The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-04-09
CHAPTER XIII.
To the Woods.

Twilight had changed to the thick
darkness of cloudy night ofore 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 more acute emotion. 1t
was with a great effort that she kept
herself outwardly calm.
She was very pale, but her eyes
burned with strange light that would
have alarmed her father had he not
been so preoccupied as not to notice
her.
She was sitting with a 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 well content to sit in silence be-
side her. He felt that victory was
now just within his grasp, and the
feeling softened him little. The dark
glow of his glance as he rested it upon
her had something almost like tender
ness in IL.
But she did not notice him; she had
well 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 1t, dark
though 1t 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 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, or something,
every turn in the path.
But by and by they left all trace of
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 means she had
used before she started.
She thrust her hand into her pocket,
which was full of bits of white paper.
Furtiyely, 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 II
almost impossible for any one TO re-.
member 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.
1--WE 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 well. | don't believe
the place is seen twice year. If they
will only be outside, or with the door
open. 1t is so warm night 1t may be
they will"
Kate stood motionless by his side,
her breath coming in paintings, seem
ing all the movement in her frame.
Burt looked at her and longed, with
nearly uncomfortable desire, to take
her in 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-alone in the warm