Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1911-01-19

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 speechless.
"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?"
| 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 wouldnt--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? Will you shake hands?-
and then we will go to st. ,Iames!"
Captain Plum thrust cut hand and
the Old man gripped it, The thin
fingers frightened like cold clamps of
steel. For moment the face of
Obadiah Price underwent a strange
change The hardness and glitter
went out of his eyes and IL place
there came a questioning, almost an
appealing, look. His tense mouth re-
Taxed. 1t was as if he was on the
point OF surrendering to some emotion
Whlch he was struggling to stifle.
AND Nathaniel, meeting those eyes.
feit that somewhere within him had
peen struck strange chord of sym
pathy something that made this lit
Tile old man more than halfmad
Stranger to him. and involuntarily the
grip OF his fingers frightened around
those of his companion
Now we will go to st. James, Can
tain Plum"
lie attempted to withdraw his hand
put Captain Plum held to it.
Not yeti" he exclaimed. "Tbere
are two or three things which your
friend didn't tell you, Obadiah Price!"
Nathaniefs eyes glittered danger
ously.
When left ship this morning |
gave explicit orders to Casey. my
mate"
He gazed steadily into the old
mans unflinching eyes.
- said something like this: Casey,
IN going to see Strang before | come
back. If he's willing to settle for five
thousand, We'll call it off. And if he
lsn't-why, Well stand out there
mile and blow ST James into hell!
And Il don't come back by to-mor
row at shutdown, Casey, you take COM
mand and blow it to hell without met
SO. Obadiah Price. il there's treach-
cry
he Old man ciutched at his hands
with insane fierceness.
There will be no treachery. Nat. I
swear to God there will be no treach-
cry! Come, we will go"
Still Captain Plum hesitated.
Who are you? Whom am I to
follow"
"A member of our holy Council of
Twelve. Nat, and lord high treasurer
Of his majesty, King Strang!'
Before Captain Plum could recover
of -
announcement the little old man had
freed himself and was pattering aw-
fully through the darkness of the
next room. The master of the Ty-
phoon followed close behind him.
i. for
moment, as if debating which route
to take, and then with prodigious
wink at Captain Plum and throatful
of his inimitable chuckles, chose the
path down which his startled visitor
Of short time before had fled. For
Id minutes this path led between
thick black walls of forest verdure.
Obadiah Price kept always a few
PAGES ahead Of his companion and
spoke not q word. At the end Of
POAAopS Adli u IHllSA Tie pain entered
into large clearing on the farther
side Of which Nathaniel caught the
glimmer of light. They passed close
to this light. which came from the
window of a large square house built
logs, and Captain Plum became
suddenly conscious that the air was
filled with the redolent perfume Of
lilac. With half a dozen quick strides
he overlook the councillor and caught
him by the arm.
Il smell lilac!"' he exclaimed
Certainly. SO do |" replied Obadiah
Price. We have very fine lilacs on
the island" @
And ! smelled lilac back there"
continued Nathaniel, still holding to
the old mans arm. and pointing q
thumb over his shoulder 81 smelled
'em back there, when
"Ho, no. ho! chuckled the councillor
softly y don't doubt 1t. Nat, don't
doubt It. She Is very fond Of lilacs.