Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-06-18
CHAPTER vi.
Marion,

At NathanieTs, astonishing words
Neil stood as though struck suddenly
dumb.
Don't you see what a very simple
case 1t is?" he continued, enjoying the
others surprised silence. "You plan
to kill Strang to keep Marion from
marrying him. Well, I will hunt up
Marion, put her in a bag if necessary
and carry her to my ship. Isn't that
better and safer and just as sure as
murder?"
The excitement had gone out of
Neirs face. The flush slowly faded
from his cheeks and in his eyes there
cleaned something besides the ma
levolence Of few moments before. AS
Nathaniel stepped back from him half
laughing and putting clouds of smoke
from his pipe Marion's brother thrust
his hands into his pockets with an ex-
clamation that forcefully expressed
his appreciation of Captain Plum's
scheme.
II never thought Of that" he added,
after moment. by heaven, it will
be easy"
$50 easy that ! tell you again an
ashamed Of you for not having thought
of IT." cried Nathaniel. 1.-THE frs.
thing is to get safely aboard my Ship"
1--WE can do that within an hour"
And tonight-where will we find
Marion?"
"At home" said Neil. I'VE live
near Obadiah. You must have seen
the house as you came into the clear
ing this morning from the forest"
+ Nathaniel smiled as he thought of
his suspicious of the old councillor.
TT couldn't be better situated for
our work." he said. Does the forest
run down to the lake on Obadiah's
side of the island?"
Clear to the beach,
! Neips face betrayed a sudden flash
Of doubt.
II believe that our place has been
watched for some time" he explained.
II am sure that 1t is especially
guarded at night and that no person
leaves or enters 1t without the knowl-
edge of Strang. am certain that
Marion is aware Of this surveillance
although she processes to be wholly
ignorant of it. 1t may cause US trou-
ble."
(. Can you reach the house without
being observed?"
after midnight-yes."
Then there is no cause for alarm"
declared Nathaniel. IF necessary
can bring 10 men into the edge of
the woods. Two can approach the
house as quietly as one and l will 60
with you. Once there you can tell
Marion that your life depends on her
accompanying you to Obadiah's. I bal
ieve she will 60. II she won't" He
stretched out his arms as IL in antici-
patton of the burden they might hold.
IF she wont-rll help you carry her!"
\ And meanwhile" said Neil. "Arbor
Croche's men"
: "Will be as dead as herring foaters
II they show up!" he cried, leapinx
two feet OF the ground in his enthu-
siam. I've got IL of the damnedest
fighters aboard my ship that ever
lived and 10 Of them will be in the
edge of the woods!"
Neil's eyes were shining with some
thing that made Nathaniel turn his
own to the loading Of his pipe.
Captain Plum, hope will be able
to repay you for this" he said. There
was a trembling break IN his voice
and for a moment Nathaniel did not
look up His own heart was near
bursting with the new life that
throbbed within It. When he raised
his ewes to his companions face again
here was . light In them that SPOKE j
almost rs plainly ~ words.
You haven't accepted my price, yet, |
Neil" he replied quietly. Il asked you |
fsse1A-eea seEt g brusAesr.