The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-05-21

of time. She tied up in bundle the
vests she had been making. and took
them to a neighbor to be delivered 10
the man when he came for the worr
he had left at different houses.
mercy sake, Kate! Ye amt goir'
away, be YEP" was the question the
woman asked her as she left the bun
die.
YES" was the answer, in that dull
way which comes to some whose
hearts have been overstrained.
Law! do tell! Where be ye golnT
II don't know"
And Kate did not know. The strong
vein of good seuse and strong "calcr-
lation," as the Yankees say, which
was in Kate seemed entirely in abey-
ance now. She knew that she was
going away, but 1t had thus far been
impossible for her to take any thought
as to her destination; she only felt
vaguely that she would not for the
world remain beneath Richard Burts
roof a single night longer than she had
said.
What difference did her going or
staying make to her? Her father was
dead; she did not know that she had
any friends; the man she loved was
not true to her. She smiled drearily
as she wondered why she should take
any care to prolong life grown so In
tolerable.
1t was late in the night before she
went to her room, and, extinguishing
the light, lay down without undress-
ing She had not expected to sleep,
but the terrible and utter WEAKNESS
which oppressed her made her fall i'm
mediately into sleep so deep as to
be almost a stupor.
A man, watching with what patience
he could outside the house. uttered an
exclamation of relief when darkness
at length came over the house.
But In spite of his daring, he rather
disliked the task before him, though
he had no idea OF shrinking from it.
He did not hesitate. He sat down on
the sands short distance from the
house. in a spot where people were
not likely to come.
He wrapped his cloak closely about
him, for the wind had come out east,
and a thick mist was blowing in from
the water.
He must wait until It was likely she
was asleep. He let an hour pass, and
then he walked back to the road and
to a house, near where a horse and
light carriage stood awaiting his move
ment. A man moved out from barn
near by, carrying lantern.
1--WE just harnessed the horse,
Dick" the man said. You'll find him
all right. You are an odd stick to pre-
fer to ride in the night"
'T have my reasons" was the reply.
"I'll see that you have your horse to-
morrow or next day"
"All right" And Dick drove off.
It was 80 late now that he did not
fear that any one would be about. He
hitched his horse in the road near the
house where Kate slept and walked
quickly, but softly, up to the house.
He knew that the fastening of one win.
dow had long been broken, and that
he could open 1t from the outside.
He pushed up the sash and crawled
in: then went to the door and softly
turned the key, that he might have no
obstacles In his way.
Then he stood still to listen, and he
beard not the slightest sound from
Hates room. He went noislessly up
the stairs and into her room. He was
provided with all the approved and
modern appliances OF abduction or
robbery, for he did not mean to fail.
In his pocket was a small vial and
sponge. He stood in the center of the
room and listened to the girls deep
breathing for a moment. Then he
took his implements from his pocket,
and a powerful odor diffused itself
through the room. He approached the
bed and applied the moistened sponge
to the nostrils of the unconscious
sleeper.
The breathing Of the girl deepened
into a sound that was painful to hear.
Burt lost no time now. He took her
In his arms and hurried down the
stairs, thankful that there was no one
else In the house and that he need not
be alarmed IL he should make q noise,
now that Kate was insensible.
It did not take him long to reach the
carriage and deposit his burden care
fully within ito unhitch the horse,
gather up the lines, and ride away,
triumphant.
"Devilish odd" he thought with a
smile, "how people will oppose me,
when they ought to know I never yet
failed of carrying my point"
He urged the horse on rapidly, while
he carefully supported his companion,
now expecting every moment that the
open air would revive her.
But as the moments passed and she
still remained unconscious, he began
to be alarmed and to fear he had ad.
ministered too much chioroform. But
before he had become too much afraid
Kate stirred a little, and then made
an attempt TO withdraw herself from
his arm. murmuring some incoherent
words.
Now was 10 come the time which
Burt dreaded most of all, the time
when Kate should discover what he
had done, and all the depth of the VII
iaiuv NJ which he was capabla