The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1909-10-15
8
J Tfn1'o u8h q Woman 8
Heart.
By Sidney Warwick.
CHAPTER XLl-Continued.


CHAPTER xLl-Continued
Lathom slipped out Of the grounds
of the Grange, and walked down the
road away from Lendal. He had de-
termined to give himself up to the
police, but not till he had seen Hilda.
From the town to which he walked he
could not get a train till the next
morning; and it was early in the after
noon before he reached the rectory,
after making his way across fields and
lanes from railway station some dis
lance from Wildfell. AS it was, even
on this devious route he met more
than one person who recognized him
in evident amazement.
He had made his way to the back
of the rectory, and almost caused old
Martha, the servant, to have fit at
the sight of him.
"But to come in broad daylight, Mr..
Jack-and the superintendent of police
from Fellsgarth here at this blessed
moment in the masters bedroom!"
she cried.
She thought he must have taken
leave of his senses to be so rash, as
she led him inside and went to tell
Hilda.
"You mustn't look so scared, sweet
heart" he said reassuringly, as he
caught the girl in his arms. I'm tired
of this game of hide and seek; and I'm
going presently to interview the SUI
perintendent, who, Martha tells me, is
upstairs-give myself up. You see,
the revolver was virtually the only
bit of bad evidence against me; and
now that Stephen can prove it was
not my revolver that fired the shot
we'll, there can't be much case against
me. Dearest, be sure the time is not
far off when I can come to you a free
man-free to claim fulflment of your
promised"
Upstairs the police-superintendent
was closeted with Stephen Ruthen.
The rector's return to convalescence
had been slow and tedious; but at
last the doctor had reluctantly per-
mitted this interview, for which the
police were impatient.
"Of course we couldn't act on your
confession until we had confederation
of it from your lips" the official said.
I'm glad you made clean breast of
It at last; and of course we shall shield
you all we can. But you know, par.
son, you might have found yourself
in a very awkward position" he add
ed, not unsympathetically. Even
chivalry has to take back seat where
the law is concerned.
| "Your written statement, even
though our hands were tied, was valu-
able, coming when it did. Things have
been moving in other directions, too.
For one thing, we've traced the man
who asked for Mr.. Hume under the
name of Carr the night before the
crime. He's racing tout, and don't
mind admitting we have Mr.. Thornton
to thank that we laid hands on him.
We've got some valuable information
from him. He. went to see the dead
man on the night of the murder; he
was up to bit of blackmail, fancy
anyhow, he surprised Philip Hume
and Bonholt in a violent quarrel that
proved bad blood existed between
them.
"Then, this morning we had tele.
gram from Miss Vanstone herself.
won't go into details-but at once, on
hearing her news, we communicated
with Scotland Yard; the Yard sent
down man to interview her. Her
statement corroborates your story.
The shock had driven the memory out
of her mind; then last night, to put
1t in nutshell, another shock brought
it all back to her; and she's ready to
swear on oath that she caught a
glimpse of Bonholt Hume's face that
night on the scene Of the crime And
then. too, there's the evidence of the
revolver"
He paused an instant.
"And above ALL" he went on, I'VE
arrested his man servant. Matthew
Bland, early this morning in Liver.
/ 5OOA1 OAA SAV POAAS Va AAohlu6 q UOll
or it under another name. We have
1eason to believe this man knows
omething, and Bonholt Hume, taking
alarm. was trying to smuggle him out
Of England. We got wind Of his in.
ention in time-and the police have
| !, long arm! Altogether think we've
got pretty strong web of evidence
,arson. woven round Mr.. Bonholt
lume!"
And almost as the words were on
,is lips Lathom entered the room.
well, superintendent" he said
here am to give myself up"
90 Sc
"Of course, you'll have to come bach
18th me to the station, Mr.. Lathom,'
he superintendent was saying; 'bu1
ell make you as comfortable as We
IAN under the circumstances. You've
done the wisest thing-after leadins
IS a pretty dance! don't mind tell
| ny YOU. Mr. Lathom. that IN view n