The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1903-04-11
CHAPTER XIII.
To the Woods.

Twilight had changed to the thick
darkness of cloudy night before Dick
Burt ventured to call for Kate Purcell
that they might start on the expedi-
ton he had promised.
Hates father, Charles Purcell, had
come home for an hour or two, and
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 a more acute emotion. 1t
was with a great effort that she kept
herself outwardly calm.
She was very pale. but her eyes
burned with q strange light that would
have alarmed her father had he not
been so ~preoccupied Is not to notice
her.
She was sitting with a shawl over
her arm, waiting, when Burt came,
and the two started Immediately.
Dick had a light open carriage at the
door, for they must ride several miles
before they reached the woods.
When he saw her face, Burt vas
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
woman who was Vance Rothesay's
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.
I'VE have fully a couple of miles to
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, OF something,
every turntin 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 "
find her way by any memo> of the
place, began to use q nesans she had
used before she started.
Shesthrust her hand into her pocket,
which was full Of bits of white paper.
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-
manned concealed there.
Burt saw nothing. He believed 1t
almost impossible for any one TO re.
member d way SO blind, and he had
not an idea Of the plan. in Hates mind.
After nearly two hours 81 this push
ing through the tangled underwood,
Burt stopped and turned to Kate, who
had walked directly behind him.
."sWc are almost there o w 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 well. / don't believe
the: place Is seen twice year. II they
viii only be outside, or with the door
open It IS 80 warm q night II may be
they will sS& S
Kate stood motioniess by his SIDE
her breath coming in paintings, Seem
ing all the movement in her frame, %St
rtsloolscd at her and longed. with
nearly uncomfortable desire. T take.
her III his arrls.T The way q 8hicahls
she had always repealed him nlades her
stiIlS more attractive to him
Half losing himself In the emotion
she caused him--alone IN the warm
s%D@3