The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1910-12-30

emphasis, but the darkness that had
fast settled about them hid the added
meaning that passed IN . curious Ioob
over the others face.
"Odd way to come In, though-ver3
odd!" continued the old man. CUR
Cling and shaking as II the thought Of
1t occasioued him great merriment
| Very cautious. Level business mead.
1 Want to know that things are ON the
square. eh?" ''''''>
That's i'll" exclaimed Captain Plum
catching at the protfered straw In
wardly he was wondering when his
feet would touch bottom. Thus lar
he had succeeded in getting but 4
single grip on the situation. Sore
body was expected at Beaver island
with powder and balls and guns. Well,
he had a certain quantity Of these ma
terials aboard: his, sloop. and If be
could make an agreeable bargain
The old man interrupted the plan
that was slowly forming itself in Cap
tain Plum's puzzled brain. );
TITS the price, eh?" He laughed
shrewdly "You want to see the color
of the gold before you land the goods.
: I'll show it to you. I'll pay you the
whole sum tonight. Then you'll take
the stuff where tell you to- Eli!
Isn't that SOP" He darted ahead of
Captain Plum with quick alert move.
ment will you please follow me.
sir?"
For an instant Captain Plum's i'm.
pulse was to hold back. In that in.
slant it suddenly occurred to him that
he was lending himself to a rank i'm.
position. At the same time he was
filled with desire to go deeper into
the adventure. and his blood thrilled
with the thought of what it might no d
for him.
Are you coming, sif?"
The little old man had stopped q
dozen PAGES away and turned ex.
pectantly.
Il tell you again that you've got the
wrong man, dad!"
will you follow me, sir?"
well, If you'll have it so-damned
if WON'T" cried Captain Plum. He
felt that he had relieved his con.
science. anyway. If things should de.
velop badly for him during the next
few hours no one could say that he
had lied. So he followed light-heart.
edly after the old man, his eyes and
ears alert, and his right hand, by force
of habit, reaching under his coat to
the butt of his pistol. His guide said
not another word until they had trav.
eled for half an hour along a twisting
path and stood at last on the bald sum.
nit Of knoll from which they could
look down upon a number of lights
twinkling dimly q quarter of a mile
away. One of these lights cleaned
above all the others. like beacon set
among fireflies.
i That's st. James," said the old
man. His voice had changed. It
was low and soft, as though he feared
to speak above q whisper.
"St. james,"
The young man at his side gazed
down silently upon the scattered lights,
his heart throbbing in a sudden tn.
multi Of excitement. He had set out
that day with the idea of resting his
eyes on st. James. In its silent mys.
terry the town now lay at his feet
And that light" spoke the old
man. He pointed trembling arm to.
ward the glare that shone more power.
fully than the others. "That light
marks the sacred home Of the king!"
His voice had again changed. A me.
tallic hardness came into it, his words
were vibrant with a strange excite.
ment which he strove hard to con.
ceal. 1t was still light enough for
Captain Plum to see that the old
mans black, beady eyes were startling.
ly alive with newly aroused emotion.
You mean"
"Strang!"
He started rapidly down the knoll
and there fioated back to Captain
Plum the soft notes of his meaning.
less chuckle. A dozen rods farther on
his mysterious guide turned into a by.
path which led them to another knoll,
capped by good-sized building made
Of logs. There sounded the grating
Of key in lock. the shooting Of q
bolt, and door opened to admit them.
you will pardon me If l don't light
up." apologized the old man as he led
the way in. "A candle will be sufi.
cient You know there must be
privacy in these matters-always. Eli?
Isn't that so?"
| Captain Plum followed without re
ply. He guessed that the cabin was
made up of one large room, and that
at the present time. at least, It pos
sessed no other occupant than the
singular creature WHO had guided him
to 1t.
1T is just as well. on this particular
night. that no light is seen at the
\ window" continued the old man az
he rummaged. about table for a
match and a candle. II have q little
I corner back here that candle will
brighten up nicely and no one in the
world will know It. Ho. no. hollow
nice it is to have quiet little corner
sometimes! Eth. Captain PLUMP"
4 At the sound Of his name Captain
u ~ 40 j.