The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-06-12

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
fash. Good dogl"
A hound in the distance growIed, and
then another howled mournfully. II
was the plant OF the beast who had
found his quarry. impatient for the go
oler to arrive. So lozg as that contin-
ued Henson was safe. Any attempt at
escape, and he would be torn I'm pieces.
Just at the present moment Enid al
most hoped that the attempt would be
made. II certainly was all right for the
| present. but then Williams might hap
! pen along on his way to the stables at
| any moment.
The 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" ne said Crimson
blinds all through this business. They
are beginning To get on my nerves.
" hat about those dogs, Bell?"
Dogs or no dogs. / am not going
{ ~ OK now" Bell muttered. ITS per-
1ectly useless to come here in the day.
time: therefore, we must fall back
upon little amateur burglary. There's
girl yonder who might have assisted
me at one time. but
Enid slipped into the road. The night
was passably light. and her beautiful
features were passabIy clear TO the
startled men In the road.
The girl is here" she said. What
do you want?'
Bell and his conn onion cried out ST.
multaneously: Bell because he was so
suddenly face TO face with one who vas
so very dear to him; David, because IL
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. IT did
not expect"
ITO confront me like this" the girl
said, coldly. THAT quite understand.
What / 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 am the
victim of a vile conspiracy"
Conspiracy! Do you call vulgar
theft conspiracy"
1T 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. IF I had not
been under the impression that we hal
met before should never have pre-
sumed-"
"oh. truce to this" Bell cried. 1--WE
are wasting time The hour is not fa-
distant. Enid, when you will ask my
pardon Meantime, / am going up to
the house, and you are going to take
me there. Come what may. / do not
sleep tonight until 1 have had speech
with your aunt"
David had drawn a little aside. BY
kind of instinct, Ruin Gates followed
him. A shaft of gray light glinted
upon her cycle I'm the grass by the
roadside. Enid and Bell were talking
in vehement whispers--they seemed to
be absolutely unconscious of anybody
else but themselves. David could see
a.. h. l. IL
bred face; he could see Bell gradually
expanding, as he brought out all his
strength and firm power of will to
bear.
What will be the upshot Of this?"
Ruth asked, timidiy.
Bell will conquer" David replied.
"He always does, you know"
81 am afraid you don't take my
meaning, Mr.. Steel"
David looked down into the sweet,
troubled face of his companion, and
thence away TO the vivid. crimson
patches beyond the dark belt of foliage.
Ever and anon the intense stiffness OF
the night was broken by the long
drawn howl OF one Of the hounds. Da-
vid remembered IL for years afterward.
II formed the most realistic chapter of
one of his most popular novels.
Heaven only knows" he said. ct
have been dragged into this business,
but what 1t means I know no more
than a child. i am mixed up In It, ana
Bell is mixed up in IL. and so are you.
Why we shall perhaps know some day"
You are not angry with me?"
why, no. Only you might have had
little more confidence In me-
"Mr. Steel, we Jared not. We wanted
your advice and nothing more. Even
now am afraid / am saying too much. |
There is whitening blight over yonder |
house that is beyond mere words. And |
twice gallant gentlemen have come for |
ward TO our assistance. Both of them |
are dead. And II we dragged you. a |
total stranger, into the arena, we should |
morally have murdered YOU"
Am ! not within the charmed circle |
now?" David smiled.
mot OF our free WILL" Ruth said, ea-
gerly. You came into the tangle with |
Hatherly Bell Thank Heaven you have |
an ally like that. And yet am filled /
with shame"
MY dear young lady, what have you
to be ashamed Off"
Ruth covered her face with her hands /
for moment and David saw a tear or
two trickle through the slim fingers.