Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-06-12
CHAPTER XIV.
Behind the blind.

There was a long pause till the sound
OF the horses hoofs died away. Ben
was waiting for his companion to
speak. Her head was partly turned
from him. so that he could only watch
the dainty beauty OF her profile. She
stood there. cold and still, but he coSld
see that she was profoundly agitated.
II never thought to see the day when
I should trust you again." she said. II
never expected to trust any man
again"
You will trust me-. darling" Bell
said, p~assionately. 'If you still care
for re as / care for you. Do your"
The question came keen as steel.
Enid shivered and hesitated. Bell laid
a light hand on her arm.
Speak" he said. IT am going to
clear myself. I am going to take back
my good name. But If you no longer
care for me, the rest matters nothing.
! Speak,
Il am not one of those who change.
God pity me-" Enid murmured.
Bell drew a long, deep breath. He
wanted TO assurance beyond that.
lnSu eau Tie way, ne Salu. L nave
come at the right time; / have been
looking for you everywhere, and I find
you in the hour of your deepest sorrow.
When ! knew our u last she was a
cheerful, happy woman. From what I
hear, she is now suffering, you are all
suffering, under some blighting grief"
"Oh, but IL you only knew what that
sorrow q Hatherly!"
'Hatherly! How good the old name
sounds from your lips. Nobody has ev-
er called me hat since-since we part
ed. And to think that / should have
been searching for you all these years
when Miss Ruth Gates could have Civ
en- me the clue at any time. And why
have you been playing such strange
tricks upon my friend, David Steel?
Why have you-What is that?"
Somebody was moving somewhere IN
help. Enid started forward.
TT is Williams coming from the sta
bles,'' she said. II have so arranged IL
that the dogs are holding up my dear
cousin. Reginald Henson, who is cali
ing uron Williams to release him. IL
Reynolds gets back to the house now
we are ruined. Follow me as well as
o can"
Enid disappeared down a narrow,
tangled path, leaving Bell to limp
along painfully in her track. A little
way off Henson was yelling Justify for
assistance. Williams, who had evil
IDENTIFY taken in the situation, was COM
ing up leisurely, c~hdckling at the dis
comfiture of his enemy. The hounds
were whining and baying. From the
house came the notes of a owe song
rassionately acclaimed. A couple Of
the great dogs came snarling up to Bell
srd laid their grimy muzzles On his
thighs. A cold sensation crept up and
down his spine as he came to a stand
still.
THE brutes!" he muttered. Mar
garet Henson must be mad, indeed, to
have these creatures about the place.
ALL would you? Very well. I'll play
the game fairly, and not move. II /
remain quiet I shall have a pleasant
night OF II. Let us hope for the best,
and that Enid will understand the sit
uation."
Williams. She laid her hand imperi-
ously upon his lips.
mot a word" she whispered. Mr..
henSon Is neld up Dy the dogs. He
n ust remain where he Is until I give
you the signal TO release him. I know
you answered his call, but you are to
go no further"
Williams assented. willingly enough.
Everything that tended TO the discom-
fort OF Reginald Henson filed him with
a peculiar and deep-seated pleasure.
Very well, miss" he said. demurely.
And don't you hurry. miss. This is
the kind OF Job that calls for plenty Of
patience. And I'm really shockingly
deaf tonight"
Williams retreated. leisurely. In the
direction OF the stables, but his mala-
dy was not so distressing that he failed
10 hear a groan and a snarling curse
from Henson. Enid fed along the
track, where she found Bell, standing
patiently. with a dogs muzzle at eth
err knee, His face was white and shin
ing, otherwise he showed no signs OF
fear. Enid laid a hand on the head OF
either dog. and they rolled like great
cats at her feet In the bushes.