James. If you, in turn, will swear to show me as much as you can
to-night I will take the oath."
The old man was beside the table again in an instant.
"I will show it to you--all--all--" he exclaimed excitedly. "I will show
it to you--yes, and swear to it upon the body of Christ!"
Captain Plum lifted his hand again and word by word repeated the oath.
When it was done the other took his place.
"Your name?" asked Captain Plum.
A change scarcely perceptible swept over the old man's face.
"Obadiah Price."
"But you are a Mormon. You have the Bible there?"
Again the old man disappeared into the adjoining room. When he returned
he placed two books side by side and stood them on edge so that he might
clasp both between his bony fingers. One was the Bible, the other the
Book of the Mormons. In a cracked, excited voice he repeated the
strenuous oath improvised by Captain Plum.
"Now," said Captain Plum, distributing the gold pieces among his
pockets, "I'll take that package."
This time the old man was gone for several minutes. When he returned he
placed a small package tightly bound and sealed into his companion's
hand.
"More precious than your life, more priceless than gold," he whispered
tensely, "yet worthless to all but the one to whom it is to be
delivered."
There were no marks on the package.
"And who is that?" asked Captain Plum.
The old man came so close that his breath fell hot upon the young man's
cheek. He lifted a hand as though to ward sound from the very walls that
closed them in.
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