Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1911-01-05
DRY as ttndsr.-
"And palls-lots Of balls. and . few


Captain Plum. The old man noted the
emphasis. but the darkness that had
fast settled about them hid the added
meaning that passed in curious look
over the others face.
odd way to come In. though-very
odd!" continued the old man. CUR
Cling and shaking as II the thought Of
1t occasioned him great merriment
Very cautious. Level business head.
Want to know that things are on the
square, eh?"
That's it," exclaimed Captain Plum.
catching at the proffered straw. In.
wardly he was wondering when his
feet would touch bottom. Thus far
| he had succeeded in getting but .
single grip ON the situation. Some
body was expected at Beaver island
with powder and balls and guns. Well.
he had certain quantity of these ma
terials aboard his sloop. and ii he
| could make an agreeable bargain
The old man interrupted the plan
that was slowly forming itself in Cap
tain Plums puzzled brain.
ITS the price, eh?" He laughed
shrewdly you want to see the color
of the gold before you land the goods
,, I'll show it to you. I'll pay you the
whole sum tonight Then you'n take
the stuff where l tell you to. Eth?
Isn't that SOP" He darted ahead Of
Captain Plum with quick alert move
ment. will you please follow me,
sir?"
For an instant Captain Plum's i'm
pulse was to hold back In that In
slant it suddenly occurred to him that
he was lending himself to rank i'm
position. At the same time he was
filled with a desire to go deeper into
tho adventure, and his blood thrilled
with the thought of what it might hold
fo. him.
Are you coming, sir?"
The little old man had stopped q
dozen PAGES away and turned ex-
pectantly
II tell you again that you've got the
wrong man, dad!"
will you follow me, sir?"
well, If you'll have it so-damned
if l WON'T" cried Captain Plum. He
felt that he had relieved his con-
science, anyway. If things should de-
velop badly for him during the next
few hours no one could say that he
had lied. So he followed light-heart-
eddy after the old man, his eyes and
ears alert, and his right hand, by force
of habit, reaching under his coat to
the butt of his pistol. His guide said
not another word until they had trav-
eled for half an hour along twisting
path and stood at last on the bald sum-
nit of a knoll from which they could
look down upon number of lights
twinkling dimly quarter of a mile
away. One of these lights cleaned
above all the others, like beacon set
among fireflies.
That's st. James," said the old
man. His voice had changed. 1t
was low and soft, as though he feared
to speak above whisper
'St. James!"
The young man at his side gazed
down silently upon the scattered lights,
his heart throbbing In sudden tu-
multi Of excitement He had set out
that day with the idea OF resting his
eyes on st. James. In its silent mys-
terry the town now lay at his feet
and that light" spoke the old
man. He pointed trembling arm to-
ward the glare that shone more power
fully than the others. THAT light
marks the sacred home of the king!"
His voice had again changed A me-
tallic hardness came into it, his words
/ were vibrant with strange excite
| ment which he strove hard to con-
ceal. 1t was still light enough for
| Captain Plum to see that the old
| mans black, beady eyes were startling
ly alive with newly aroused emotion.
| You mean
| "Strang!"
| He started rapidly down the knoll
and there floated back to Captain
| Plum the soft notes of his meaning.
less chuckle. A dozen rods farther on
his mysterious guide turned into by
path which led them to another knoll
capped by a good-sized building made
VI iOs5S- Z uSIS SOuuuSu LIo STdLlnA
/ of key in a lock, the shooting Of 6
/ bolt, and door opened to admit them
4 You will pardon me If don't light
up. apologized the old man as he led
the way in. "a candle will be sufi
Client. You know there must be
privacy in these matters Eth,
Isn't that SOP
Captain Plum followed without 70
ply. He guessed that the cabin wa.
made up of enc large room, and thai
at the present time, at least, 1t pos
sessed no other occupant than tn,
singular creature who had guided hin
i to 1T.
1T is just as well, on this particula,
/ night. that no light is seen at tn,
window" continued the old man a,
he rummaged about table for
match and candle II have It'll,
corner back here that candle vii
brighten up nicely and no one In tn,
world will know II FIo no hot