The pioneer express., 1912-01-26
CHAPTER Ix.-(conttnued.)

only irritated by this persistence in
raising what to him, in his humor Of
the moment, seemed trivial and in
consequent issues-"my boat. We
got lost and ran aground in the fog
last night came ashore to try to
ond out where we were."
Then you have escaped!" She
went directly to the sole explanation
Of his presence there that lay within
her understanding.
"Escaped?" He shook his head, not
In negation but testify. Eyes, OF
course; or shouldn't be here" 1t
was plain enough to him that he had
escaped the fate to which he had been
sentenced. To what else could she
refer? But you-he-that dog Black
stock-I want to know"
Garrett" she cried sharply; and
he fell silent beneath the challenge
Of her eyes. "Mr. Blackstock is my
husband. Please" she continued.
more gently, don't forget that"
lis it likely?" he sneered. But
where is he? What made him leave
you here3"
Garrett"
Her tone would have warned him,
but he was able to see but one thing,
the conclusion to which his reason,
spurred by his inclination to credit
the worst to the man, had jumped the
moment he realized her existence in
surroundings 80 foreign to her kind:
that Blackstock, true to type, having
persuaded Katherine to their clandes-
tine marriage and gained his end, the
control Of her little fortune. had aban-
doned her even as he had abandoned
Dundas, even as he would have dis
carded an old shoe or anything that
had served his purpose and worn out
its usefulness to him, leaving her to
languish in this forlorn and desolate
spot, out Of his way and out Of the
worlds way. He hesitated to
collect his wits, then pursued logged
":
Tell me where to find him." he
said, his voice shaking-"give me the
least hint to go by, Katherine, and
I1l-In hunt him down, wherever he
may be. I'll bring him back, I'll"
In his agitation he verged on incoher.
ence.
Quietly but effectively the woman
brought him to his senses. Il shall
have to ask you not to continue in
that tone," she said with disconcerting
dignity. you must not misconstrue
matters arbitrarily to suit your pre-
judice. My husband has not left me
as you insist; there Is no need for you
to contemplate hunting him down.
He is here"
"Here!" Involuntarily Coasts
glance veered to the house, suspicious
and alert.
"On this island" she affirmed.
What island?" he demanded, turn
ing back to her.
mo Mans Land"
He accepted this confirmation o1
his conjecture with an inconclusive
"Oh?"
You didn't know" she asked, in
credulous.
How should I know?'
She watched him, distrustful. "Yor
didn't come here on purpose q
1T was chance" he asserted. None
the less an uniformed suspicion involv
Ing Appleyard crossed his mind. HI
considered, rejected and forgot it al
IN q breath.
I'VE bought the island las
spring /.
Yes" he said listlessly.
Her nervousness drove her on IL
rambling. inconsecutive and unneces
sary explanation: AFTER we returned
from 0srmany, on account Of Dong
n, eye. He 4 quite blind
ypuI know. ana the shock Of losing hil
dEht almost prostratsd him. Hs i
Derittsd no exsitement, no socia
mt psase ana suoh msntai ca
ID1oS111nt - hi1s 1IosksaAoCds. - ",
sarAsek III plaos. looksd Il - n
1uuph TAs ~ N v1irsleS6 ~
~ instaile "A "a S1zpa a