Gilpin observer., 1910-09-15
CHAPTER u.
The Seven Wives.


rigid as a gargoyle, his gaze penetra-
ting into the darkness of the room
beyond Captain Plum, his head in
clined slightly, every nerve in him
strained to a tension of expectancy
His companion involuntarily gripped
the butt of his pistol and faced the
narrow entrance through which they
had come In the moment Of absolute
silence that followed there came to
him, family, sound, unintelligible at
first, but growing in volume until he
knew that it was the last echo of a
tolling bell There was no movement,
no sound of breath or whisper from
the old man at his back. But wheE
it came again. floating to him as if
from a vast distance, he turned quick
ly to find Obadiah Price with his face
lifted. his thin arms flung wide above
his head and his lips moving as If in
prayer His eyes burned with dull
glow as though he had been suddenly
thrown into trance. He seemed not
to breathe, no vibration of life stirred
him except in the movement of his
lips. With the third toll of the distant
it was as If the passion and fire in
his voice came from another being.
Our Christ, Master of hosts, we
call upon thy chosen people the three
blessings of the universe-peace, pros
perity and plenty. and upon Strang.
priest, king and prophet, the bounty
of thy power!"
Three times more the distant bell
tolled forth its mysterious message
and when the last echoes had died
away the old mans arms dropped be-
side him and he turned again to Cap
tain Plum.
Franklin Pierce, president Of the
United States of America" he re-
peated, as though there had been no
interruption since his companions
question. "The package is to be de-
livered to him. Now you must excuse
me. An important matter calls me
back soon-oh, yes, very soon. And
you will wait for me. You will wait
for me here. and then I will take you
to st. James,"
He was gone in a quick hopping
way, like cricket, and the last that
Captain Plum saw Of him was his
ghostly face turned back for an in
stant in the darkness Of the next
room, and after that the soft patter
of his feet and the strange chuckle in
his throat travelled to the outer door
and died away as he passed out into
the night. Nathaniel Plum was not
man to be easily startled. but there
was something so unusual about the
proceedings in which he was as yet
playing a blind part that he forgot to
smoke. which was saying much. Who
was the old man? Was he mad? His
eyes scanned the little room and an
exclamation of astonishment fell from
his lips when he saw the leather bag,
partly filled with gold. lying where
his mysterious acquaintance had
dropped it. Surely this was madness
or else another ruse to test his hon
esty. The discovery thrilled him. 1t
was wonderfully quiet out in that
next room and very dark. Were hid
den eyes guarding that bag? Well.
If so. he would give their owner to
understand that he was not a thief.
He rose from his chair and moved
toward the bag. lifted 1t in his hand.
and tossed it back again so that the
gold in it chinked loudly. Then he
went to the narrow aperture and
blocked it with his body and listened
until he knew that If there had been
human life in the room he would have
heard it.
The outer door was opened and
through it there came to him the soft
breath of the night air and the sweet
ness of balsam and wild flowers. 1t
struck him that 1t would be pfeasanter
waiting outside than in. and It would
undoubtedly make no difference to
Obadiah Price. In front of the cabin
he found the stump of log and seat
light of the stars fell full upon him
he once more began his interrupted
smoke. 1t seemed to him that he
had waited a long time when he heard
the sound of footsteps. They came
rapidly as II the person was half run
ming. Hardly had he located the d.
rection of the sound when a figure ap-
peared In the opening and hurried
toward the door of the cabin. A
dozen yards from him 1t paused for
moment and turned partly about, as II
! inspecting the path over which 1t had
come. With greeting whistle Cap
tain Plum Jumped to his feet. He
heard little throat note, which was
not the chuckling of Obadiah Price.
and the figure ran almost into his
arms. A sudden knowledge OF having
made mistake drew Captain Plum a
pace backward. For scarcely more
than five seconds he found himself
staring into the white terrified face
of girl Eyes wide and glowing with
sudden fright met his own. Instinc-
lively he lifted his hand to his hat.