Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1911-04-20
strang spoke as quietly as though

. StranS spoke dS Qu1eIly as LnOugh
| in his own Office beside the temple.
| Suddenly he raised his voice.
"She is safe, Captain Plum-safe!"
| His eyes wavered, and travelled be-
You'd AS accurately as striking SER
pent Nathaniel measured that glance.
1t had gone to the door. He heard a
movement, felt draft of air, and in
an instant he whirled about with his
pistol pointed to the door. In another
| instant he had fired and the huge
form of Arbor Croche toppled head
long into the room. A roar like that
| of beast came from behind him and
before he could turn again Strang was
upon him. In that moment he felt
that all was lost Under the weight
of the Mormon king he was crushed
to the floor his pistol slipped from
his grasp; two great hands choked
a despairing cry from his throat. He
saw the prophets face over him, dis
torted with passion, his huge neck
hulging. his eyes flaming like angry
garnets He struggled to free his
pinoned arms, to wrench off the death
grip at his throat, but his efforts were
like those of child against a giant.
In last terrible attempt he drew up
his knees inch by inch under the
weight of his enemy; it was his only
chance-his only hope. Even as he
felt the fingers about his throat sink
| ing like hot iron into his flesh and
the breath slipping from his body he
/ \,
punch of the rough fighters of the
inland seas and with all the life that
remained in him he sent it crushing
into the abdomen of the Mormon king.
1t was a moment before he knew that
it had been successful, before the film
cleared from his eyes and he saw
Strang groveling at his feet; another
moment and he hurled himself on the
prophet. His fist shot cut like ham
mer against Strang's jaw. Again and
again he struck until the great shaggy
head fell back limp. Then his fingers
twined themselves like the links of
/ chain about the purplish throat and
he choked until Strang's eyes opened
wide and lifeless and his commissions
ceased. He would have held on until
there was no doubt of the end had
not the kings wife-the woman whose
misery he had shared that night
suddenly flung herself with a piercing
cry, between him and the blackened
face, clutching at his hands with all
her fragile strength
MY God, you are killing him-kiIl-
ing him!" she moaned
Her eyes blazed as she tore at hia
fingers.
You are killing him-killing hint"
she shrieked. HE has not destroyed
Marion! You said you would take her
and leave him-for me" She struck
her head against his breast, tearing
the flesh of his wrists with her nails.
Nathaniel loosened his grip and
staggered to his feet
For you!" he painted. eff you had
only come-a little sooner" He
stumbled to his pistol and picked it up.
II am afraid he is--dead"
| He did not look back.
| Arbor Croche barred the door. He
had not moved since he had fallen.
His head was twisted so that his face
was turned to the glow of the lamp
and Nathaniel shuddered as he saw
where his shot had struck He had
apparently died with that last cry on
his lips.
There was no longer fear of the
| Mormons in Nathaniel. He believed
the king and Arbor Croche dead, and
that in the gloom and excitement of
the night he could go among the peo-
pie of st. James undiscovered A
| great load was lifted from his soul,
for If he had not been in time to save
Marion he had at least delivered her
after short bondage. He had now
only to save Marion and she would go
with him, for she loved him-anJ
Strang was no more.
He hurried through the grove
toward the temple. Even before he
had come near to it he could see that
a great crowd had congregated there.
The street which he passed was de-
serted. No lights shone in the houses.
Even the dogs were gone. For the
first time he understood what it
meant. The whole town had fed to
that huge log stronghold for protec.
ton. Buildings and trees shut out his
view seward but he could see the
flare of great fires mounting into the
sky and he knew that those who were
not at the temple were guarding the
shore.
(To BE coNT1NUED)