The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-09-03
CHAPTER xxxv-Continved,

CHAPTER xxxv-Continued
Her incredulous eyes were fastened
on his face. Her lips moved. but shc
did not speak.
Finding you there. remembering
your Wild threats Of revenge against
this man, suspected-can you won
der that / suspected?-th you. and
none other, had fred that shot! Until
q few days ago there was no doubt in
my mind that you had killed Philip
Hume. My only thought when found
you there was how to save you. and
I got you back to the rectory that
night unseen by anyone; swore that
NO one should ever know that you had
been on the scene of the as then un-
discovered tragedy" he said, speaking
rapidly and feverishiy. THAT was the
burden l had to bear: to live through
the long weeks guarding my secret.
Hume had disappeared, all the village
was specializing about his disappear
anoe; you were lying dehrious;
alone knew-even in my sleep
couldn't get away from the dead man!
Then before the discovery Of the
crime you recovered your reason;
and you had forgotten stealing out,
half delrious. that night. couldn't
ed: i told myself l would guard you
from that terrible knowledge. And
even when the man my sister loved
was accused l did not speak"
Horror, bewilderment, incredulity,
al found expression In Olives white
tace.
"Oh, blt-Stephen. this is madness:
II II impossible!" she cried at last.
Had the rector lost his reason, that
he was ebsessed by this Wild hallu-
sinatiOn!
mo. It Is true. Only I no longer
believe It to have been an act Of
yours done In your deliriun. Some
thing came to my knowledge within
the last few days. and when I tell the
police. as l must. think you have
nothing 10 fear. for I must break ST.
lence now. Only before going to them
wanted to warn you Of my intention"
But It can't be true!" the woman
broke out vehemently again. 81
couldn't have been there-should l
have forgotten 1t SO completely! You
are suffering from some wild delu-
sion."
III II II q delusion, how did the re-
volver come to be in my possession
that / took from your hand that night?
You saw It yourself-that weapon you
lighted on by chance at the very time
the news of the discovery Of the
tragedy came. was hiding that re-
volver because believed was shield
ing YOU" said Stephen. Il know now
to whom 1t actually belonged-not to
you. as l had believed; 1t was that
knowledge that convinced me you
could not have had 1t in your posses
zion till after 1t was fred"
"Then to whom did 1t belong?" she
cried quickly.
ITO Bonholt Hume"
Outside the room the rehearsal was
going on: the impatient voice Of the
stage-manager came family at inter-
walls into the room. but neither Olive
terruptions. their thoughts gripped by
Q drama more poignant to this man
and woman than any ever played be-
hind the footlights Of mimic stage.
Then presently:
III this be true. II You kept silent
to shield me. as you thought. Stephen"
the woman was saying-still standing
by the door. conscious now Of a
shrinking fear OF this man with the
Wild. unnaturally bright eyes. more
than half convinced that he was a
mailman whom she must humor-"it
is only another service OF many that
have repaid with ingratitude. You
must tell the police. of course: i
will answer any questions. l don't
wish by one word to keep you from
what seems to be your duty"
And now Olive Vanstone was back
ON the stage waiting for her cue.
filled with an intense relief that
Stephen Ruthen was gone. Strang-
ways watched her curiously. wonder.
ing what had taken place in the man.
ayers room between her and the man
who had been SO insistent to see her;
whatever 1t was. the interview had
shakeA her.
Meanwhile Stephen drove from the
theatre to Kings Cross. to take the
afternoon train to the North. He had
an hour to wait: he paced restlessly
up and down the platform. thinking
of his interview with Olive, vaguely
Of the duh throbbing In his
head that was like the beating of
many tiny hammers In his brain. On
the platform more than one person
turned to stare curiousiy at the white,
twftching face. The long
sustained strain the rector had under |
gone had begun to exact the inevitable
payment: he looked like q man on the
verge Of . menta. breakdown. Stephen
Which One Owns This Tree?
Sor sixty years and moro q tree has