Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1903-04-09
CHAPTER XIII.
To the Woods.

Twilight had changed to the thicl
darkness of cloudy night before Dicl
Burt ventured to call for Kate Purcell
that they might start on the expedi
ton he had promised.
Hates father. Charles Purcell, hae
come home for an hour or two, ant
had gone off again with the inevitable
pick-axe and dark lantern.
The dull despair which she had be
gun to feel about her father was still
in Hates heart, but it was overshad
owed now by more acute emotion. Il
was with great effort that she kept
herself outwardly calm.
She was very pale. but her eyes
burned with a strange light that would
have alarmed her father had he no,
been so preoccupied as not TO notice
her.
She was sitting with shawl over
her arm. waiting, when Burt came
and the two started Immediately.
Dick had light open carriage at the
door. for they must ride several miles
before they reached the woods.
When he saw her face. Burt was
wise enough not to try to talk. He was
very we'll content to sit in silence be.
side her He felt that victory was
now just within his grasp. and the
feeling softened him a little. The dark
glow of his glance as he rested it upon
her had something almost like tender
ness in it.
But she did not notice him: she had
we'll nigh forgotten he was by her side
so intently was she thinking of the
companion.
Though she appeared not to notice
anything. yet she saw the way they
were taking. and remembered it. dark
though it was.
When Burt stopped his horse Just
within a cart path the clouds had
nearly dispersed. and the moon had
risen. dissipating many OF the shad-
ows OF the wood.
We have fully couple of miles 10
walk now. and the way is very hard, -
said Burt. while he carefully fastened
his horse. Can You walk it,"
Easily was all the answer Kate
made.
And the two went on, the girl not
failing to note by some peculiar tree.
or group of brushwood, or something.
every turn in the path.
But by and by they left all trace of
a path behind them and plunged into
the thick wood. pushing through
bushes and underbrush.
Then Kate, knowing she could never
find her way by any memo> of the
place, began to use ns'ans she had
used before she started.
She thrust her hand into her pocket,
Furtively every few feet. she dropped
the white bits. thus blazing" her way
for her own eyes. and she hoped that
no other eyes but hers would follow
that track as long as the fugitive re-
NAMED concealed there.
Burt saw nothing. He believed it
almost impossible for any one TO re.
member a way so blind, and he had
not an idea Of the plan in Hates mind.
After nearly two hours Of this push
ing through the tangled underwood.
Burt stopped and turned to Kate, who
had walked directly behind him.
I'VE are almost there now. and we
must use the utmost care not to give
them warning. The moonlight will
show you quite plainly the little open
ing where the hut stands. He has
chosen the spot we'll. don't believe
the place is seen twice year. If they
will only be OH, side, or with the door
open. It is so :. arm night it may be
they will"
Kate stood RIO onless by his side,
her breath coming in paintings. seem
ing all the movement in her frame.
Burt looked CT her and longed. with
nearly uncomfortable desire. to take
her III his arms. The way in which
she had always repealed him made her
still more attractive to him.
Half losing himself in the emotion
she caused him-alonc in the warm