The New era-leader. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1911-1912, 1911-06-16

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inaudible cry fell from his lips. There
was no longer . cabin In the clear.
ing! Where It had been there was
gathered q crowd Of men and boys.
Above their heads he saw a thin aim
of smoke and he knew what had hap
pened. Marion's home had burned!
But what was the crowd doings 1t
hung close In about the smoldering
ruins Al II every person In 1t were
striving to reach a common center.
Surely a mere fire would not gather
and hold a throng like this.
Nathaniel ros to his feet and
thrust his head and shoulders from
his hiding-place. He heard q loud
shout near him and drew back quick
ly as q boy rushed madly across the
opening toward the crowd crying out
at the top Of his voice. He had come
out Of the path that led to st. James.
| No o had he reached the group
about the burned cabin than there
came a change that added to Nathani-
els bewilderment. He heard loud
voices. the excited shouting Of men
| and the shrill cries of boys, and the
Pcrowd suddenly began to move, thin
ming itself out until It was racing In
q black stream toward the Mormon
city. In his excitement Nathaniel hur.
ried toward the path. From the con-
cealment Of a clump Of bushes he
watched the people as they rushed
past him a dozen PAGES away. Be-
hind all the others there came a figure
that drew a sharp cry from him as
he leaped from his hiding-place. It
was Obadiah Price.
OBADIAH" he called. Obadiah
Pricei"
The old man turned. His face was
livid. He was chattering to himself,
and he chartered still as he ran up to
Nathaniel. He betrayed no surprise
at seeing him, and yet there was the
insane grip OF steel In the two hands
that clutched f1ercely at Nathaniel's.
You have come In time. Natl" he
painted joyfully. you have come In
time! Hurry-hurry-hurry-"
He ran back into the clearing. with
Nathaniel close at his side, and point
ed to the smoking ruins Of the cabin
among the lilacs.
They were killed last night" he
cried shrilly. Somebody murdered
them-and burned them with the
house! They are dead-dead!"
"Who?" shouted Nathaniel.
Obadiah had stopped and was rub
bing and twisting his hands in his old,
mad way.
THE old folks. Ho, no, the old
folks. Of course! They are dead
dead-dead-'
He fairly shrieked the words. Then.
for . moment, he stood tightly clutch
ing his thin hands over his chest In q
powerful effort to control himself.
They r dead!" he repeated.
He spoke o calmly. and yet
there was something SO terrible In
his eyes, something SO harshiy VI
brant Of citation in the q~uivering pas
sion of his voice that Nathaniel felt
himself filed with q strange horror.
He caught him by the arm. shaking
him as he would have shaken a child.
Where is Marion?" he asked. Tell
me, Obadiah--where Is Marion?"
The councillor seemed not to hav,
heard him. A singular change came
into his face and his eyes travelled be-
yond Nathaniel. Following his glanco
the young man saw that three men
had appeared from the scorched
~shrubbery about the burned house and
were hurrying toward them. Without
shifting his eyes Obadiah spoke to
him quickly.
chose are kings sherifs, Nat" he
said. '-Fhey know me. In a moment
they will recognize you. The United
States warship Michigan has just ar
rived In the harbor to arrest Strang.
II you can reach the cabin and hold it
for an hour you will be saved. Quick
You must run"
Where IL Marion?"
"At the cabin! She IL at
Nathaniel waited to hear no moro,
but sped toward the breach In the
forest that marked the beginning OF
the path to Obadiah's. The shouts OF
the kings men came to him unheeded,
At the edge Of the woods he glanced
hack and saw that they had overta,
ken the councillor. Az he ran he drew
his pistol and In his wild Joy he flung
back . shout Of defiance to the men
who were pursuing him. Marion wan
at the cabin-and q government ship
had come to put an end to the reign
Of the Mormon king! He shouted
Marion's name as he came in sight
Of the cabin: he cried It aloud ~ he
bounded up the low steps.
"Marion-MariOn-
In front Of the door that led 70 the
tiny chamber In which he had "a,
ken 0badiah's gold he saw q figure
For Q moment he was blinded by his
sudden dash from the light OF day into
the gloom OF the cabin. and he saw
only that Q figure was standing there
~ still - death. His pistol dropped
to the foor. He stretched out hii
arms, and his voice sobbed In its en-