The Lamar register., 1911-03-15
MCOURAG Of.
CAPTAIN PLUM
o. JAMES OLIVER CURWOOD'
ILLUSTRATIONS @ hA0US GKEIINER
Let me in"
Mons e@ MAlJUS G.KEITNER

.Strang stood in the door, He gave
single glance at the man gasping
and bleeding In the mud Then he
looked at Nathaniel. The eyes OF the
two men met unfiinching. There was
no hatred now In the prophets face.
Captain Plum. would give n tenth
of my kingdom for a brother like
you'll" he said calmly. "Here-I will
finish the work." He went boldly to
the task. and as he tied Nathaniel's
arms behind him he added THE vicis-
STUDIES Of war. Captain Plum. You
are a man-and can appreciate what
they sometimes meant"
A few minutes later. gagged and
bound. the prisoners fell behind two
of the armed guards and at a 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
col h,x hn
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 ia
king the path that led to Marion's,
Again he looked at Nell. 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 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 life to
give he would have sacrificed 1t gladly
then for a word with the Mormon
king, n last prayer that death might
Il. ata mt 80
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 hope as a
sharp voice from the rear commanded
a 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 I'm 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? II 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
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 on at their steady
pace across 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 dozen
feet. In a low voice Jeekum called
for those behind to fall few PAGES to
the rear.
Then came again the mysterious