The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1911-08-04

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Nathaniel'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, nj lowering of his
head, no faltering in his step. They
passed the graves and entered the
| opening in the forest where lay
| Marion's home, and as once nor 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. If he had possessed a life to
give he would have sacrificed it 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 momen 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 Ct v~engeance! 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 it 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 dozer
feet. In a low voice Jeekum called
for those behind to fall a few PAGES tt
the rear.
Then came again the mysteriOu:
working of the mans fingers on Ma
thaniel's arm.
Was Jeekum signaling to hin?
He could see Neil's white face still
. turned stoically to the front. Evi
j.. IDENTIFY nothing had occurred to arous'
his suspicious. If the maneuvering o
>. Jeekum's fingers meant anything !
was intended for him alone. Actor
!. had been the mama of his life. TIL
possibility of new adventure, eve
in the face of death, thrilled him. H
waited, breathless-and the strang
' pressure came again, so hard that
hurt his flesh.
70 There was no longer a doubt in hi
" mind. The kings sheriff wanted t
speak to him.
" And he was afraid of the eyes an
- ears behind.
y The fingers were c%autioning him t
be ready-when the opportunity cam'
) The path widened and through tn
d thin treetops above their heads tn
70 starlight filtered down upon them. Tn
leading guards were 20 feet ava,
IS How far behind were the others?
A moment more and they plunge
'e into deep night again. The figure
ie ahead were mere shadows. Again tn
fingers dug into Nathaniel's arm, an
In pressing close to the sheriff he bel
"a down his head.
A low, quick whisper fell in his ca
Don't give up hope! Marion
We Winnsome-"
lg The sheriff jerked himself ere
without finishing. Hurried ~footstel
had come close to their heels. tt
real guards were so lear that the
,e. could have touched them with the
guns. Had some spot of lesser glOo
Ike ahead betrayed the prisoners bowe
i'll head and Jeekum's white face turne
to to it? There was a steady pressu1
Is on Nathaniel's arm now, a warnin
is frightened PRESSURE, and the hand tn;
on made it trembled. Jeekum feared tt
at worst-but his fear was not great
than the chill of disappointment tn
nd came to smother the excited beatil
Ho of Nathaniel's heart. What had tt
taller meant to say? What did
wv know about Marion and Winnsom
he and why had he given birth to ne