Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1911-05-25

OF the armed guards and at com
mand from the king, given in q low
tone to Jeekum. marched through the
corridor and up the short flight OF
steps that led out of the Jail. To Ma
/ 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
| wal: third guard joined the two
ahead and like automatons they strobe
I through the gloom with slow, meas
! ured step. their rifles held with sol
dierly precision. Nathaniel glanced
over his shoulder and saw three other
white masked faces a dozen feet
away The king remained behind
lie shuddered and looked at Neil
His companions appearance was al
most startling. He seemed half a
head taller than himself, yet 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. He was marching
to his death as coolly as though on
parade.
Nathaniels heart beat excitedly as
they came to where the scrub of the
forest met the plain. They were ia
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 faltering 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 stitle 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 life to
give he would have sacrificed it gladly
then for 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
.
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 a
sharp voice from the rear commanded
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 virulence
of that hatred which he concealed SO
well conceived Of this spot to give
added torment to death? 1t was the
poetry of vengeance! For the first
time Neil turned toward his compan-
ion. Each read what the other had
guessed. Neil, who was nearest to
the whispering four, turned suddenly
toward them and listened. When he
looked at Nathaniel again it was with
slow negative shake of his head.
Jeekum returned quickly and placed
himself between them, selling each by
an arm, and the forward guards pivot
Ing to the left. set off at their steady
pace across the clearing. AS they en-
tered the denscr gloom Of the forest
on the farther side Nathaniel felt the
tailer'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 few PAGES to i
the rear
Then came again the mysterious
working Of the mans fingers on Ma
thaniel's arm.
"a Was Jeekum signaling to him?
He could see Neil's white face still
turned stoically to the front. Eyi-
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, hreathless-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 sto him.
And he was afraid Of the eyes and
ears behind.
& The fingers were cautioning him to
be ready when the opportunity came.
The path widened and through the;
thin treetops above their heads the
taH