The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-06-14

mans hearing is wonderful. He will
come creeping down here On those
large, fiat feet of his, and that cunning
brain will take in everything like a
flash. Good dog!!"
A hound in the distance growled, and
then another howled m%ournfully.. It
was the plant Of the beast who had
found his quarry, impatient for the go
oler to arrive. So long as that contin-
ued Henson was safe. Any attempt at
escape, and he would be torn in pieces.
Just at the present onlen Enid al
most hoped that the attempt would be
made. 1t certainly was all right for the
present, but then Williams might hap
pen along on his way to the stables at
any moment.
HI two men were coming nearer.
They both paused IS the dogs gave
tongue. Through the thick belt of
trees lights cleaned from one or two
windows of the house. Steel pulled up
and shuddered slightly, in spite of him.
self.
Crimson blinds" he said. crimson
blinds all through this business. They
are beginning to get on my nerves.
What about those dogs. Bell?."
Dogs or no dogs, I am not going
back now" Bell muttered. cts per-
fectly useless to come here in the day
time; therefore, we must fall back
upon a little amateur burglary. There's
a girl yonder who might nave assisted
me at one time, but"
Enid slipped into the road. The night
was passably light, and her beautiful
features were passably clear to the
startled men in the road.
'"The girl is here" she said. What
do you want?"
Bell and his conn anion cried 81
multaneously: Bell because he was so
suddenly fac to face with one who was
so very lea to him; David, because It
seemed to him that he had recognized
the voice from the darkness, the voice
of his great adventure. And there was
another 81 rprise, as he saw Ruth Gates
side by side with the owner of that
wonderful voice.
"Enid!" Bell cried, hoarsely. II did
not expect"
ITO confront me like this" the girl
said, coldly. "That I quite understand.
What I don't understand is why you in
trude your hated presence here"
Bell shook his handsome head MOURN
fully. He looked strangely downcast
and detected, and none the less, per-
hays, because a fall in crossing the
downs had severely wrenched his ankle.
But for a belated cab on the Rotting-
dean road he would not have been here
now.
"As hard and cruel as ever" he said.
"Not one word to me, not one word In
my defense. And all the time I am the
| victim of q vile conspiracy
Conspiracy! Do you call vulgar
theft a c~onspiracy?"
at was nothing else" David put in,
eagerly. "a most extraordinary con-
| spiracy. The kind Of thing that, you
would not have deemed possible out Of
a book"
"And who might this gentleman be-"
Enid asked, haughtiiyl
"a thousand pardons for my want Of
ceremony, David said. eff I had not
been under the impression that we had
met before I should never have pre-
sumed-'' j..
"Oh, a truce to this,' Bell cried. 1--WE
are wasting time. The hour is not far
distant, Enid, when you will ask my
pardon. Meantime, I am going up to
the house, and you are going to take
me there. Come what may, I do not
sleep tonight until I have had speech
with your aunt"
David had drawn a little aside. BY
a kind of instinct, Ruth Gates followed
him. A shaft Of gray light glinted
upon her cycle in the grass by the
e%roadside. Enid and Bell were talking
in vehement whispers-they seemed to
be absolutely unconscious Of anybody
else but themselves. David could see
the anger and scorn on the pale, high
bred face; he could see Bell gradually
| expanding, as he brought out all his
| strength and firm power of will to
| bear. IL Ut &
what will be the upshot Of this?''
/ Ruth asked, timid!y.
BELL will conquer" David replied.
"He always does, you know"
II. am afraid you don't take my
meaning, Mr.. Steel"
David looked down into the sweet.
troubled face Of his companion, and
thence way to the vivid, crimson
patches beyond the dark belt Of foliage.
Ever and anon the intense etillness Of
the night was broken by the long,
drawn howl of one Of the hounds. Da-
vid remembered 1t for years afterward,
1T formed the most realistic chapter Of
one OF his most popular novels.
Heaven only knows" he said. Il
have been dragged into this business.
but what it means I know no more
than a child. I am mixed up in it, ana
Bell is mixed up init, and so are you.
why we shall perhaps know some day."
"You are not angry with me?"
"Why, no. Only you might have had
a little more confidence in me-
'"Mr. Steel, we Jared not. We wanted
your advice and nothing more. Even
now I am afraid / am saying too much.
There is a whitening blight yer yonder
house that Is beyond mere words. And
twice gallant gentlemen have come for-
ward to our assistance. Both Of them
are dead. And IL we dragged you, g
total stranger, into the arena, we should
morally have murdered you."'
"Am i not within the charmed circle
now?' David smiled.
Not Of our free will Ruth said, ca
gerly. You came into the tangle with
sHatherly Bell. Thank Heaven you have
an ally like that. And vet ! am a1led
with shame" q S
my dear young lady, what have you
I &be ashamed of?' aS
Ruth covered her face with 3herS#hapds
for a moment and David saw q tear or
two trfckle through the silmISSEhngers.
He took the haIIdss in hiss ;gentlly. ten,