The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-04-09
CHAPTER xxIl-continued.

| oIays ne cTleu. You nave not
yet given me an answer" He seized
both her hands and forcibly held her
while he said with swift utterance:
Answer me. Tell me you will be
my wife and Rothesay shall be safe
from me-more, will even aid him.
| promise you he shall not be caught,
for with such an accomplish as ! will
be he cannot fail to get out of the
country. Now tell me. Say yes to me
and that man is safe. Say no to me
and in six hours he shall be arrested
for murder and on the way to prison,
and you send him there!"
| Kate PurcelPs heart bounded with
dreadful fear and rage; her wide eyes
glowed with such indignant intensity
as made Burt curse himself that he
should still be capable of feeling a
kind OF shame, but he had no intention
of retreating from his position.
"You threaten to betray him II do
not promise to become your wife?"
she said at last
yes. call 1t betray, II you will"
! What kind of man do you think
he is?" she asked with deep scorn.
do you not think he would thousand
times be arrested-yes, and convicted
than that | should become your
/ wife?"
Never had Burt felt the resolution
so strongly that he would never give
up the attempt to make her his. Never
had she looked so unspeakably beauti-
full to him as now, when she stood in
/ defiance before him-as now when she
revealed SO plainly how she could love.
! With a mighty effort Burt controlled
himself, and only said:
THAT is not an answer"
"You know the answer I will give.
| Is there a man in the world VINO would
save himself that way? You might,
for nothing is too low, too unmanly for
you to do, Richard Burt; but, If know
Vance Rothesay any, he would bid me
answer as l do-no!"
Let me ask you to consider all that
mo- implies for him.
IL have given you my answer"
She spoke calmly, yet fear for Roth
say was now beginning to unnerve her.
She did think, with poignant anguish,
of the power Burt held, but she could
give no other reply.
you have some confidence in Roth
esay's good faith and in his love for
you, have you not?" sneeringly.
81 am sure that he loves me-" she
said, with dignity.
Burt broke out into an oath that was
fearful TO hear.
Love you! Yes" he cried, ''he may
love! But let me tell you, you are not
the only one he loves, though he may
have told you so. Since you say no to
my proposal, will tell you what did
not mean to tell. While you are fond
ly thinkink Vance Rothesay Is in mis-
cradle and lonely exile from you, he
is soothing himself with the company
of woman, and very handsome
woman, too. He lives in hut In the
woods need not tell you where
and he has a young girl for his com
panion. That is the life your faithful
lover leads"
II do not believe you and will lis
ten to you no longer" and again she
made an attempt to leave the room.
But the arrow, even though fired by
so mean a hand, shot with a swift
agony through her; and yet she did
not believe him.
mo, by Georgel you shan't leave me
until | pleased" he cried, placing him
self with his back to the door. Don't
you know | tell you the. truth about
his companion? Do you think I'd be
such fool as to tell you a story like
that and not be able to prove its truth?
I will take you to that place; will
allow you to see Rothesay and his COM
panions. Last night at dusk I saw
them sitting at the door of the hut. 1t
is so retired place that they thought
they could safely do so. Her head
was on his shoulder; his arm held her
to him. tell you. Kate Purcell, you
have yet to learn what men are, even
such heroes as Vance Rothesay. Will
you go with me? Will you satisfy
yourself Of the truth Of what say?"
"No."
"Then take my word for It. Do you
still wish to save him for that other
woman-his wife, for aught ! know"
The girl shivered from head to foot.
II could not be but Burt's word had
made an impression upon her. But
all she said was:
"I cannot be your wife. Never ask
me again. My answer is irrevocable."
Burt now turned to leave the room,
when a sudden thought came to her. a
plan by which she might possibly save
Rothesay from Burt's denouncing. But
she must deceive-she must prevent
Burt from fulfilling his threat immedi-
ately.
She let him go out OF the room-out
of the house. Then she sprang up and
ran to the door, calling his name. He
turned. She was afraid to overdo her
part.
Burt's eyes cleaned; was abe be-
ginning to see that her wisest course
was to assent?
There is not much time to lose" he
said. in geDtler' voice; then he could
mot help exclaiming passionately:
ooh, Kate! II you could only know
how love you'll How would try to
make you happy!"
She did not speak for q moment;
then she said: