The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-06-01

glance and ne drew back IN Astonish
ment. He looked again. and his face
J turned suddenly white, and an almost
inaudlble cry fell from his lips. There
was no longer a cabin IN the clear
ing! Where Il had been there was
gathered crowd OF men and boys
Above their heads he saw n thin Aim
of smoke and he knew what had hap
pened. Marion's home had burned
But what was the crowd doing? II
hung close IN about the smolderins
ruins as II every person in II we're
striving to reach a common center
Surely mere fire would not gather
and hold a throng like this.
Nathaniel rose to his feet and
thrust his head and shoulders from
his hiding-place. He heard a loud
shout near him and drew 0ack quick
ly as a boy rushed madls across the
opening toward the crowd crying out
at the top Of his voice. HIS had come
out of the path that led "a st. James
No sooner had he reached the group
about the burned cabin than there
came a change that added to Nathani-
els bewilderment 10 heard loud
voices. the excited shouting OF men
and the shrill cries OF boys, and the
crowd suddenly began 10 move. thin
ming itself out until II was racing IN
black stream toward the Mormon
city. In his excitement Nathaniel hur
ried toward the path. From the con.
cealment Of a clrmp OF bushes hs
watched the people as they rushed
past him a dozen PAGES away. Be-
hind all the others there came a figure
that drew a sharp cry from him IA
he leaped from his hidinr place. 7.
we Obadiah Price.
obadiah" he called. obadiah
Pytce."
The old man turned His face was
livid. He was chattering to himself,
and he chartered still as he ran up to
Nathaniel. He betrayed no surprise
at seeing him. and yet there was the
insane grip OF steel In the two hands
that clutched fiercely at Nathsnisl's. |
You have come in time. Matt" he
painted joyfully. You have come In
time! Hurry-hurry-hurr
He ran back into the clearing with
Nathaniel close at hts side. and Joint.
ed to the smoking ruins of the cabin
among the lilacs.
They were killed last night" he
cried shrilly. Somebody murdered
them-and burned them with the
housed They are dead dead"
Who" shouted Nathaniel.
Obadiah had stopped and was rub
bling and twisting his hands in his old.
mad way.
The old folks. Ho. no. the old
folks, OF course! They are dead |
dead-dead-"
He fairly shrieked the words. Then.
for a moment, he stood tightly clutch |
ing his thin hands over his chest In a |
powerful effort to control himself.
They are dead" he repeated.
He spoke more calmly. and ye.
there was something SO terrible In
his eyes, something so harshly VI |
brant OF elation In the quivering pas
sion of HIS voice that Nathaniel felt
himself filed with a strange horror.
He caught him by the arm, shaking
him as he would have shaken child.
Where is Marion ?" he asked. Tel
me, Obadiah-where Is Marion"
The councillor seemed not to have
heard him. A singular change came
into his face and his eyes travelled be
yond Nathaniel. Following his glance
the young man saw that three men
had appeared from the scorched
shrubGery about the burned house and 4
were hurrying toward them. Without
shifting his eyes Obadiah spoke to
him quickly.
Those are kings sheriffs. Nat" hs
said. They know me. In a moment
they will recognize you. The United
States warship Michigan has Just ar
rived In the harbor to arrest StranR
II you can reach the cabin and hold "A
for an hour you will be saved. Qulch
you must run"
Where is Marionr-
AT the cabin! She is at"
Nathaniel waited to hear no q ora
but sped toward the breach f. tbs
forest that marked the beginning OF
the path to Obadiah's. The shouts OF
the kings men came to him UNDECIDED
At the edge of the woods ne glanced
back and saw that they had overta
ken the councillor. AS he ran he drew
his pistol and in his Wild Joy he fiups
back a shout of defiance to the men
who were pursuing him. Marion waa
at the cabin-and a government ship
had come TO put an end to the reign
OF the Mormon king! He shouted
Marions name as he came in sigh,
Of the cabin; he cried It aloud as he
bounded up the low steps
Naturalization
In front of the door that led 10 the
.,ny chamber In which he had IA,
ken obadiah's gold he saw a figure.
For moment he was blinded by his
sudden dash from the light of day into
the gloom of the cabin, and he saw
only that a figure was standing there
as still as death. His pistol dropped
TO the floor. lie stretched out his
arms. and his voice sobbed In its en-
treaty as he Whisnerad thu viri'.