The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-04-26
CHAPTER III.
Tie Voice in the Darkness.

David vas silent for a long time. The
| strangeness of the situation had shut
down on him again, and he was think
ing of nothing else for the moment. In
the dead stiffness of the place ne c uld
hear the quick breathing Of his COM
panion; the rustic of her dress seemed
neal to him and then to be very far off
Nor did the pitchy darkness yield a jot
to his accustomed eyes. He held a
hand close to mis- eyes, but he could see
nothing.
"Well?' the sweet voice in the dark
ness said, impatiently. "Well?"
Believe me, I will give you all the
turn up the light
"Oh, I dare not. I nave given my
word Of honor not to violate the seal of
secrecy. You may say that we have
been absurdly cautious in this matter,
but you would not think so If you knew
everything. Ever now the wretch who
holds me in his power may have
guessed my strategy and be laughing at
ne. Some day, perhaps"
The speaker stopped, with something
like a sob in her throat.
I'VE are wasting precious time" she
went on, more calmly. st had better
tell you my history. In your story a
woma commits q crime; she is guilty
Of a serious breach of trust to save the
life of the man h loves. BY doing so
she places the future and the happiness
Of many people in the hands of an
1L0~l0o41 pa0,,n1ro1 To ~a4 ~, 1r1ry
manage to regain the thing she has
parted from the situation is saved. Is
not that so?"
sc far o ave stated the case cor
rectly," David murmured.
"As I said before, l am in practically
a similar Use Only, in my sitution, I
FASTENED everything and risked the
happiness of many people for the sake
of a little child"
"Ah!'" David cried. your own child?
No! The child of mi very near and
dear to you, then. From the mere now
elist point of view, that is a far more
artistic idea than mine. I e that I
shall have to amend my story before it
is published" .s9. .&
A ripping little laugh came like the
song Of a bird in the darkness.
Dear Mr. Steel,'' the voice said, 3"I
implore you to do nothing Of the kind.
You are a man Of fertile imAginati0n-a
plot more or less makes no difference to
you. If you publish that story you go
far on the way to ruin me" W.
II am afraid that I am in the dark in
more senses than one David mur-
INJURED. "a
"Then, let me enlighten you. Daily
your books are more widely read. NY
enemy Is a great nOvel-reader. %
publish that story, and what results?
You not only tell that enemy my story.
but you show him my way out Of the
difficulty, and show him how he q
checkmate my every move. Perhaps.
after 1 have escaped from5the net
."You ere right Steel said, promptly.
From a Professional. point Of view,the
story is abandoned. And now you want
,neytp chow you q rational and logical. q
human way out?' #sS 81
"aIf you can do 30, you%have my ever
lasting gratitude" III
.'Then you must tell me- In detail,
what 1t Is you want to recover. Ny
heroine parts with d document which
the villain knowsd.ogbe Il forgery. Nom
ey can not buy H. back. because the VII
lain can make az much money ~ ne
likes by retaining II. He does ID
likes with the family property; heakeeps
my heroine's husband out 81 England
~ dangling the forgery aud ttsS
EaueaceS over his head. WhatAdD 03sbe
done? How ii the rufilanSt sbe s1ulled
into false seLse of security ~ the one
s& 9sS. aGAG yssIIs 5AGse a&g9i .sf1T%sS