The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1911-03-01
MeCOUpAG Of
CAPTAIN Plum
g. JAMES OIIVER CURMOOI
HIUS1Rk1IONS & M40W GkEIINER

ment for his crimes, no hand stronger
than his own. He will not even give
US the pretense OF a hearing. ! am
a traitor. a revolutionist-you have
attempted the life OF the king. We
are both condemned-both doomed"
Neil spoke calmly and his compan-
ion strove to master the terrible pain
at his heart as he thought Of Marion.
II Nell could go to the end like a
martyr he would at least make an at
tempt to do as much. Yet he could
not keep from saying:
what will become of Marion?"
He felt the tremor that passed
through his companions body.
Il have implored Winnsome to do
all that she can to get her away" re-
piled Nell. IF Marion won't go" He
clenched his hands with a moaning
curse and sprang to his feet. again
pacing back and forth through the
gloomy dungeon. IF she won't go 1
swear that Strang's triumph will be
short!" he cried suddenly. Il cannot
guess the terrible power that the king
possesses over her. but ! know that
once his wife she will not endure 1t
long. The moment she becomes that,
her bondage is broken. / know it l
have seen It In her eyes. She will
kill herself"
Nathaniel rose slowly from the
bench and came to his side.
she won't do thati" he groaned.
MY God-she won't do that"
Neil's face was blanched to the
wilderness of paper.
"She WILL" he repeated quietly.
Her terrible pact with Strang will
have been fulfilled. And IL am
glad-glad-"
He raised his arms to the dripping
blackness Of the dungeon ceiling. his
voice shaking with a cold, stifed
anguish. Nathaniel drew back from
that tall. straight figure. step by step.
as though to hide beyond the flicker
ing candle glow the betrayal that had
come into his face. the blazing fire
that seemed burning out his eyes. II
what Neil had said was true
Something choked him as he
dropped alone upon the bench.
II It was true-Marion was dead!
He dropped his head in his hands
and sat for a long time In silence.
listening to Neil as he walked tireless-
ly over the muddy earth. Not until
there came a rafting of the chain at
the cell door and a creaking Of the
rusty hinges did he lift his face. 1t
was the jailer with a huge armful of
straw. He saw Neil approach him
after he had thrown 1t down. Their
low voices came to him in an indis-
tinct murmur. After a little he caught
the sound Of the chinking gold pieces.
Nell came and sat down beside him
as the heavy door closed upon them
again.
"He took It," he whispered exultant-
ly. He will deliver 1t this morning.
II possible he will bring us an an
swer. l kept out a hundred and told
him that a reply would be worth that
to him."
Nathaniel did not speak. and after
a moments silence Nell continued:
1.-The Jury is assembling. We will
know our fate very soon"
He rose to his feet. his words quiv-
ering with nervous excitement, and
Nathaniel heard him kicking about in
the straw. In another breath his
voice Missed through the gloom In a
sharp. startled command.
Good God. Nat, come here!"
Something in the strange fierceness
Of Neil's words startled Nathaniel.
like the thrilling twinges of an cleo
trio shock. He darted across the cell
and found Marion's brother with his
shoulder against the door.
Its open!" he whispered. The
door-is-open."
The hinges creaked under his
weight A current Of air struck them
in the face. Another instant and they
stood In the corridor. listening. crush
ing back the breath In their lungs. not
daring to speak. Gently Neil drew his
companion back into the cell.
There's a chance-one chance in
ten thousand" he whispered. AT
the end of this corridor there is a
door-the jailer's door. II that's not