The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-02-12
conld imnrine what kind Of a night

|
awaited his answer.
The detective, unimpressionable as
he was, felt a thrill OF almost tender
which was beautiful even in its pal.
lor and anxiety.
Yes, have news" he said, hating
to say what that news was.
"Mr. Rothesay was in Philadel-
phia?" she said, In very low voice.
Unfortunately, no. He has not
been there for some months. Read
those"
And he put into her hands the two
messages he had Just received.
AS her eyes glanced over them,
she pressed her hand to her heart,
and an expression Of the keenest
anguish passed over her face.
But she stood steadily there, though
II was a moment before she could
command her voice to speak When
she did, IL was to say, coldly:
you think him guilty. That Is
j because you do not know him"
81 think circumstanceslook bad for
him. You must own that, yourself,
| Miss Purcell"
Kate did not reply. She turned and
sat down, unable longer TO stand.
Loud saw that his presence torment
| ed her, but he longed to settle it in
his own mind as to whether she
knew anything of the whereabouts Of
| Rothesay.
do not look upon ne as his enemy"
! he said, at last, deprecatingly. 1T is
| true 1t is my business to suspect
| where there seems reason for such
| suspicion, but it is equally true that
| almost invariably my efforts to let
! light In upon these dark matters
1 clear suspected innocence. II is i'm
| possible now but that Rothesay be
! suspected; but Miss Purcell, beg you
to bear in mind that shall not shall
not strive to convict him--I only
try to find the truth; and in the inter-
est of that truth, | ask you, who feel
sure of this mans innocence, If you
can tell me anything that can guide
me In my search"
LIQUIDS eyes, searching as a fame
were fixed on the girls face. Her
heart beat in such tumultuous pulsa-
lions as to almost suffocate her. Her
face was ashy white; her delicately
curved, full lips, usually so crimson,
were colorless as her face.
Il have nothing to tell YOU" she
said, at last.
Very well, will not intrude upon
you longer" and Loud turned away.
AS he did so, Dick Burt came in
at the other door Of the house. He
saw Kate standing at the open door,
her face turned toward the outer air,
as one blind will turn the face toward
the light, seeing nothing.
nV,-N -
terrible agony in Hates countenance
and attitude.
She had not heard him, and he soft.
ly stole out and looked down the road
in the direction in which that blank
gaze had been fixed.
He saw a middle-aged man, walking
with bent head, and hands clasped be-
hind him.
II don't know him." he said to him
self. at can't be that man who has
made her look like that. It's time
I hurried up matters a little. She's
getting farther and farther from me
every day. I'll put the screws on
Purcell tighter. can't say I'm sorry
Caryl is out of the way. He promised
me help, but / always doubted his
help. Rothesay Is gone also. I'm
glad I didn't have a row with Caryl
just before he got knocked in the |
head. I'm all right, and now seems to
be the time for me to work. II Kate |
has had a fancy, I'll catch her heart |
in the rebound, as they tel about"
Thus speaking, Burt went down to
the water, dragged boat down to
the waters edge, and then Jumped |
In, rowing rapidly out in the direction
where he knew Purcell had gone
fishing.
For some reason for the last few
weeks-ever since that chest with its
strange contents had been discovered
Purcell had not been so eager, at |
least In action, concerning the buried !
treasure, and he had reused himself
to work more at his calling.
He was In one of those stages |
which come to all dreamers, when |
they wake to the reality Of life and |
work before them-wake, perhaps, to |
fall into their visions again.
Burt knew the weakness of the |
mans mind, and he had played effect |
ually upon it in times gone by. He |
believed, with reason, that he could |
do 1t again.
He saw Purcell's boat anchored off \
the DldCk leuSe, ana ne lelSurely /
pulled, sure OF finding his man.
AS he came nearer he saw that |
Purcell was not fishing, but sitting |
with head bent, and hands clasped |
on both knees.
disagreeable smile came to Burt's |
lips as he saw and knew that Charles 4
Purcell was again bent upon dreams |
and calculations.
What luck to-day, Purcell?" he |
asked, as he brought his boat along |
side the other one,
Purcell started violently, and ex.
claimed, irritably:
How you come upon one, Dick! |
There's couple O. dozen perch but |
they are not of much account. What I
does this fishing amount to? | might /
fish every hour of the day all my life. /
and never get more money than /
enough to feed and clothe US shah
billy"
"That'g true enough" responded
Dick. Have you decided where 10
try again-for the treasure. Won
know" speaking In a low voice. as
II even there in that solitude of water
they might be overheard.
Purcells preoccupied face bright.
49, L.. IL