The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1903-04-04
CHAPTER XXI.
Danger to Kate Purcell.

CHAPTER XXI.
Danger to Kate Purcell.
It was a week later. All at the cot
tage of the Purcells seemed the same
as ever.
The next morning Dick Burt had ap-
peared there with his arm ma sling.
When questioned by Charles Purcell
concerning his accident. he had looked
sharply at Kate, who would not return
the glance, though she felt it sink like
a cold fear through her. She thought
of Vance Rothesay, though she could
not believe he had anything to do with
Burt's condition.
ri was shooting with a fellow over
in the village last night" he said, "and
I accidentally got a ball. in my arm.
It's not much"
He said nothing at the time,
but Kate could not forget his glance
and s%huddered when she thought of 1t.
That day Burt went up to Boston
and saw Henry Loud, the detective,
and related the whole circumstance
to him. ending by saying:
eff O can't run that rat to his hole
you'd better change your business. AS
for me, I'd do it myself, only I've got
something more important on hand"
Loud had said nothing, but began to
think there was a fate that kept him
from getting on tn. right track.
He had already become satisfied
that Rothesay was in or near Boston,
from the letter to Kate, and the very
next day his inquiries led him to the
stable where Rothesay had hired the
horse and buggy.
From the description, he was salts
fed that it was Rothesay, and he had
traced the horse and buggy five miles
from the stable, and then the accounts
became confused, and there seemed to
have been two horses and two buggies
of that description, and he was able to
follow but one, which he was satisfied
was the wrong one.
Though Burt thus limited at some
special business, as was mentioned
before, matters were the same Oh.
wardly at Purcell's house. Y
Dick had concluded to wait a day or
two longer than he had warned Pur-
cell he would do, for he was uncertain
as to the mode in which he would go
to work.
He had wit enough to see II Purcell
could not get Kate to consent to be-
come his wife to avert pecuniary ruin,
that should he fulfill his threat and
turn Purcell out of doors he would be
no nearer securing the girl. Her
father had failed. Well, he would give
her one more chance.
1t was now the talk throughout the
little hamlet that Vance Rothesay was
suspected of Ralph Caryl's murder,
and that he could not be found by the
officers.
"Why does he hide himself?" they
argued. "An innocent man doesn't
Gun away like that"
But Dick Burt said nothing. He
watched Kate Purcell, and thus watch
Ing, he swore a good deal to himself.
He did some amateur detective duty,
but with no result, so far as anybody
knew.
At the end of the week he came to
Kate as she sat at twilight with a
book held idly in her hand.
: She was alone, and she saw some
definite purpose in Dicks dark face as
he approached her.
"You don't object to talking with me
a few moments, I hopper" he said, sit
ting down beside her and trying to
speak carelessly.
"Why should II" was the reply, and
she succeeded better in trying to
speak in an ordinary tone.
81 don't know, I'm sure, only I fan
cied you rather avoided me-. he re-
piled, and then sat in awkward silence
Tor a few moments.
He knew he had a trump card to
play, and still he did not feel 50 conf
dent as he wished he did. He. dread
ed to meet her glance Of wondering
scorn when he should have said what
was in his mind.
She had waited a few moments, then
she said:
Had you something particular to
say to me?"
Burt knew he must begin now. He
thought he was usually q rather bold
fellow, but he did not feel like one
now.
IT wanted to speak again Of that
subject which is so dear to mes
want to ask you: again If you al give
me hope that you will some time be
my wife,"
A shudder went through her as she
heard his words, and she made an in
voluntary movement to withdraw far
Their from him. Recalling her self
command, she sat quite still, as she
replied in q low voice:
Il thought you understood that my
answer was final. l hoped you would
never mention the subject again.
A deep shadow came to Burt's face
as he heard the words, and knew how
much decision there was in that sof1
voice.
Let me implore you to consider al
that your refusal will entail before yor
speak irreyocably," he said, leaning
nearer to her and longing to take hel
hand, but not daring. to Do g
81 know that you have my father y
some way II your pover bnt y cal ca1