Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-01-28
Through a
WOnan'S Heart.
By Sidney Warwick.
By Sidney Warwick.
CHAPTER x.-(Continued).

L
the magistrates, before whom he was
repeatedly being hailed on the charge
of driving recklessly to the common
danger, found it difficult to look into
those child-like blue orbs and believe
that their owner could have been
guilty of the heinous enormities al
legged by the constable with the stop
watch. Freddy Of the blue eyes in
variably got off with nominal fine
and an indulgent reproof that was
more like a benediction, where the or
binary motorist would at the least
have had his license endorsed and
had to sell his car to pay the fine-or
so Freddy's friends said All that
morning Freddy had been dashing ex-
citedly about the town in his car,
championing Lathom to every &C.
quaintance he met, and jeopardizing
the lives of a half dozen harmless
foot assengers-which, if it did not
serve Lathom's cause in any appre
ciable way, seemed to afford an outlet
for his explosive indignation.
eff we've made a mistake, Mr..
Thornton, we're always ready to take
a hint" smiled the officer, unruff1ed
by the criticism. 1--WE can't all be so
clever as you gentlemen amateurs,
you know! And who might the guilty
party be?"
well, have you thought of looking
for that stranger who was asking for
~ tIn o1,,I icrb% bn
fore the murder? But perhaps you
haven't even heard of him." said
Freddy, scathingly. He looked like
wrong 'un, if ever I've seen one, and
he was mighty keen to get Hume's ad-
dress. / should find that man as a
start Inspector
"You saw him, then, Mr.. Thorn
toni" asked the officer, still serene
under Freddy's whitening fire.
Rather! Horse-looking chap y
didn't like the cut Of him. 1t was
after the row in the club between
Hume and Lathom-not that it was
much of a row. | only wish Hume
had shown himself as sporting as
Lathom-Pd have helped to clear a
ring! Not Hume; he preferred fight
ing with his tongue heard what he
said, and | don't wonder Lathom went
for him. I was sorry the two were
separated; I'd have let 'em fight it
out in good old English style, and be
banged to the club furniture! Be
tween you and me, inspector, I be-
lieve Hume was glad when other
members interfered. He left the club
at once in his motor. Two minutes
later a chap came and asked the
steward for Mr.. Carr's' address.
When told there was no one of that
name known there, he swore he'd
drive away in a motor-Hume right
enough! He described Hume down to
the marks of Lathom's fist on his face
He was told it was against the rules
of the club to give the addresses of
it's members; the chap said quite
airily that he could find out elsewhere
From the way he spoke he wasn't
over keen on Hume. You take my tip
and find him"
The inspector nodded smilingly and
gence for the omniscient amateur; he
encountered the species so often in
the course of his duties. He did not
think it worth while to acquaint Mr..
Freddy Thornton with the fact that
the police had already set inquiries
81 ct OF
the club three weeks ago.
Freddy had not driven twenty
yards before he pulled up his car with
a jerk.
did you ever hear of anything so
absolutely scandalous?" he jerked out,
amid the grinding of brakes.
He had made the same remark a
dozen times at least in the last hour
This time it was to Hilda Ruthen and
her brother. AS he jumped out and
shook hands, he noticed how white
and full of trouble Hilda's face was.
He knew what old friends she and
Jack were.
Never fear, Miss Ruthen,'' he add
ed, quickly; cit will all come right
that's the only consoling thought
about the whole miserable business.
Of course, one knew that the police
were too stupid to arrest the right
man-that fact alone would be proof
of Jacks innocence! If you ask me,
about all the police are good for is set
ting traps for motorists and Matching
trouble for 'em with their cheap and
imaginative German stop watches!"
The charge is ridiculous; it will
be dropped-it must be dropped!"
said Stephen Ruthen. There was
set look about his face, and Thornton
thought his eyes looked queer eve
are on our way to see Culverton; my
sister is very anxious to hear what
he says about Lathom's chances.
tell her the charge is so absurd the
case will never go into court" He
spoke vehemently, almost with the
emphasis of a man who asserts a con-
viction that he would like to persuade
himself into feeling.
Mr.. Culverton was the Lathom's So
licitor and an old friend of the Ruth
ems.
"I'Il drive you there" cried Thorn
ton He helped Hilda into the car.
Her white face distressed him-and
the anguish that he read in her eyes.
"Old Mr.. Lathom has been with him
all the morning. They've retained
the best counsel, I hear, for the de-
Tense"