Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1910-12-22

pdIduSs
NathanieI's heart beat excitedly as
they came to where the scrub Of the
forest met the plain. They were ia
king the path that led to Marion's!
Again he looked at Neil. There was
no change in the fearless attitude Of
Marion's brother, no lowering of his
head, 40 ~faltering In his step. They
passed the graves and entered the
opening In the forest where lay
Marion's home, and as once more the
sweet odor Of lilac came to him,
awakening within his soul all those
things that he had tried to stifle that
he might meet death like a man. he
felt himself weakening. until only the
cloth about his mouth restrained the
moaning cry that forced itself to his
lips. II he had possessed a life to
give he would have sacrificed 1t gladly
then for a word with the Mormon
king, a last prayer that death might
be meted to him here, where eternity
would come to him with his glazing
eyes fixed to the end upon the home
Of his beloved, and where the sweet
ness of the flower that had become a
part of Marion herself might soothe
the pain of his final moment on earth.
His heart leaped with a hope as a
sharp voice from the rear commanded
a halt. 1t was Jeekum. He came up
out of the darkness from behind the
rear guard, his face still unmasked,
and for a few moments was in whis-
pered consultation with the guards
ahead. Had Strang. in the virulence
of that hatred which he concealed so
well, conceived Of this spot to give
added torment to death? 1t was the
poetry of vengeance! For the first
time Neil turned toward his compan-
ion. Each read what the other had
guessed. Neil, who was nearest to
the whispering four, turned suddenly
toward them and listened. When he
looked at Nathaniel again 1t was with
a slow negative shake of his head.
Jeekum returned quickly and placed
himself between them, Selling each by
an arm and the forward guards. pivot
ing to the left, set off at their steady
pace across the clearing. AS they en-
tered the denser gloom of the forest
on the farther side Nathaniel felt the
%jailer's fingers tighten about his arm,
then relax-and tighten again. A gen
tie pressure held him back and the
guards in front gained half a dozen
feet. In a low voice Jeekum called
for those behind to fall a few PAGES to
the rear.
Then came again the mysterious
working of the mans fingers on Ma.
thaniel's arm.
Was Jeekum signaling to him?
He could see Neil's white face still
turned stoically to the front. Evi.
IDENTIFY nothing had occurred to arouse
his suspicious. If the m~aneuvering of
Jeekum's fingers meant anything it
was intended for him alone. Action
had been the mama of his life. The
possibility of new adventure, v
in the face of death, thrilled him. He
waited, breathless-and the strange
pressure came again, so hard that it
hurt his flesh.
There was no longer a doubt in his
mind. The kings sheriff wanted to
speak to him.
And he was afraid of the eyes and
ears behind.
The fingers were cautioning him to
be ready-when the opportunity came.
The path widened and through the
thin treetops above their heads the
starlight filtered down upon them. The
leading guards were 20 feet away.
How far behind were the others?
A moment more and they plunged
into deep night again. The figures
ahead were mere shadows. Again the
fingers dug into Natdaniel's arm, and
pressing close to the sheriff he bent
down his head.
A low, quick whisper fell in his ear,
Don't give up hope! Marion
Winnsome-"
The sheriff jerked himself erect
without finishing. Hurried footsteps
had come close to their heels. The
rear guards were 80 near that they
could have touched them with theil
guns. Had some spot of lesser gloon
ahead betrayed the prisoners bowed
head and Jeekum's white face turned
to It? There was a steady pressure
on Nathaniel's arm now, a warning
frightened pressure, and the hand thai
made It trembled. Jeekum feared the
worst-but his fear was not greater
than the chill of disappointment tina
came to smother the excited beating
of N~athaniel's heart. What had TIT
TALLER meant to say? What did hi
know about Marion and Winnsome