The New era-leader. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1911-1912, 1911-06-02

| OF a armed guards and AZ 2 COM
mand from the king. given In a low
tone to Jeekum. marched through the
corridor and up the short flight OF
steps that led out OF the jail. To Ma
thaniel's establishment there was no
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
! wall a third guard Joined the two
ahead and like automatons they strobe
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.
He 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.
Nathaniel's heart beat excitedly as
they came to where the scrub of the
forest met the plain. They were ta-
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, nc 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 stife that
he might meet death like a man. he
felt himself weakening, until only the
cloth about his mouth restrained the
moaning cry that forced itself to his
lips. II he had possessed a life to
give he would have sacrificed 1t gladly
then for q word with the Mormon
king, q 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
Of his beloved, and where the sweet
ness of the flower that had become a
part Of Marion herself. might soothe
the pain of his final moment on earth.
His heart leaped with a hope as q
sharp voice from the real commanded
q halt. 1t was Jeekum. He came up
out of the darkness from behind the
rear guard. his face still unmasked,
and for q 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 1t was with
a slow negative shake Of his head.
Jeekum returned quickly and placed
himself between them, seizing each by
an arm, and the forward guards, pivot
Ing to the left, set on at their steady
pace cross the clearing. AS they en-
tered the denser gloom Of the forest
on the farther side Nathaniel felt the
jailer'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 q low voice Jeekum called
for those behind to fall q few PAGES to
the rear
Then came again the mysterious
working OF the mans fingers on Ma
thaniel's arm.
Was Jeekum signaling to him?
He could see Neil's white face still
turned s~toically to the front. Evil
IDENTIFY nothing had occurred to arouse
his suspicious. II the maneuvering Of
Jeekum's fingers meant anything 1t
was intended for him alone. Action
had been the mamma OF his life. The
possibility of new adventure, even
In the face Of death, thrilled him. He
waited. breathless-and the strange
pressure came again. 10 hard that it
hurt his flesh.
There was no longer q doubt in his
mind. The kings sheriff wanted to
speak to him.
And he was afraid Of the eyes and
ears behind.
The fingers were c~autioning him to
be ready-when the opportunity came.
The path widened and through the
thin treetops above their heads the
starlight filtered down upon them. The
leading guards yer 20 feet away.
How far behind were the others?
A moment more and they plunged
into deep night again. The figures
ahead were mere shadows. Again the
lngers dug into Nathaniel's arm, and
pressing close to the sheriif he bent
down his head.
"A low. quick whisper fell in his ear.
Don't give up hope! Marion
Winnsome-"
The sheriff jerked himself erect
without finishing. Hurried footsteps
had come close to their heels. The
rear guards we're 30 near that they
ELA AW aH A VI Il. ~ -