The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-25
By
James Oliver Curwood

him and that she will escape and come
To him ON the mainland. Like words
Of fire they had burned themselves IN
his brain, and as Nathaniel repeated
them he thought of that other broken
heart that had sobbed out Its anguish
To him in the castle chamber. Neil, "A
man can die easier when he knows that
woman loves him.
He had risen To his fee, and was walk
ing back and forth through the thick
gloom.
I'm glad" Nelrs voice came TO him
softly, as though he scarcely dared to
speak the words aloud After Il moment
he added Have YOU got pencil, Nat?
would like TO leave a little note for
Winnsome''
Nathaniel found both pencil and paper
in one OF his pockets and Neil dropped
upon his knees In the mud beside the
table. Ten minutes later he turned TO
Nathaniel and a great change had come
into his face.
she always seemed like such little
child TO me that I never dared-to-tcll
her. he faltered. i've done il In this. -
How will YOU get the note to her?
Il know the iailer PERHAPS when he
comes to bring us our dinner | can per
suade him to send II 20 her
Nathaniel thrust his hands Into his
pockets. His fingers dug into Obadiah
gold.
Would this help?" he asked.
He brought out shlnlmering handful
Of II and counted the pieces upon the
table.
1.-TWO hundred dollars-lf he will de-
liver that note" ne said,
Neil stared at him in amazcment.
'If he won't take IL for that-Irc got
more, I'll go thousand
Neil stood silent, wondering II his COM
panion was mad Nathaniel saw the
look in his face and his own flushed with
sudden excitement.
Don't you understand" nc cried.
THAT note means heaven or holl for
Wlnnsome-it means ife-her whole fu-
ture, And YOU know what this cell means
for us" he said more calmly. ''it mee MS
that we're al the end of our rope, that
the game is UP. that neither OF us Will
ever Marion or WInnsomc again.
That note is the last word in life from
uS-from you. It's dyins paper. Tell
Winnsome your love, tell her that it is
your last wish that she go out into the
big. free world--away from this hell hole.
away from Strang, away from the Nor
mons. and live as other women live And
I've told her that breathed Nell.
Il knew YOU would
Nathaniel threw another handful Of
gold on the table.
Five hundrcdi" he exclaimed. 'lt' s
cheap enough for 4 woman's soul"
He motioned for Neil 10 pul tho money
in his pocket The pain was corning back
into his head, he grew dizzy. and has
tened to the bench. Nell came and sat
beside him.
so you think It's the end?" he asked.
He was glad that his companion had
guessed the truth
Don't you?"
There was minutes dark silence.
The ticking of NathanieIs watch sounded
like the tapping of stick
What will happen?''
81 don't know. But whatever IT. may
he II will come 10 us soon. Usually II
happens al night"
There Is no hope?'
hcp1ITe1y The nj hOle a N II
is AT the mercy OF Straue. te fears no
retribution now, no punishment for his
crimes, no hand stronger than his own
He will not even give us the pretense
OF q. hearing ] am traitor, revolu-
tionist-you have attempted the life OF
the king We are both condcmned-both
doomed
Nell spoke calmly end his companion
strove 10 master the terrible pain at his
heart as he thought Of Marion, Jt Neil
could go 10 the end like martyr he
would at least make an attempt to do
as much. Yet he could not help from
what will become OF Marion7"
He felt the tremor that passed through
his companion's body.
II have implored Winnsome TO do all
that she can to get her away" replied
Neil ''tf Marion won't ro-' lie
clenched his hands with moaning curse
back and forth through the gloomy dun
geon. "1f she won't go ! swear that
Strnng's triumph will be short!' he cried
suddenly. II cannot guess the terrible
power that the king possesses over her
but 7 know that once his wife she will
not endure II long. The moment she be-
comes that, her bondage Is broken.
know it, I have seen 1t In her eyes. She
will kill herself"
| Nathaniel rose slowly from the bench
| and came to his side.
'She won't do that"' he groaned. my
God--she won't do that"
| Neil's face was blanched to the white
ness OF paper.
"She will" he repeated quietly. "Hei
| terrible pact with Strang will have beer
fulfilled. And IL am glad-slad--''
; He raised his arms TO the dripping
blackness OF the dungeon ceiling, his
voice shaking with cold. stif1ed an
guish. Nathaniel drew back from thai
tall straight figure. step by step a:
| though TO hide beyond the fcsering can
die glow the betrayal that had come into
| his face. the blazing fire that seemed
burning out his eyes. II what Neil hat
| said was true
Something choked him as he dropped
! alone upon the bench.
II it was true-Marion was dead!
| He dropped his head in his hands ant
sat for a. long time In silence. listening
| 10 Neil as he walked tirelessly over th
muddy earth. Not until there came {
rattling of the chain at the cell doc
and n crcaking Of the rusty hinges die
he lift his face. n was the iailer will