The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-10-30
CHAPTER II.
The Seven Wives.

.H Z -.
o. sncd himself and stood rs rigid
&IsnsrgoyIe. his gaze pcnetratl ting INTO
sr,,ss of the room beyond Captain
sis head inclined slightly, every
''',, ,'s IN him strained 10 tension OF
{eancv ~ His companion involuntarily
ctd tbe bait OF his pistol and faced
|ppsar o entrance through which they
r,o In the moment OF absolute
q that followed there came 10 him.
tn ~, n sound. unintelligible at hrst.
lowing in volume until ne kneW
p was the last echo OF tolling bell.
~ ,',oe NO movement. no sound OF
~! ~ whisper from the old man at
LII Rut when IL came again,
.,nr "a him as II from vast distance,
<,nrgned quickly to find Obadiah Price
N hIs face lifted. his thin arms flung
y above his head and his lips NOV,
~ tr In prayer. His eyes burned
duII glow as though he had been
<tt~e,,, thrown into a trance He seemed
breathe no vibration OF lie
"a him except In the movement o.
las with the third toll of the dis
hell he spoke. and TO Captain Plum
-ss as II the passion and fire In his
"a game from another being. =,
Thy chosen people the three bless-
~ the universe-peace, prosperity
rienty. and upon Strang, priest, king
,r1nbet. the bounty OF Thy power.
~ times more the distant bell
.5 sorth its mysterious message and
- the last echoes had died away
4 IA mans arms dropped beside him
he turned again TO captain rum;
rsnklin Pierce, president OF the
~ States of America" he repeated,
<housh there had been no Interrupt
since his companions question THE
tere Is TO be delivered TO him. Now
',;,,,st excuse me, An important mat
rails me out for a short time. But
-,ilj be back soon-oh, yes, very soon:
4 vou will walt for me. You Will
"A for me here. and then l will take
a 10 ST. James
Ia was gone in a quick chirping way,
a cricket, and the last that captain
"A aaw of him was his ghostly face
ned back for an instant in the dark
Il of the next room, and after that
4 soft natter OF his feet and the strange
1ckIe IN his throat Travelled to the
|sr' door and died away as he passed
4 jnto the night Nathaniel Plum was
4 a man TO be easily startled. but
sre was something so unusual about
I nroceedings I'm which he was as yet
wing a blind part that he forgot TO
-5ke which was saying much. Who
n the old man? Was lie mad? His
a scanned the little room and an eX-
.npsion OF astonishment fell from his
4 when he saw the leather bag, part
lIled with gold lying where his mys-
|15;s acquaintance had dropped IT.
|rsly This was madness, or else another
"a 10 test his honesty. The discovery
<flIcd him. 1t was wonderfully quiet
Il In that next room and very dark.
rro hidden eyes guarding that bag?
M. II so, he would give their owner
understand that he was not THIEF.
rose from his chair and moved toward
+ bag, lifted II in his hand. and tossed
hack agnin so that the gold in II
nked loudly. Then he went 10 the
row aperture and blocked il with his
1y and listened until he knew that if
crc had been human life in the room
would have heard il.
The outer door was open and through
tbere came 10 him the soft breath OF
4 night air and the sweetness of bal
hi and wild flowers. II struck him
Nd II would be pleasanter waiting out
h than ~. and il would undoubtedly
Me no difference TO Obadiah Price.
ffonl OF tue cabin he found the stump
q log and seating himself on II where
+ clear light uf the stars fell full upon
NJ Ne once more began his interrupted
|oke. II seemed 10 him that he had
lIfed a long time when hc heard the
md o( footgtcps. They came rap
81 as il tho person was half running
Irdly had he located the direction OF
4 sound when a igur" appeared In the
Ming and hurried toward the door of
cabin. \ dozen yards from him II
HFcd Tor a moment and turned partly
put as il inspecting tho path over
'Ich IN had come. With greeting
'|Efie Captain Plum jumped 10 his
rt He heard little throat note,
.Ich was not the chuckling OF Oba-
@H Price. and the figure ran almost
NJ hIs arms. 4 sudden knowledge of
Wing made a mistake drew Captain,
Nj pace backward. For scarcely
01t than five seconds he found him
4 ssurng into the white terrified face
3 girl. Eyes wide and glowing with
|!den fright met his own. lnstictive-
ne lifted his hand 10 his hat. but be-
q he could speak the girl spranS back
~ a low cry and ran swiftly down the
~ that led into the gloom of the
|or several minutes Captain Plum
~ ras " tho sudden apparition had
FIdcd him. He listened long after the
|4ng oi rctreating footsteps had died
There remained behind a faint
|.ft-odor Of lilac. which stirred his sou
SET his blood tingIing. II was beau
.U Iace HAT no had seen. He was sure
mat, and yet he could have given nc
'o1 verbal proof OF IT. Only the eyes
I1 Inc odor Of lilac remained with him
,u after II little the lilac -drifted away
uen he went back TO the log and sal
.tn He smiled as he thought OF tho
re that lie had unwittingly played or
'duiah; From his knowledge of the
aver Island Mormons he was satisfied
IL INC old man who displayed gold il
'sn reckless profusiou was anything but
pacnelor In all probability this wa.
~ o. MS wives and the cabin behine
In, ne concluded. was for some reason
.'atnd from the harcm. "EvIdentlS
nttle Saintess is not flirt." he con.
-'.,'a. or she would have given me time
sreak TO her
tpe continued absence OF ObadiaI
~ began 10 nll Captain Plum will
.Ptefhce After an hours wait h'
'entered the cabin and made his wa!
Az 't,e it,ie room. where the candle wa!
nv purnlng dimly. To his astonishmen
dneneid the old man sitting beside th'
iiis thin faco was proppcd be
-ssh MS hands and his eyes were cIoset
~ nc was asleep. They shot open in
lily on Captain Plum's appearanc
.,.1'.se se ocen waiting for you. Nat" h
~, strengthening himself with spring
~ qu.ekiaess: Waiting for you a lon
,,,s Nat' He rubbed his hands am
~ enacd n',t At at his own familiarity. 81 say
"A o,' Su, lhcre enjoying yourself Wha
you think or her. Nat?" He winke
+n mch audacious glee that. despit
~. o~n establishment. Captain Plur
a uito laugh. Obadiah Price hel
@5di.s Earning hand, Tut, tut. not b
esn ne admonished His face was
5omn W wrinkles. His little black eye
+. Win silent laughter. There wa
~ roao ss ot but that he was immensel
.l,v ~, over something. "Tell me. Nat
9ln you come to St. James?"
6S ,,hned hSaned forward over the table, hi
>idd,nao mead almost resting on 1t. An
4 |6lss ms thumbs with wonderful "a
||6 yc, Eh, Nat?" nc urged. "Wh