Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1911-02-09

king the path that led to Marion'sl
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 stifle that
he might meet death like man, he
felt himself weakening. until only the
cloth about his mouth restrained the
moaning cry that forced itself to his
lips. If he had possessed a life to
give he would have sacrificed 1t gladly
then for word with the Mormon
king last prayer that death might
be melted 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 hope as
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 a 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
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 off 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 low voice Jeekum called
for those behind to fall 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?
| IIa could saa NaiIte Anita foca ettII
turned stoically to the front. Evi.
IDENTIFY nothing had occurred to arouse
his suspicious If the maneuvering of
Jeekum's fingers meant anything 1t
was intended for him alone. Action
had been the mama 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, so hard that 1t
hurt his flesh.
There was no longer doubt in his
mind. The kings sheriff wanted to
speak to him.
And he was afraid of the eyes and
ears behind
The fingers we're cautioning 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 were 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
fingers dug into Nathaniel's arm, ant
pressing close to the sheriff he ben
down his head.
A low, quick whisper fell in his ear
Don't give up hope! Marion
Winnsome-"
The sheriff jerked himself cree
without finishing. Hurried footsteps
had come close to their heels. The
rear guards we're SO near that the.
could have touched them with thei
guns. Had some spot of lesser gloon
ahead betrayed the prisoners bowed
head and Jeekum's white face turned
to it? There was a steady pressure
on Nathaniel's arm now, warning
frightened pressure, and the hand tina
made It trembled. Jeekum feared thu
worst-but his fear was not create
than the chill of disappointment tina
came to smother the excited beating
of Nathaniel's heart. What had thu
jailer meant to say? What did HI
know about Marion and Winnsome
, and why had he given birth to new
hope in the same breath that he men
toned their names?
, His words carried at least one con
viction. Marion was alive despite he
! brothers. somber prophecies. If sh
: had killed herself the sheriff woul'
/ not have coupled her name with VIM
, some's in the way he had.
Nathanieps nerves were breaking
with suspense, He stified his breatl
to listen, to catch the faintest whispe
| that might come to him from tn