good morn
ing
''Good morning. Councillor"
Sheriff, ! would have you meet Cap
tain Nathaniel Plum. master Of the sloop
Typhoon:.. Captain Plum, this is his maj
esty's officer, Arbor Croche."
The two men advanced and shook
hands. Nathaniel stood half head
above the sheriff. who, like his master
the king, was short and of massive build
though much younger man He was
a dark lowering hulk of creature. with
that showed him possessed of great
strength.
You are a stranger, Captain Plum"
The councillor replied quickly.
fore. sheriff. | have invited him to stay
over TO see the whipping. BY the
way he shot a suggestive look at
the officer, ''By the way Croche. 1
want you To see him safely aboard his
sleep tonight, His ship is at the lower
end OF the island, and If you Will detail
couple Of men just before dusk-an es-
cort YOU know
Nathaniel felt n curious thrill creep up
his spine at the satisfaction which be-
trayed Itself in the officers black face.
1T viii give me great pleasure, Coun-
cilor." he interrupted 81 shall escort
tain Plum"
"'Thank you" said Nathaniel.
captain Plum Is 10 remain with me
throughout the day" added Obadiah,
Come al seven-to my place All. ] see
that people are assembling near the jail"
'We have changed our plans some
what Councillor" The officer turned 10
Nathaniel ''You will the whipping
turned away with another bow to tho
councillor and hastencd in the direction
OF Strang's office.
$50 that Is the gentleman who thinks
he is going to put a bullet through me-
exclaimed Nathaniel when the officer had
gone beyond hearing, lie laughed. and
there was a kind OF Wild expectant joy
In his voice. "Obadiah, can you not
make arrangements for him to go with
me alone?"
"Ie will not 20 with you al all Nat"
eloated the old man. "Ho. ho, we are
PLAYING at his own game-treachery,
When he calls at my place you Will be
aboard ship"
"But should like to have a talk with
him-alonc, and In the woods, Cod
know a man at Grand Traverse bay
whose wife and daughter-'
Ssh h-h-!' interrupted the councillor,
Would you kill lttlc Winnsome' g
father?''
Her father? That animal! That muir
dow q
But you should have seen her mother.
Nat you should have seen her mother!"
The old man twisted his hands. like a
mlser ravIshed by the sight of gold.
wild flower. and she killed herself three
years ago TO save the birth Of another
child into This he'll, Little Wlnn is like
her mother Nat
And she lives with him?"
''Er. yes-and guarded. on. so care.
fully guarded by Strang. Nat Yes.
guess that some day she will be a
queen"
Great Godr' cried the young man,
"And you-you live In this cesspoo OF
sin and still believe in a heaven?'
yes, | believe in a heaven. And my
re ward there shall be great Ho, ho, /
am taking no middle road Nat"
They mad passed In scmcircle be-
yond the temple and now approached n
squat building constructed OF logs which
Obadiah had pointed out as the jail. A
glance satisfied Nathaniel that IL was so
situated that an admirable view OF the
proceedings could be obtained from the
rear of the structure In which Strang
had his office. Several score of people
had already assembled about the prison
and stood chatting with that tense in
tcrest and anticipation with which the
mob always awaits public inhIction Of
the laws penalties. n third OF them
were women. AS Nathaniel had pre-
viously noted. the feminine part of the
Mormon population wore their hair either
I'm braids down their backs or In thick
curls flowing over their shoulders and
with the exception OF three or four were
attlred In skirts that just concealed their
knees. Obadiah halted his companion
close TO IA group OF half dozen Of these
women and nudged him syly,
Pretty sight, ch. Nat?'' he chuckled
"Ah, the king has wonderful eye for
beauty. Nat-wondcrful eye He orders
that no skirt shall fall below the female
knee. Ho; no: II he dared. II he quite
dared, Natl'
He nudSed Nathan!al again with such
enthusiasm that the latter jumped as
though Il knife had been thrust between
his ribs,
by George, ! admire his taste he