III

     Jason moved quickly and quietly into the night. It didn't take him long to find Kate's place. The front door of the boarding house was unlocked, and Mrs. Miller was sound asleep in the parlor. He made his way up the creaky staircase and used the key to unlock her door. Jason stumbled around in the dark searching for a lantern. He found one on top of the bureau. Striking a match, he touched it to the wick. The dim light revealed a bed, a nightstand and a wardrobe. Jason moved toward the thin pine doors of the battered wardrobe, opened it and removed a dress.

     "I don't think it will fit." A male voice from a dark corner of the room made Jason jump. The next sound he heard was the hammer of a gun being cocked.

     Although his heart beat furiously, Jason's voice remained calm. "It's not for me."

     The speaker slid a chair over in the shadows. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"

     "Are you Dan Sullivan?" Jason asked.

     The speaker stepped out of the shadows. "Seeing how I'm the one with the gun. I suppose it won't hurt to tell you I am."

     Jason had a chance to take a good look at his captor. The men were the same height but Dan was of a slimmer build. A shock of reddish-blonde hair framed his fair complexion and penetrating gray eyes. He was dressed in the fashion of the day and looked for all the world like a typical, big city reporter.

     "Kate Macready sent me here to bring her a change of clothes and to find you." Jason tried to sound amiable in spite of the gun leveled at his heart.

     "Where is she?" he demanded.     

     "Safe. We're hiding her on board a ship, the Seamus O'Flynn."

     "We?"

     "Captain Clancey and I."     

     "Why are you hiding her?" he asked warily.

     "Kate witnessed a murder just about an hour ago. She said the murdered man was a witness in a case that you were involved in."

     The gun in Dan's hand wavered as he took all of this in. He wanted to believe this stranger but.... Jason continued.

      "The police that murdered him saw Kate and chased her down the street where she ran into us at a corner. We took her to the ship to hide. Since the police are looking for a paperboy, she sent me to pick up a dress for her so she can leave the ship safely tomorrow morning. She wanted you to know all this. Thanks for saving me a trip." Jason held out the paper Kate had written on. Dan took it and glanced at Kate's writing. He had one last question before he would believe him.

     "Why would you do all this for a perfect stranger?"

     "I wouldn't. I've known Kate since the day she was born."

     "What's your name?"

     "Jason Bolt. My brothers and I own Bridal Veil Mountain in Seattle."

     The gun was finally lowered. "She's told me about you and your brothers." The reporter extended his hand. "I'm sorry about this, but our lives have been in jeopardy for some time now."

     Jason gave the hand a strong shake. "I understand. From what Katie's told us so far, you two seem to have gotten yourselves in way over your heads."

     Dan shrugged as he lowered the lantern and peered out through the muslin curtains. "If we have, there's nothing we can do about it now but finish the job. We're not in this alone though. I came here tonight to tell Kate that the territorial marshal will be at the trial tomorrow. He's been after these men for a very long time. We didn't think we had enough evidence to convict the district attorney, he's the one we're after this time, but now that Kate's witnessed this murder, we will be able to trace everything back to him. Once she testifies, Police Chief Barrows and the Mayor will be cellmates with the D.A. for a long time to come."

     Jason listened to Dan's story with a mixture of interest and revulsion. He found himself wishing that he was back in the relative peace and simplicity of Seattle life rather than being a part of this intrigue. If it weren't for Kate's involvement he and Clancey would set sail the next morning and never look back. But for some reason only God knew, he had found her again and he was involved. He looked down at the simple brown dress in his hands.

     "I'd better get this to her."

     "You're sure no one knows she's there?" Dan asked with concern in his voice.

     "Clancey is with her if anyone should come aboard."

     "This room is being watched all the time. You'd better go out the back door. Have Kate meet me at the courthouse at nine o'clock. It'll be safer for her to meet me there and at that time." He paused, "If you would accompany her, I'd be obliged."

     "You needn't ask. Watching out for Kate Macready used to be one of my chores."

     Dan grinned, "Isn't easy is it?"

     "It's a full time job." Jason chuckled.