The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-01-19
CHAPTER ti.-Continued.

For several minutes Captain Plum
stood as II che sudden apparltlon had
petrified him. He listened long after
the sound Of retreating footsteps had
died away. There remained behind
a faint sweet odor OF lilac which
stirred his soul and set his blood
lighting. II was beautiful face that
yet he could have given no good YER
bal proof Of It. Only the eyes and
the odor OF lilac remained with him
and after little the lilac drlfted
away. Then he went back to the log
and sat down. He smiled as he
thought OF the Joke that he had IN
Willingly played on Obadiah. From
his knowledge Of the Beaver Island
Mormons no was satisfied that the
old man who displayed gold In such
reckless profusion was anything but
. bachelor. In all probabillt- this
was one OF his wives and The cabin
behind him. he concluded. was for
some reason isolated from the harem.
Evidently that little safntess Is not
a firt," no concluded. "or she would
have given me time to speak to her"
The continued absence OF Obadiah
Price began to an Captain Plum with
Impotence. After an hours wait he
reentered the cabin and made his way
10 the little room. where the candle
was still burning dlmly. To his as
constituent ne beheld the. old man
sitting beside the table. His thin face
was propped between his hands and
his eyes were closed as n he was
asleep. They shot open Instantly on
Captain Plum6 appearance.
I've been waiting Tor you. Nat" he
cried. Strengthening himself with
spring.like Quickness. Waiting for
you long time. Matt" He rubbed
his hands and chuckied at his own
familiarity. Il saw you out there en-
toying yourself What did YOU think
Of her, Nnt?" He wtnked with such
audacious giee that despite his own
establishment CaptalA Plum burst
into a laugh. Obadiah Price held up
a warning hand. "Tut, tut. not SO
loud." he admonfshed. His face was
a map of wrinkles. Ills 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
II, and twiddled his thumbs with won
derful rapidity. "FGh. Natf" he urged.
why did you conner"
Because II was too hot and unin-
teresting lying out there In a calm.
dad" replied the master OF the Ty-
phoon. "We've been roasting Tor 80
hours without breath to On our sails.
came over to see what you people
are like. Any harm donef"
mot bit. not bit-yet." chuckled
the old man. And what's your busi-
ness, Nat?"
"Saiilng-mostly."
"Ho. no, no! or course. I might
have known III Saillng-mostly.
Why. certainly you salt And why
do you carry a pistol On one side OF
you and a knife on the other. Natf"
'Troublous times. Dad. Some of
The fsherfoik 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
tarpauiin under your deck. Nat? And
what In the world are you going to do
with Ave barrels OF gunpowder?"
How IN biazes-" began Captain
Plum
20. to le sure. 10 be sure-they're
for the flsher-foik." interrupted 0ba,
diah Price. BLOW 'em up. eh. MAI,
And you seem 10 be a young man OF
education. Nat. How did you happen
TO make mistake In your COUNT
hayent you ~ men aboard your sloop
instead OF eight, NatY Aren't there
~ instead Of eighth Eh. KatS'
The devil take you." cried Captain
Plum. lenpinG Suddenly to his feet.
his face Gaming red. Yes. I have
got ~ men and I've got q gun In
tarpauiin ard I've got Ave barrels OF
gunpowderl hut how In the name OF
kirzdop eorie did you tind II our