Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-06-21

arations for the defense would Strang,
.he master of the Kingdom. the bull
vark OF his people. waste priceless
time in carrying out the purpose for
which he had sent for MarionT Hardly
did hope burn anew in bis breast
when there came another thought to
quench 1t, Why had the king sent
for Marion on this particular night
and at this late hour? Why. unless at
the approach Of his enemies he had
feared that he might lose his beauti-
full victim. and in his overmastering
passion had called her to him even
as his people assembled In defense OF
his kingdom.
There was desperate GOODNESS in Ma
thaniel's approach now. Whatever had
happened he would do what Neil had
threatened to do-kill Strang. And
whatever had happened he would take
Marion away with him If it was only
her dead body that he carried in his
arms. To do these things he needed
strength. He advanced more slowly
and drew deeper and deeper drafts OF
air into his exhausted lungs. AT the
edge Of the grove surrounding the
castle he paused to listen. For the
first time it occurred to Nathaniel
that the prophet might have assem-
bled some of his fighters to the de-
Tense of his harem, which he knew
would be one OF the first places to
men of the mainland. But he heard
no voices ahead OF him. There were
no fires to betray the approach Of
the enemy. Not even the barking Of
q dog gave warning Of his stealthy
advance. Soon he could make out a
light in the kings house. A few steps
more and he saw that the door was
open, as it had been on his first visit
to the castle. He lodged swiftly from
bush to bush, darted under the win
dow through which he had seen Ma
rion, leaped lightly up the broad steps
and sprang into the great room. his
pistol cooked in his hand.
The room was empty. He listened.
but not a sound came to his ears ex-
cept the rustling Of curtain In the
breeze. The huge lamp over the ta-
VIC WdS Jul bAiE AALAAy. \ no AsS uooA .
leading from the room were tightly
closed. Nathaniel held his breath.
tried to still the tumultuous pounding
of his heart as he waited for n sound
Of life-a step beyond those doors. q
womans voice, a child's cry. But
none came. The stiffness Of desertion
lowered about him. He went to one
Of the Ave doors. 1t was not locked.
He opened it silently. with the eau
ton of thief and there doomed be-
fore him chaos OF gloom.
"Hello!" he called gently. Hello
Hello"
There was no answer. He struck
a match and advanced step by step.
holding the yellow bit of flame above
his head. 1t disclosed the narrow
walls Of hall and an open door lead.
ing into another room. The match
sputtered and went out and he lighted
another. On little table just outside
the door was half burned candle and
he replaced his match with this. Then
he went in.
At glance he knew that he had
entered woman's room. redolent
with the perfume of flowers. On one
side was a bed and close beside 1t q
cradle with q .child's toys scattered
about 1t. The tumhled coverlets
showed that both had been recently
used. About the room were thrown ar.
ticles of wearing apparel; trunk had
been dragged from closet and was
half packed; everywhere was the dis.
order Of hurried fight. For a few
moments the depth Of his despair hold
Nathaniel motionless. The castle was
Decentralization was gone! He ran
back into the great room. no longer
trying to still the sound of his foot.
steps, and opened second door. The
same silence greeted him. the same
disorder, the same evidence that the
wives and children OF the Mormon
king had fed. He went into third
room-and then fourth.
For an instant he paused at tho
threshold Of this fourth chamber. A
light was burning in the room at the
end of the hall. The door was closed
with the exception of an inch or two
"Manon!" he called softly, and Ms.
tened intently.
He went on when there was no re-
ply, and pushed open the door.
A candle was burning on stand
in front of mirror. The room was
as empty as the others. But there was
no disorder here. The bed was I'M
used. the garments in the open closet
had not been disarranged. On the
floor beside the bed was pair OF
shoes and as Nathaniel saw them his
heart seemed to leap to his throat
and stified the cry that was on his
lips. He took one OF them in his
hand. his whole being throbbing with
excitment. II was Marion's shoe
incrusted with mud and torn a. he
had seen it in the forest With her
name falling from his lips IN . plead.
ing cry he now searched the room and
on the stand IN front Of the mirror
he found lilac colored ribbon. soiled
and crumpled. It was Marion's rib.
bon-the one he bad seen last IN her
hair, and he crushed It to his lips a.
he ran back into the great room. cali
ing out her name again and again in
the torture Of helnlessness that now
possessed him.
(To Be Continued.)