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Show THE MORMON LION " Don't beg the question, Dave," he bantered. " I'm no, lawye~. Just the same, I ain't any doughhead. I m trymg to spare her from mak1ng a big blunder. I advise and counsel her now that her eternal salvation turns on the next step she takes." " I believe in Tesus Christ," declared Lucy. " He is my Saviour. In Him is my salvation." "Not if I intercede with God agin Him and you" solemnly rejoined the Prophet. ' "Then God is evil! " she stated with calm conviction. Brigham blinked- and thrust out his claws: "So you're not afeared of hell-fire and damnation? How about his salvation, here on earth? " She pressed her hands on her bosom. " Oh that God should permit!- - You are merciless(" "Not at all," he replied in a matter-of-fact tone "It's a fair e,nough deal. I save your soul, and yo~ save h1s souls tabernacle. Too bad you don't seem to care to do your share. He has started in with zeal to serve the Kingdom. I took quite a shine to him right at the first. I'd like to spare him as well as you'd like." "You would?" asked Lucy, and she stepped towards him, eager and smiling. "Then I- I am the only reason why--? You're sure that, were it not for me, he would be safe- that you would spare him?" Mrs. Sen by uttered a faint cry of astonishment and dismay, and hid her face in her hands. " Lucy! " I remonstrated. " You shall not sell yourself!" "A bar11ain's a bargain," said Brigham, exultantlY, sn;~li ng . ' I'll strike one with you on that, my dear. ' You swear it?" she demanded. "You swear that if I am no longer between you, he shall be spared and-and continued in prosperity? " " Yes, yes. I like the boy. What's more, I need him in t he business of the Church." THE MORMON LION I77 " Swear it! " she insisted. " Swear it by all you hold sacred I " He put up his hand. " I solemnly swear to this agreement- !, the Prophet of the Lord swear it bY. the Most High God. . . . Now, my little lamb, d you'll name an early date." "You shall not!" I burst out passionately. "Wait .. please, all of you," said Lucy, and she went out mto her own room, her eyes upturned and her pale lips parted in an ecstatic smile. We waited, wondering what she would be about. Very soon she came back to us. She was still smiling. In her hand was a vial from her father's medicine bag. She held it out to Brigham. It was en;ptSye.e , " sh e sat' d . " I h ave d one my part. Do yours, else the Most High God will curse you to eternity! " Brigham blinked at her. She thrust the vial into his hand. He stared at the label. Then suddenly he held the mouth of the little bottle to his nostril. Lucy turned to me and held out her hands her eyes shining with infmite compassion and tende~ness and self-sacrifice. :· Laudanum!" said Brigham in a hoarse, choking VOICC. The word broke through Mrs. Senby's daze. She began to shnek and beat her hands frantically. I took Lucy into my arms and stared around in helpless despair. Ann Jane came running in. She darted towards Mrs. Senby. "No, nol- here!" I called. "It's Lucy-poisoned ! " " Oh! "she cried. " What kind? " "Laudanum." The child must have had previous experience with women dnven to despa.r. She darted out into the kitchen and came rushing back with a funnel and a quart measure of mustard and hot water. Lucy M |