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Show CHAPTER XXIII THE WAY OF ESCAPE MRS. SENBY was waiting for me, still preternaturally quiet and self-contained. Fearful that she would break down in public under the strain, I led her out and away from the Lion House. " Not so fast, David," she said. "My heart is weak, as you know. That is why I am now so careful not to give way. I must first learn if Lucy cannot be saved." " You also! " I added. " It no longer matters about me. If only she can be saved, poor child! " " Why did not your husband tell me his plans? Had I known beforehand that it was he we were pursuing I would have been prepared to shoot down the others before it was too late." . " How could he know tha~ Waller would betray him? He paid the man heavily and had his solemn oath. He trusted you, David ; but he thought it best not to involve you in his plans of escape. He wished you to remain unsuspected, so that you could protect us." "As I shall, if I have to shoot that arch-hypocrite to do it!" "No, David. You must not even say it. You must not be rash. What was it he had to say to you?" I hesitated to tell her. But she insisted and I thought it as well for her to know the worst ~t once. The new danger might divert her thoughts from her husband. I was not mistaken. She listened to me with quiet attentiveness. When I had finished, she remarked incisively : "+ THE MORMON LION 225 " Something must be done at once. We cannot wait for the soldiers of your country. He will require you to marry us all. If you refuse, he will take Lucy for himself. Either is impossible to permit." " Can you suggest any plan? " I asked. " Loba's wife escaped with him over the mountains, but they almost perished. Even that way is now being guarded." " There is a plan of which my husband often spoke. But it would require a large party of Gentile emigrants, and they do not now come through as often as they did." " Emigrants I " I exclaimed. " There's a train down by the Jordan. I remember your husband's plan. It is providential they're here! " " If it is a large train," she qualified. " I'll see at once as to that. Brigham has directed me to order them on south. He wishes to be rid of them. All the better ! " "Yes, see them immediately," said Mrs. Senby, with quick decision. " We must seize the opportunity. It may be the only one. Go, David. I shall have her ready when you come for her. Norton and Iflanned out the details. There is only the difficulty o accounting for her absence." " Yes, that. How can we do it, with those pestiferous catechizers always r,rying in on you? " " Truly they are a pest, ' complained Mrs. Scoby. " It would take a pest to keep them away." " Nothing short of cholera would stop their meddlin~," I declared. ' Or smallpox," she added. "Ah! that is itsmallpox I It will seem more probable. A man in our ward is just convalescing from it." " Smallpox? " I queried. "Yes. I have seen cases and know all the symptoms and the treatment. If you can arrange to smuggle Lucy away among the emigrants, I shall give it out that she is confined to her room with smallpox. Trust .me ~o ]f.~e.P them from discpv~rins ~r abser.ce, 1' |
