Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-07-19

that very hand might now be stiding the
roor child's crlcs for help. 1t seemed to
me that | wal something worse than a
III to have overlooked a strategem so
pa.pable,
:. CHAPTER XIX.
My first impulse was to make at once
fer the Halfway House on the ~chance<of
finding Psyche there but a moments re-
FICTION convinced me that those who had
tha cunning 20 devise this scheme OF alb
duction would never have the folly to
carry the girl to a place where she would
certainly be sought.
As / stood by the open wicket, irreso-
lutte as to which course it was advisable
to take, I heard the sound OF a heavy
is;ouching step npon the sand. I had list
ened to such a sound too recently to be
mistaken. 1t was old Peter. Coming in
front Of the house, h stopped and cast
his eyes at the door and the upper win
dcws, scratching his stubbly jaw with his
booked fingers dubitatiyely.
Standing by the wicket, at the side of
the house, \ shrub screened me-, and a fir
in the front garden threw a deep shadow
on the narrow path. scarcely breathed.
He moved on slowly, and presently the
r~ustlinx OF corn told me that he had
trrned down by the edge of the field and
was skirting the holly hedge. Stepping
lightly along che garden path, I followed
the rustlins Of the corn till it stopped.
Then / heard him parting the holly with
the attempt to see into the garden. He
spent a few moments in this endeavor,
and then, giving it up, he retraced his
~%npA o~I rok sn$n fho @1aA SIS npno yonro
the heavy, fat-footel step sounded upon
the rond, and as it receded l made up my
mind to follow, concluding that he would
Psyche had been taken.
watched him from the garden until
the squat, rolling figure was only just
'perceptibls in the rapidly fading twilight,
and then followed, keeping on the turf
beside the standing corn. He kept stead
ix on along the road for about a quarter
Of A mile suddenly he stopped, and then
turning tosthc side he disappeared, and
mis- steps became inaudible. Doubtful
whether he had taken 4 path through the
cornfield, or was simply standing still to
make sure that he was not being follow
ed, I redoubled the caution with which
! stole cawnri. Shortly a grunt a little
way ahead stopped me. and l dimly per-
ceived the old man stretched out on the
trrf not more than half a dozen PAGES
from me. He kicked of one boot and
then the other, muttering about the bis
tcrs on his feet, and things in general.
/ was puzzled: not a word of exulta-
ton or triumph frightened up his meme
iogue such rs a man in his condition
might hnve tried to console himself with.
Was l at fault again? Had / jumped
IL the wrong conclusion? After all, might
I have overlooked Psyche in some nook
or corner Of the garden? While these
questions we're running through my mind
ole Peter rolled over, and. making a pill
low Of his arms, laid his head upon them
with a grunt. The next grunt terminal
csi in a snore.
His heavy boots lay temptingly be-
tween his blistered feet and me the
means Of checking pursuit by him lay
!ssest within reach. crept forward,
picked them mp. and retreating cautiously
hurled the trophy into the midst of the
corn when ! was q hundred yards back
on my way to the cottage.
At the gate / heard the distant MUIR
mur Of . voice, and peering quickly
through the alley at the side of the
house, I saw Psyche in the garden seat
facing the lawn, but to my utter aston
ishment Miss Duncan was seated beside
her.
IA IS herc-come back to me-my
brother y cried Psyche a. she spraug to
ba feet and ran 70 inset ne.
Miss DuRcaa. recognizing NE as l ap-
preached, seemed even more amazed than
Y&hw khta snN1~~kAS @SR&L
What had h~appcaed? Simply this
Psyche, Is imagined. finding me not IN
the house, had sought ne in the garden,
and then extending her search, had wan
dered aleHg the road. The park gates.
which she had seer shut when We passed
In h night. were wide open. Who could
have opened them but | who did every
thing? She passed through and was
found In ths avenue by Miss Duncan.
looking in the twiight like a spirit with
hef pale face ana her large dark eyes
and their expression Of childish fearless
ness.
can only tell what followed as Ethel
described it to me later.
After the Grst shock-for indeed ]
was frightened at Erst-her silence and
tho way IN which she looked about
her after regarding me for few mo-
merits, giving additional wcirdness TO her
spiritual appearance-l summoned IN
courage to falser. Who are youY
am Psyche she answered, with
sweet, low articulation.
Psyche-is that yonr only name!'
Is, why should nave rwo names?
| ana oniy on. Psyche. THAT is ALL
strange answer seemed in char