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Show 222 THE MORMON LION " So great an honour as that! " I stammered. He looked at me with a crafty glance. "Yes, Dave. Even as it is, I wouldn't hesitate to take all if one of 'em was like- Sister Lucy." I bent over, afraid that he would see the rage and terror m my eyes. He tapped the desk meditatively. "NoGuess it'll have to be Bill ... that is, unless you want to take 'em, Dave." This, then, was what he had been driving at from the first! I was to be forced into polygamy through my pity for the unfortunate widows. He was far too shrewd a Judge of human nature to doubt my decision. He knew I could not allow Mrs. Senby to be forced into a monstrous marriage with the murderer of her husband. "Well, what d'you say? "he queried. " It is rather a surprise," I managed to reply. "Can't you-- Don't you think I'm rather young for- for--" "For the oldest of the widows? Don't let that worry you," he reassured. "We've all taken old ones, for various reasons. They're useful in helping the young ones." "I meant--" .A dozen plausible arguments had flashed into my mmd. But I stopped short. They might save me. What I wished to do was to save Mrs. Senby. The only hope lay in gaining time. ' The chance you offer me is most flattering Brother Brigham. If I am worthy--" ' ".You're st~.nch, Dave!" he said, smiling with gratification. I had a sort of notion you might balk. But ~ jud(l'ed you a_right fi~st time I ever set eyes on. you, m sp1te of Bill s croakmgs. I'm mighty tickled, boy I With four wives, you'll be fixed to rise fast. You can take your Endowments and be in line for the highest orders of both priesthoods, Melchisedec as well as Aaron. Let me congratulate you." I gripped his outstretched hand, smiled, and I THE MORMON LION 223 replied : " Thanks I It's very kind of you to take such an interest. There's only one thing. You counselled me to win Sister Neville first." " I did, did I? " he muttered. "That's so. Well I 'll stand for it. But I'll take that back about waiting so long. She has trilled with the good of the Kmgdom all these months. Tell her she's counselled to set an early day. She can be the first, if you want it that way. But the others must be sealed to you soon after. Until then I'll keep charge of this packet and collect in the cash from the Gentiles in place of their bills of exchange. When you're married, it's to be invested in real estate, and you'll deed it to me as Trustee in Trust, according to the Order of Enoch. You can go now. That's all for to-day." He stood up and lifted his hands. I bowed while he blessed me with much unction and fervour. But when I started for the door, he called me back- " Hold on. If you're not too tired, I want you to take a message for me." " May I first see Sister Sen by home? " "Yes; any time'll do- to-night or to-morrow morning. There's a train of Gentile cusses--Californy emigrants- what've pulled in and gone into camp on the Jordan. They're from Arkansas- and a lot of 'em, like as not, were concerned in the murder-of Parley Pratt. Anyhow, they may be Gover'ment spies, and I won't have 'em hanging around here. Tell 'em to roll out." " They shall be told," I said, and I bowed myself from the room. ! |