The Lamar register., 1910-11-09
CHAPTER Il.-continued.

.petrified him. He listened long after
the sound of retreating footsteps had
died away. There remained behind
faint sweet odor of lilac which
stirred his soul and set his blood
lighting. 1t was a beautiful face that
he had seen. He was sure of that and
ret he could have given no good YER
bal proof of II. Only the eyes and
the odor of lilac remained with him
and after n little the lilac drifted
away. Then he went back to the log
and sat down. He smiled as he
thought of the joke that he had I'M
Willingly played on Obadiah. From
his knowledge of the Beaver Island
Mormons he was satisfied that the
old man who displayed gold in such
reckless profusion was anything but
q bachelor. In all probabilit~ this
was one OF his wives and the cabin
behind him. he concluded. was for
some reason isolated from the harem.
Evidently that little saintess is not
a fiirt," he concluded. "or she would
have given me time to speak to her"
The continued absence OF Obadiah
Price began to fill Captain Plum with
lmpatience. After an hours wait he
reentered the cabin and made his way
to the little room. where the candle
was still burning dimly. To his as
constituent he beheld the old man
sitting beside the table.
I've been waiting for you. Nat" he
cried, Strengthening himself with
springlike quickness. waiting for
you a long time. Natl" He rubbed
his hands and chuckled at his own
familiarity. Il saw you out there en-
toying yourself What did you think
Of her, Natr' He winked with such
audacious glee that, despite his own
establishment. Captain Plum burst
into a laugh Obadiah Price held up
a warning hand. Tut. tut. not so
loud!" he admonished. His face was
a map of wrinkles. His little black
eyes shone with silent laughter.
There was no doubt but that he was
immensely pleased over something.
"Tell me. Nativity did you come to
St james,"
He leaned forward over the table.
his odd white head almost resting on
.derful rapidly. "Eh. Nat?" he urged.
~why did you conner"
Because 1t was too hot and unin-
teresting lying out there In a calm.
dad" replied the master OF the Ty-
phoon- We've been roasting for Sc
hours without breath to fill our sails.
! came over to see what you people
are like. Any harm done?"
Not a bit. not bit-yet," chuckied
the old man. And what's your busi-
ness. Nat?"
"Sailing-mostly."
"Ho, no, no! of course. might
have known It! Sailing-mostly.
Why. certainly you sail And why
do you carry a pistol on one side OF
you and a knife on the other. Nat?"
"Troublous times, Dad. Some OF
the fisherfolk along the Northern End
aren't very scrupulous. They took a
cargo Of canned stuffs from me a
year back"
And what use do you make of the
four-pounder that's wrapped up in
tarpaulin under your deck. Nat? And
what in the world are you going to do
with FIVE barrels of gunpowder?"
How in blazes-" began Captain
Plum.
20, to be sure. to be sure-they're
for the fisher-folk." interrupted Oba-
diah Price. BLOW 'em up. Ell. Nat?
And you seem tC be a young man of
education. Nat How did you happen
to make a mistake in yotJ count!
Haven't you - men aboard your sloop
instead Of eight. Nat? Aren't there
IL instead of eight? Eli, Nat?"
1.-The devil take you'll" cried Captain
Plum. ieaping suddenly to his feet,
his face flaming red. Yes. l have
got IL men and I've got gun in
tarpaulin and I've got five barrels of
gunpowder! But how in the name of
kingdom-come did you find 1t out?"
Obadiah Price came around the end
of the table and stood so close to
Captain Plum that a person ten feet
he spoke.
Il know more than that, Nat" he
whispered. Listen! A little while
ago-say two weeks back-you were
becalmed of the head of Beaver Is
land. and one dark night you were
boarded by two boat-loads Of men
who made you and your crew prison
ers. robbed you of everything you had
and the next day you went back to
Chicago. Eh?"
Nathaniel stood speeches..
"And you made up your mind the
pirates were Mormons. enlisted some
of your friends. armed your ship
and you're back here to make us set
tie. Isn't 1t SO. Nat?" ~ a.
The little old man was rubbing his
hands eagerly, excitedly.
You tried to get the revenue cut
ter Michigan to come down with you.
but they wouldn't-ho. no. they
wouldn't! One of our friends in Chi
cago sent quick word ahead Of you
to tell me all about it. and-Strang.
the king. doesn't know!"
He spoke the last words in intense
earnestness.
Then. suddenly. he held out his
hand.
Young man, will you shake hands
with me? VIII you shake hands p
and then we will go to st. James!"
Captain Plum thrust out hand and
the old man gripped It The thin
fingers frightened like cold clamps Of