The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1938-11-25
SHORT
SHORT
STORY

all the forest sounds.
Her fascinated gaze was upon the
exact spot where the bushes parted
and, man stepped out on the oppo-
site bank Of the stream. The star
tied look deepened to horror.
"AIlen," she said.
Hello, Kathleen" he returned
moderately. He was uncomfortably
conscious of a weeks growth of
whiskers, and of the fact that he had
stepped into a bog-hole and was
muddy to the knees. The much
more distressing fact that he was
jail-bird and the woman-beautiful
even in camping clothes-seemed
remote.
He crossed the stream, balancing
lightly on the footlog. She was
frightened, he could see. He had
been in a white-hot rage when they
parted. She would not understand
that the years had changed him.
"You here" she said. Escaped
and hiding. Shall / never be rid of
the disgrace?"
She couldn't know about the par
don nor the inheritance that had
made it possible for him to make
restitution. Travelling abroad, anx-
lous only to forget him, she would
not be likely to hear. Returning
from a weeks fishing, he must look
the part of fugitive. :.
] He looked at her gravely-this
woman for whom he had cared
enough to betray a trust that he
might give her all she desired.
i hoped you might be sorry" he
SAID haltingly. "The years have
taught me things-sortow for you,
shame for myself"
Weakness never appealed to
me" she said coldly.
Emerson Blake will be here
presently. He went back after some
forgotten tackle"
He lifted his weather-stained hat
and the bushes closed behind him.
A faint rustling told of his retreat.
She could hear Blakes CHEEKY
whistle, and her heart stirred at the
sound. The friendline ss between
them had strengthened into friend
ship, and the friendship had deep
ened until it seemed that love how
cred breathlessly near.
WAS it a long time?" asked
Blake anxiously. Il was delayed.
You know that fellow La Bree, who
freighted us in to the camp? Seems
he has catered to the sportsmen a
little too earnestly and the officers
are trailing him. He's taken to the
woods. The sleuths stopped me and
questioned me. What is it, Kath-
leen?" suddenly noticing her impul-
Sive gesture Seen La Bree?"
>"There is an escaped convict in
hiding near us" she said swiftly.
Il saw and spoke with him. lit
isn't safe. If the officer S knew"
Kathleen! Did he brighten your
How could you know"
"I-have seen him. His name is
Calder" --%%ses4.ssF 49,
His look was so long and search
ing that she fiinched inwardly. At
7,ler9th he asked: "Was he the man,
Nathleen?"
. She nodded wordlessly. Blake
knew all the story, as it appeared
40 her.
land you would have given him
up?" he question 4 curiously.
"A criminal" she reminded him,
''even though once" her voice
trailed away, her customary deci-
siveness failing her.
Going down the brook, Blake said
carefully, as if after long thinking.
II know Calder He is not an es-
capped convict. He was pardoned
out and later restored the money he
misappropriated. He has lived here
in the woods ever since. was lost
in the big storm last winter, when
was up here hunting with Porter,
/ verify believe should have died
but for Calder He sheltered me
for three days I was grateful and
he, suppose, was lonely. We talked
more or less, and got rather deeper
into one another's confidence thar
men often do. / could see how Sc
verely ne blamed himself and gath
cred something of his anxiety for nj:
wife. laundering, perhaps, Blu
none the less sincere. did no
dream of you in connection will
him. Neither did he know / knew
you"
AS plainly as if it had d been spokel
in words, Kathleen understood. Tn
deeps closed relentlessly, the friend
ship withered and died. When the.
entered the doors Of Porter's grea
hunting lodge, Muskolunkus, Their
was between them only a pleasant
surface friendliness. ALI the warmt
and cheer of the great log-fire coul
not dispel the chill at Kathleen
heart.
N>~ta~ - E,lhp3a~