The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1911-02-10

y-Tl40 -
10 Iamanitss are you kingls
|fsSAt the sound of his voice stran:
turned toward him and the sonorous
triumph that rumbled In his throat
faded to low greeting. And Ma
thaniel saw that the little old coun.
cilor's eyes glittered boldly as they
met the prophets and that In their
glance was neither fear nor servitude
but rather light as Of master meet.
ang master. The two advanced and
clasped hands and q few low words
passed between them while Nathaniel
went to the door.
II will go with you, Captain Ma
thaniel Plum" called Obadiah. II will
60 with you and show you the town"
"The councillor will be your friend"
added Strang. To-day he carries with
him that authority from the king"
He bowed and Nathaniel passed
through the door. Looking back he
caught q last warning fash from the
girls eyes. AS he hurried down the
stair he heaFa the councillor pause
for an szstant upon the landing and
taking advantage Of this opportunity
he picked up the crumpled paper. and
read these lines:
Hurry to your ship. In another
hour men will be watching for an
opportunity to kill you. You will never
leave the island alive-unless you go
now. The girl you saw through the
window sends you this warning"
He thrust the paper into his coat
pocket as Obadiah came up behind
him.
"lo, no. Nat, my boy, have come
fast to catch you'll have come FAST"
he whispered. He caught his COM
panion by the arm and Nathaniel felt
his hand trembling violently. sCome
this way, Nat-beyond the temple. I
have things to say to you" His voice
was strangely unnatural and when
Captain Plum looked down into his
face the look in the bead-like eyes
startled him. "Nat. you must hurry
away with the package!"
$50 underestimate save my skin.
Obadiah Price, have a notion to kill
you!"
They had passed beyond the huge
ediflce of logs, and as he stopped.
hidden from the view of the kings
Office, Nathaniel caught the councillors
arm in grip that crushed to the
bone.
II have a notion to kill youi" he 10
peated.
The old man stood unflinching. Not
a muscle Of his face quivered as the
captains fingers sank into the flesh.
"At the first sign Of treachery, at
the first sign of danger to myself, I
shall shoot you dead!" he finished.
"You may, Nat, you may. From this
moment until you leave the island I
shall be at your side and no harm
shall come to you. But If there should,
Nat, or II there should come mo-
ment when you believe that am your
enemy-shoot met" There was sin
cerity in his voice that carried con-
viction to Nathaniel's heart and he
released his hold upon the councillors
arm. Regardless Of the mystery that
surrounded him he believed in Oba-
diah. But there rose in his breast q
mad desire to choke this old man into
telling him the truth, to force him to
reveal the secrets of this strange plot
into which he had been drawn and Of
which he knew as little as when he
first set foot in Strang's kingdom. Yet
he realized even as the desire formed
itself in his brain that such an effort
would be useless.
IF you had remained at the cabin,
Nat, you would have known that I
was your FRIEND" continued Obadiah.
"She would have come to you, but
now-it is, impossible. You know. You
have been warned?", ~.
Nathaniel drew Winnsome's note
from his pocket and sread it aloud.
Obadiah smiled gleefully when he no
ticed how carefully he kept the hand
writing from his eyes.
"Ah, Nat, you are noble fellow!"
he cried, rubbing his hands in his old
tireless way. you would not betray
pretty little VIM, eh? And who do
you suppose told Winnsome to give
you this note?"
"Strang's wife,"
"Yea, even so. And It was she who
set my old legs arunning for you. my
boy. Come, let us novel"
The little councillor was his old self
again, chuckling and grimacing and
rubbing his hands, and his eyes
danced as he spoke Of the girl.
CASEY is not cautious man." he
gurgled with sudden upward leer.
Casey is fool!"
"Casey!" almost shouted Captain
Plum. What the devil do you mean7"
"Ho. no. ho-haven't you guessed
the truth yet, Nat? While you and I
were getting acquainted last night .
couple Of fishermen from the main
land dropped alongside your sloop.
They had been robbed by the Mormon
pirates. They cursed strang. They
swore vengeance. And your cautious
. : II p.