Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-11-06
do you sit up so late? Do you not see
that it is going to rain?"

urgently, as he said:
Kate, what are you up now for ?
thought you had gone to bed long ago.
Why do you watch me so closely?
have my own affairs to attend to, and
am capable of taking care of myself"
AS he finished speaking, he remem-
bered that he had left the book he had
been reading lying open upon the ia
BILE, and he did not want her to see it..
He hurried. quickly into the house
and. Selling the book, thrust it into his
pocket.
He looked at her suspiciously.
Did you come into this room when
you came down stairs?" he asked.
No. heard you go out. and came
down stairs and out at the back door"
she answered.
The mans looks cleared. He knew
he could believe the girl. He only
glumbled.
Il have business that keeps me up.
l wish you would go to bed. Kate. am
not a child. to be watched like this"
The somewhat dim light of the lamp
revealed a slender girl nineteen or
twenty years old. with face that. in
spite of its paleness and worry, was
singularly winning. Her large hazel
eyes were fixed npon her father en-
treatingly, and he avoided their gaze.
She seemed about to say more, but
changed her mind, and turned away
to go up stairs.
She did not know what had come
over her father within the last six
months. She knew that he had almost
abandoned the fishing which gave
them a living in the summer, and that
they were poorer than ever.
She did not believe he drank or
gambled. What, then, was the matter
with him? He was sadly changed, and
she seemed to have no influence to re-
call him to his former condition.
She had taken a step toward the
stairs which led up to her room. when
the outer door was quickly opened, the
wind slamming it back against the
house, and man entered, exclaiming:
by George! It's a regular old roar
er out tonight"
When she saw the newcomer, Kate
turned quickly away; but the man saw
her, and said, moving quickly to her
side:
Kate, don't go because have come.
l didn't expect the good luck of seeing
your pretty face tonight Stay a min
ute, and bring good-luck to a fellow"
But Kate, apparently, could not
bring herself to smile upon the man.
Her face grew very cold in its express
sion, and she answered, distantly:
Its too late for me to stay longer,
Mr.. Burt. You come late, and it's
wild night for visit. Goodnight
And before he could say more the
girl had left the room.
The man turned, angrily, toward his
host and exclaimed,
What makes that girl put on such
cool airs to me, Purcell? don't think
l have very high ideas of myself, but it
does seem to me she might be little
more cordial to me-"
"Pshaw, Dick! What do you mind
a girls whims for? What makes you
so late? l lhad about given you up,
and l was getting very angry with
you''
eyes; l am late; but I was kept
couple of hours longer than 1 had ex-
pected. l say, old man, should think
you might have enough influence with
Kate to make her trifle civil. Girls
amt apt to turn up their noses to Dick
Burt, l can tell you"
Purcell WINGED little as he heard
the last words, but he only replied:
Don't get absurd notions into your
head about her. She is shy and proud,
and will need a good deal of counting
to win her, fancy
I'm the man to do the counting,
then" said Dick, with a complacent
smile. But should like fair field.
You are sure there is no one ahead of
me?"
Sure. She never had lover. She
never listened to word of love-"
Cali right, then. I'll take my chance.
Now, are you ready?"
Purcell, as soon as his visitor had
appeared, had put on thick Jacket,
and had shown signs of Impotence to
be gone.
Eyes, and waiting. Come" he an
swered, quickly.
He extinguished the lamp, and the
two went out to a little shed which
held nets and lines; but they took
none of them; each shouldered a pick
ak and shovel, and they walked, as
quickly as they could, in the darkness
and wind, toward Gun Rock.
Its terrible night" cried Burt,
as he slipped in the darkness and fell
On his knee. "a fellow ought to get a.
good haul of treasure to pay him for
going out"
"Hush!" exclaimed his companion.
"Why do you talk SO loud? What if
someone should hear us and follow"
Pooh! There is no one likely to
be about at this time of night in such
gale. We are safe enough"
Burt could not refrain from uttering
a few oaths as he stumbled along the
beach; but his; companion, who was in
advance, did not hear him.
At last they reached the rock near
which their work lay. 1t was a bold
high, promontory of rugged rock, lying
quite a distance out in the sea, and
standing grim and dark.
Purcell, whose Imagination dwelt
upon one subject, fancied the rock had
look as though it were conscious it
stood sentinel over hidden wealth.
DO you think we can find the spot
in the darkness?" asked Burt, hurry
ing up. ITS the blacklist time | have
ever been here. 1t will be hard work
digging at such time"
Find it," echoed Purcell. 81 could
find 1t II it was twice as dark All tho