Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-11-27

49, ~NNN@ ~ - - N a. -
tCaryIs face was very sober and pre-
occupied as he went on. Different
plans reyolyed quickly In his mind,
and he made no scruple OF thinking
that he would not hesitate to use
Dick Burt as a stepping-stone, IL need
be, to his purposes.
At the same thine shrewd Dick Burt
was resolving that 70 one, least of all
Ralph Caryl, should make a tool of
him.
Caryl had gone on along the beach
Beyond the house Of the Purcells, not
thinking he had reached the place. He
had resolved to call there on some
pretext or other.
He had come to the base of a huge
rock that stretched jaggedly out into
the sea, lying couchant there like a
monster waiting for its prey. Near
the center of 1t was a chasm reft
through the stone, through which at
high tide the waves sucked and
roared furiously.
1t was Gun Rock, near which Dick
Burt and Charles Purcell had been dig
ging for treasure the night before.
Caryl paused a moment and glanced
around him, wondering where Pur-
cells house was. Behind him he saw a
cluster of little, low, weather-stained
dwellings-that must be the place
and he turned to go back.
AS he did so he saw a girl springing
along the rock. She was dressed with
the plainness of poverty, but her form
was perfect in its movements of agile
grace.
"Jove!" exclaimed Caryl, in a whis.
per, lis that the kind of fisher maiden
they have in these parts? I'll ascend
this rock myself, as there's plenty of
time to find Purcell afterward."
The next moment he was springing
over the rock, intent upon getting a
glimpse of the girls face.
She was hidden from his sight by a
projection. AS he stopped a moment
to look about him his obseryant eyes
noted how picturesque vas the curve
of rocky shore-how lovely was the
range of ledge that rose beyond the
pond that lay the other side of the
narrow road"
Its a deuced pretty place" he said,
and | ought to be able, considering
affairs, to enjoy myself tolerably well
for a few weeks this summer"
He turned again toward the ocean,
and saw that the girl had come within
sight, and was nov standing on the
outermost verge of the rock where the
incoming tide sent it's spray over her.
She was standing perfectly motion
less, her gaze directed across the
water toward the white shaft of Bos-
ton light was shining in the sun.
Caryl resolved to gain a position
near her in order that he might scan
her % closely, and he sprang along
rapidly.
Kate Purcell, for it was she, did not
appear to hear his approach. In a
moment she stopped to examine some
moss on the rock, and as she did so a
wilder dash of spray came into her
face, binding her and causing her to
lose her balance and slip forward into
the water beneath her.
Caryl was not one TO hesitate a
moment; the next instant he also was
in the water, regardless of the rocks,
but half concealed by the waves.
Accomplished in all athletic sports,
1t was but a moment before Ralph
Caryl had Kate Purcell upon his arm,
and vas swimming round the rock for
a more convenient landing place on
the sands.
EfluGuIly Sic Hdu SItmCh 6OuGluIHs
in falling, for she hung pallid and life
less, and Caryl half feared she was
dead.
Not until he had gained the shore
did he look in her face, and then he
was startled by her pallid hue-the in
animate expression that made it seem
as If he held some marble statute in
his arms.
r Enafflu ha-ohnfaI hnw tnna-1ac AL
hands, and he had not long to do so,
for she had only been stunned, and she
o o opened her eyes, meeting the anx-
iously earnest gaze of a pair of very
handsome blue ones, and seeing a
face bent above her.
"You are not hurt? I feared you
were injured seriously" he said In the
tones of a gentleman-tones that at
once treasured the girl.
Il think l am quite recovered now
she made answer, removing herself
from him. 1T was very careless liz
me to 60 SO near the edge of the rock.
/ am very grateful to you"
THE service i have rendered you is
very slight, SO far as | myself, am
concerned" he replied, "still l am GO
ing to be so bold as to ask q guerdon."
She looked at him In surprise. What
manner OF man was this who talked
In such an easy. debonair manner?
Il should be strange indeed, indeed,
IL l refused your request" she said.
TT Is that you tell me your name,
and allow me to accompany you home.
You must still be weak and dizzy
from the blow you have received"
Fol the second time within twenty
four hours she told her name to an
unknown man.
my name Is Kate Purcell; it is en-
tirely unnecessary that you go home
with me. / am entirely recovered"
Caryl disguised the astonishment
and pleasure her reply gave him. He
could not have planned a meeting bet
ter himself than chance had afforded
him now He congratulated himself
on the probability that his luck had
turned-and high time it did.
He did not betray the surprise he
felt as he heard her name; he only
said, with d kind of pleading in his
tonea
Ralph Caryl begs that you will al
low him to walk across the sands with
you; it is a guerdon, remember"