The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-11-04

| lures. With q shudder he thought o
the terrible power the Mormon kin,
held not only over his own people blu
over the Gentiles Of the mainlands .,
well. With these mainlanders. he re
garded Beaver Island rs a nest o.
pirates and murderers. He knew o.
the depredations Of Strang and hia
people among the fishermen and set
tiers. Of the piratical expeditions ol
bis armed beats. Of the dreaded raids
OF his sherifs. and Of the crimes that
made the women Of the shores tremble
and turn white at the mere mention Of
his name.
Was 1t possible that this girl
Captain Plum did not let himself
finish the thought With a powerful
effort he brought himself back to his
own business on the island. smoked
another pipe. and undressed. He went
to bed with the withered lilacs on the
table close beside him. He fell asleep
with their scent In his nostrils. When
he awoke they were gone. He started
up In establishment when he saw what
had taken their place. Obadiah had
visited him while he slept. The table
was spread with a white cloth and
upon It was his breakfast, a pot OF
coffee still steaming. ard the whole
Of a cold baked fowl. Near by, upon
chair, was a basin of water, soap
and a towel. Nathaniel rolled from
his bed with a healthy laugh of pleas.
Thu
courteous host, and his liking for the
curious old man promptly increased.
There was a sheet of paper on his
plate upon which Obadiah had scrib.
bled the following words:s
My Dear Nat: Make yourself at
home. I will be away today but will
see you again tonight. Don't be sur.
prised II somebody makes you visit"
The somebody" was heavily under.
scored and Nathaniel's pulse quick.
ened and sudden flush OF excitement
surged into his face as he read the
meaning of It. The somebody" was
Strang's wife. There could be other
Interpretation. He went to the trap
and called down for Obadiah but there
was no answer. The councillor had al
ready gone. Quickly eating his break.
fast the master of the Typhocn
down the ladder into the
room below. The remains of the coun-
cilor's breakfast were on a table near
the door, and the door was omen.
Through 1t came a glory of sunshine
and the fresh breath OF the forest
laden with the perfume Of wild flow
ers and balsam. A thousand birds
seemed caroling and twittering in the
sunlit solitude about the cabin. Be-
yond this there was no other sound
or sign Of life. For many minutes
stood in the open, his eyes
on the path along which he knew that
Strang's wife would come-if she
came at all. Suddenly he began to
examine the ground where the girl
had stood the previous night. The
dainty imprints of her feet were plain
ly discernible In the soft earth. Then
ne went to the path-and with a laugh
80 loud that 1t startled the birds into
silence he set OF with long strides In
The direction of st. James. From the
footprints in that path It was quite
evident that Strang's wife was a fire.
luent visitor at Obadiah's.
At the edge of the forest, from
where he could see the log house situ-
tied across the opening. Nathaniel
He had made up his mind
hat the girl whom he had seen
through the kings window was in
ONE way associated with II. Obadiah
lad limited as much and she had come
rom there on her way to Strang's. |
'ut as the prophets wives lived In his
astle at st. James this surely could
ot be her home. More than ever he |
vas puzzled. As he looked he saw a
gure suddenly appear from among
he mass OF lilac bushes that almost
opcealed the cabin. An involuntary
Exclamation of satisfaction ESCAPED
I'm and he drew back deeper among
he trees. It was the councillor who
ad shown himself For a few mo-
tents the old man stood gazing in
ne direction Of st. James ~ II watch
lg for the approach Of other persons.
hen he lodged cautiously along the
dye OF the bushes. keeping half with.
their cover. and moved swiftly In
he opposite direction toward the cen.
y Of the island. Nathaniel's blood
'aped with desire to follow. The
light before he had guessed that
badiah with his gold and his smol.
ering passion was not q man to iso-
tie himself In the heart of the forest.
ere-across the open-was evidence
another side Of his life. In that
reat square-buiit domicile Of logs,
'reened SO perfectly by towering
lac. lived Obadiah's wives. Captain
lum laughed aloud and beat the bowl [
his pipe on the tree beside him.
nd the girl lived Thereon came
ON there to the woodland cabin SO J
eQuently that her feet had beaten {
well-worn path. Had the councillor
I'd to him? Was the girl he had Z
en- through the kings window one q
the seven wives of Stranger was =
q the wife OF Obadiah Price? \
The Thought Was ono that thrtlrca I L.