The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1911-02-01
MgCOURAGE Of
CAPTAIN PLUM
o. JAMES OLIVER CURWOOD
ILLUSTRATIONS .@ ffAGNUS GKETINER

him that he was about to play against
odds: that his work was to be one
OF strength and generalship and not
of madness. As he picked his way
more slowly and cautiously down the
slope a new hope flashed upon him.
Was 1t possible that the discovery of
the approach of the mainlanders had
served to save Marion? In the ex
element that followed the calling of
the Mormons to arms and the prep
arations for the defense would Strang.
the master of the kingdom. the bull.
wark OF his people. waste priceless
time in carrying out the purpose for
which he had sent for Marion? Hardly
did hope burn anew in his breast
when there came another thought to
quench it Why had the king sent
for Marion on this particular night
and at this late hour? Why. unless at
the approach OF his enemies he had
feared that he might lose his beauti-
full victim. and in his overmastering
passion had called her to him even
as his people assembled in defense OF
his kingdom
wan aCoIGihtt toolhtb6
thaniers approach now. Whatever had
happened he would do what Neil had
threatened to do-kill Strang And
whatever had happened he would take
Marion away with him II II was only
her dead body that he carried In his
arms. To do these things he needed
strength. He advanced more slowly
and drew deeper and deeper drafts oil
air into his exhausted lungs. At the
edge Of the grove surrounding the
castle he paused to listen. For the
first time 1t occurred to Nathaniel
that the prophet might have assem-
bled some of his fighters to the de
Tense of his harem. which he knew
would be one of the first places to
feel the vengeance of the outraged
men of the mainland. But he heard
no voices ahead of him. There were
no fires to betray the approach OF
the enemy. Not even the barking OF
dog gave warning Of his stealthy
advance. Soon he could make out q
light in the kings house. A few steps
more and he saw that the door was
open. as 1t had been on his first visit
to the castle. He lodged swiftly from
bush to bush. darted under the win
dow through which he had seen Ma
rion. leaped lightly up the broad steps
and sprang into the great room. his
pistol cooked in his hand.
The room was empty. He listened
but not a sound came to his ears ex
cept the rustling of a curtain In tn,
breeze. The huge lamp over the ia
BILE was burning dimly. The five door.
leading from the room were tightly
closed. Nathaniel held his breath
tried to still the tumultuous poundinl
of his heart as he waited for a sount
OF life-a step beyond those doors, {
woman's voice. child's cry. Blu
none came. The stiffness of desertior
lowered about him. He went TO on,
of the five doors. 1t was not locked
He opened it silently. with the eau
ton of a thief. and there doomed be
fore him a chaos of gloom.
'Hello!" he called gently. Hello
Hello"
There was no answer He strucl
match and advanced step by step
! hoibhhb tht scAo" VIZ Vi dDONs
his head. II disclosed the narrow
walls of hall and an open door lead
ing into another room. The mattel
sputtered and went out and he Lighted
another. On little table Just outside
the door was a half burned candle anC
he replaced his match with this. Their
he went in.
At a glance he knew that he hat
entered woman's room, redolen
with the perfume of flowers. On on,
side was a bed and close beside 1t {
cradle with a child's toys scattered
about 1t. The tumbled coverlet.
, showed that both had been recent,
used. About the room were thrown ar
ticles of wearing apparel: a trunk hat
been dragged from a closet and was
half packed: everywhere was the dis
order Of hurried flight. For a few
moments the depth of his despair helt
Nathaniel motionless. The castle wa.
Decentralization was gone! He rar
back into the great room. no Longer
trying to still the sound of his foot
steps. and opened a second door. The
same silence greeted him, the SAME