Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-03-16

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1 of the armed guards and at con
mand from the king. given in low
tone to Jeeium, marched through The
| corridor and up the short flight ol
steps that led out OF the Jail. To Ma
thauiel's astonishment there was no
light to guide them Candles and
lights had been eXtinguished. What
words he heard were spoken in whis-
pers In the deep shadow of the prison
wall third guard Joined the two
ahead and like automatons they STROBE
through the gloom With slow. meas
urod step, their rifles held with sol.
dicrly precision Nathaniel glanced
over his shoulder and saw three other
white masked faces q dozen feet
away The king remained behind
He shnddercd and looked at Neil
His comrarion's appearance was al
most startling He seemed half u
head taller taan himself, get he knew
that he was shorter by an inch or
two his shoulders were thrown back.
his chin held high he kept step with
the guards ahead IIe was marching
TO his death as cooily as though on
parade
Nathaniels heart beat excitedly as
they came to where the scrub of the
forest met the plain. They We're ta-
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. no lowering of his
head, no falte,ing in his step. They
passed the graves and entered the
opening in the forest where lay
Marion's home. and as once more the
sweet odor OF lilac came to him,
awakening within his soul all those
things that he had tried to stide that
he might meet death like 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, 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
part Of Marion herself might soothe
the pain of his final moment on earth.
His heart leaped with hope as
sharp voice from the rear commando
halt. 1t was Jeekum. He came up
out of the darkness from behind the
rear guard, his face still unmasked,
and for few moments was in whis.
pered consultation with the guards
ahead. Had Strang, in the virulencs
of that hatred which he concealed 50
we'll, conceived of this spot to give
added torment to death? 1t was the
poetry Of vengeance! For the frs.
time Neil turned toward his compan
ion. Each read what the other hat
guessed. Neil, who was nearest to
the whispering four, turned suddenl,
toward them and listened When h.
looked at Nathaniel again 1t was with
slow negative shake Of his head
Jeekum returned quickly and placed
himself between them, seizing each by
an arm, and the forward guards, Iivot-
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 dozen
feet. In low voice Jeekum called
for those behind to fall a few PAGES to
the rear.
Then came again the mysterious
working of the mans fingers on Ma
thanieIs arm
Was Jeekum signaling to him?
He could see Neil's white face still
turned stoically to the front. Evi-
IDENTIFY nothing had occurred to arouse
his suspicious. II the maneuvering Of
Jeekum's fingers meant anything It
was intended for him alone. Action
had been the mama of his life The
possibility of new adventure, even
in the face of death, thrilled him. He
waited, breathless-and the strange
pressure came again, so hard that It
hurt his flesh.
There was no longer doubt in his
mind. The kings sheriff wanted to
speak to him.
And he was afraid of the eyes and
ears behind Il
The fingers were cautioning him to
be ready-when the opportunity came.
The path wfdened and through the
thin treetops above their heads the
starlight filtered down upon them. The
leading guards were 20 feet away.
How far behind were the others?
A moment more and they plunged
into deep night again. The figures
ahead were mere shadows. Again the
fingers dug into Nathaniel's arm, and
pressing close to the sheriff he bent
down his head.
low, quick whisper fell in his ear.
Don't give up hope! Marion
Winnsome-"
The sheriff jerked himself erect
without finishing. Hurried footsteps
had come close to their heels. The
rear guards were SO near that they