The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1911-08-11

~ AA~
anguish. Nathaniel drew back from
that tall. straight figure. step by step.
as though to hide beyond the flicker
ing candle glow the betrayal that had
come into his face. the blazing fire
that seemed burning out his eyes,. II
what Neil had said vas true
Something choked him as he
dropped alone upon the bench.
If it was true-Narion was dead!
He dropped his head in his hands
and sat for a long time in silence,
listening to Neil as be walked tireless-
ly over the muddy earth. Not until
there came a rafting Of the chain at
the cell door and a creaking of the
rusty hinges did he lift his face. 1t
was the jailer With a huge armful of
straw. He saw Neil approach him
after he had thrown it down. Their
low voices came to him in an indis.
tinct murmur. After a little he caught
the sound of the thinking gold pieces.
Neil came ana sat down beside him
as the heavy door closed upon them
again.
HE took It," he whispered exultant-
ly. He will deliver 1t this morning.
If possible he will bring US an an.
swer. I kept ont a hundred and told
him that a reply would be worth that
to him."
Nathaniel did not speak, and after
a moments silence Neil continued:
The jury is assembling. We will
know our fate very soon"
He rose to his feet, his words quiv-
ering with nervous excitement, and
Nathaniel heard him kicking about in
the straw. In another breath his
voice Kissed through thu gloom in a
sharp. startled command:
Good God. Nat, come here."
Something in the strange f]ierceness
of Neil's words startled Nathaniel,
like the thrilling twinges of an cleo
trio shock. He darted across the cell
and found Marion's brother with his
shoulder against the door.
Its open!" he whispered. 1.-The
door-is-open!"
The hinges creaked under his
weight. A current of air struck them
in the face. Another instant and they
stood in the corridor, listening, crush
ing back the breath in their lungs, not
daring to speak. Gently Neil drew his
companion back into the cell.
There's a c~hance-one chance in
ten thousand" he whispered. AT
the end of this corridor there is a
door-the jailer's door. If that's not
locked, we can make a run for it! I'd
rather die fighting-than here!"
He slipped out again, pressing Ma
thaniel back.
Wait for mel"
Nathaniel heard him stealing slow
ly through the %blackness. A minute
later he returned.
"Locked!" he exclaimed.
In the opposite direction a ray of
light caught Nathaniel's re.
Where does that light come from?"
he asked.
Through a hole about as big as
your two hands. 1t was made for a
stove pipe. If we were up there we
could see into the jury room"
They moved quietly down the cor
ridor until they stood under the aper-
ture, which vas four or five feet
above their heads. Through it they
could hear the sounds of voices but
could not distinguish the words that
were being spoken.
1.-The jury" explained Neil. They're
in a devil of hurry! wonder why?'
Nathaniel could feel his companion
shrug himself in the darkness.
"Lord-for my r~evolver!" he whis-
pered eXcitedly. "One shot through
| hat hole would be worth a thousand
notes to the girls" He caught Ma
rion's brother by the arm as a voice
louder than the others came to them.
"Strang!"
"Yes-the-king!" affirmed Neil
laying an eXpostulating hand on him.
"Hush!"
Il would like to see"
Even in these last hours of failure
and defeat the fire Of adventure
famed up in Nathaniel's blood. He
o.s&