Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-12-31
CHAPTER vi. (continued.)


Stephen Ruthen interposed with a
white face: his voice was strained
and unnatural, as he cried, quickly:
Il cannot allow this to continue.
Mr.. Hume, make allowance for your
anxiety, but think you have spoken
in a way that Mr.. Lathom has right
to resent
For moment Bonholt Hume did
not speak. Then he said, with a re-
turn of his usual habitual courtesy:
''If So | can only express my pro-
found regret. When a man is as wor-
ried as | am
Jack broke the tension with laugh
his natural good temper reasserted
itself in generous fashion.
ooh, that's all right" he cried, in
terupting the others apology. you're
naturally a bit anxious, Mr.. Hume,
though I think you take more seri-
GUS view of it than you need-there's
sure to be a perfectly simple eXplana-
tion Of your nephew's absence 1t
isn't as though it was weeks or even
days since he had been seen"
If his resentment had passed Hilda
did not forgive her visitor so easily.
His words fingered ranking in her
mind like a poisoned dart, utterly in
applicable She did not hold out her
hand to Mr.. Hume when he left that
afternoon.
The days passed, bringing no
change in the weather, The white
teeth of winter still held the country
in their tenacious grip; no sign of
change or thaw. Philip Hume's con-
tinued absence began to cause specu-
latiOn in others as well as the miss
ing mans uncle. The mystery of his
disappearance became a topic of gen
eraI comment, not only in the village,
but in the neighboring town Of Fells-
garth, where the Humes' were well
known.
Mr.. Bonholt Hume walked through
the main street of Fellsgarth one aft
ernoon some four days after his inter
view with Jack LathOm; more per
sons than one were struck by the
deepening lines of anxiety in his face.
He seemed to know almost every
one: he was q man with a multitude
of friends, and if he had any enemies
no one appeared to know of them;
he was popular alike at the club and
at the Exchange. He had gone to
the Exchange that afternoon.
A stout. red-faced man, catching
sight of him, came up behind and slap
ped him on the shoulder.
Just the man [ wanted to see!"
he cried. Il want to know what you
have been doing to that nephew OF
yours?'
Bonholt Hume started and turned,
looking as though the unexpected salu-
tation had positively startled him, he
had gone so white, and for moment
he seemed unable to find his voice,
though his lips moved. His red-faced
acquaintance laughed boisterously.
why, what have you got On your
conscience to make you jump like
that, Hume?' he cried. playfully; he
was a big man on change, with a
noisy. irritating voice. 81 had an ap-
pointment with young Philip for yes
terday-rather an important appoint
ment, and he never turned up. Put
me to no end of inconvenience.
What's all this talk hear about his
disappearance? Where's he gone?
Dodging bailiffs?'
81 wish l could tell you" replied
Bonholt He was still rather white;
he had seemed a bundle of nerves
since Philips disappearance. And
wish YOU could ask question with
out so much personal yiolence!" fore
ing a smile. I'm worried about Phil
in; no one seems to have seen him
since his second row with young
Lathom. Lathom processes to know
nothing"
We'll, what should he know? You
don't suppose LathOm spirited. him
like a cUnjured making rabbits dis
appear into a hat?" broke in a third
voice. that of mutual acquaintance
who had Joined them. But l expect,
If the truth was known, Philips at
home. lying low, nursing that black
eve of his. JOye! didn't young
Lathom go for him in the club" And
he laughed.
81 only wish my nephew were at
home. or that knew where he was
said Bonholt: 81 should be a good
deal less anxious. Since the night he
and Lathom had their second unfortu-
nate fracas, there hasn't been word
or sign of him.
well, it's too early for you to take
out letters of administration in re-
spect of the property, Hume!' cried
the first man, boisterously. It's en-
tailed. isn't it?-and you're the only
relative he has living!"
The loud-voiced mans badinage
brought no responsive smile to Bon
holt Hume's face He nodded and
walked away, as though not IN the
mood for conversation. The other
men stood telling for moment or
two.
Come to think of it, it is a rum
business. [ suppose if anything did
happen to Philip Hume, Bonholt
would land in for the estate? Won
der what he'd do with it? He man
aged to make ducks and brakes OF his
own money
MOSTLY on the turf, I've heard
turf and the cards. l expect beds do
the same again. Not much chance
of his tumbling into the Hume prop
erty. though. Young Philip will be
turning up again soon; sure to-.
But two weeks passed and still no
news. came. The continued frost pre-
vented the fallen snow from going,
even though little more fell; there