Gilpin observer., 1910-09-22
CHAPTER II.-Continued.

CHAPTER ll.-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
q faint sweet odor of lilac which
stirred his soul and set his blood
fighting. 1t was beautiful face that
he had seen. He was sure of that and
yet he could have given no good ver-
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 who displayed gold in such
reckless profusion was anything but
d bachelor. In all probabilit- 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
q flirt," he concluded, "or she would
have given me time to speak to her" :
The continued absence of Obadiah
Price began to fill Captain Plum with
fmpatieuce. 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
hot, h, 4
his eyes we're closed as IL he was
asleep They shot open instantly on
Captain Plum's 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-
Toying yourself. What did you think
of her. Nat?" He winked with such
audacious glee that. despite his own
astonishment. Captain Plum burst
into a laugh Obadiah Price held up
a warning hand Tut. tut. not so
ioud!" he admonished. His face was
a map of wrinkles. His little black
eyes shone with silent laughter.
There was no doubt but that he was
Immensely pleased over something.
"Teli 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 conner"
Because 1t was too hot and unin-
eeresting lying out there In calm,
dad" replied the master of the Ty-
phoon. We've been roasting for Sc
hours without breath to fill our sails
! came over to see what you people
are like. Any harm done?"
mot bit. not bit-yet." chuckled
the old man. And what's your bust.
ness. Nat?"
"Sailing-mostly"
"Ho. no, ho! OF course, | might
have known It! Sailing-mostly
Why. certainly you sail! And why
do you carry n 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 DdCh.
"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 1--WE 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 a young man Of
education. Nat. How did you happen
TO make a mistake in your count
Haven't you ~ men aboard your sloop
instead Of eight, Nat? Aren't there
n instead Of eight? Eth. Nat?"
The devil take you'll" cried Captain
Plum, ieaping suddenly to his feet,
mis- face flaming red. "Yes. have
got 10 men and I've got gun in
tarpaulin and I've got flve barrels of
gunpowder! But how in the name Of
kiugdom-come did you find II out?"