The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1909-01-08

she must be convinced in spite bf her.
self that it was only some fancy of her
delirium that had never touched her
real life; that it was absolutely i'm
possible she could have killed Philip
Hume.
He was a minister Of God-but he
was also a man, the man who loved
her. And if lie could save her
| The day passed, bringing no news.
The thaw was temporarily arrested
that night by brief return of the
frost-it was thawing again the next
morning; but the frozen snow of
those. three weeks only surrendered
slowly. Another day passed.
| 1t was on the third morning that the
doctor with some reluctance gave per-
mission for his patient to go down.
stairs for little while. She was still
too weak to walk more than few
steps; she had to be carried down.
| In the study great fire Of logs reared
cheerfully up the chimney; Olive sat,
looking white and frail, staring intent
ly into it. Outside the rain beat on
the window panes; now AMI then a
clod of snow would slide over the gut
| ter of the roof and fall with a thud.
Stephen sat in his chair by his writing
desk.
Hilda was busy in the kitchen cook.
ing. She put gay, smiling face in at
the door at intervals snatched from
her duties; she made such charm.
ing picture, with her sleeves rolled up
almost to the shoulder, her pretty
rounded arms covered with flour, that
it was a pity Jack Lathom could not
have seen her then. When the door
had closed on her on one of these fly.
ing visits, Olive had spoken again of
Philip Hume.
ITO all my questions you only say
that he is not at home," she broke
out presently. II believe you are keep
ing something back from mel am
sure you are keeping something
back!" she cried.
What should be keeping from
you?" he asked, evasively. HE has
not been in the village for three
weeks"
The rector had averted his face to
avoid meeting her questioning eyes;
the unexpected challenge of her words
had disconnected him. He bent down
as if to examine one of the keys on
the tiny bunch hanging from the key
hole of the top drawer; he was afraid
she might read in his face how much
her words had disconnected him.
That top drawer Of his desk Stephen
Ruthen had for three weeks kept
| locked, although he was man who
seldom locked up anything; had kept
it locked and the key in his pocket.
He had had occasion to open the
drawer that morning; the sight of
what lay inside had made him wonder
!! again how he was effectually to get
rid of it-that sinister piece of evil
dence connected with an as yet undis-
covered crime. 1t was so difficult to
dispose of such pieces of evidence;
they had a way of turning up again
almost miraculously, as criminal rec
ords so frequently showed, as though
fire could not destroy them, nor earth
OF water hold them.
He had closed the drawer and
locked it. Now on an impulse he
turned the key and pulled open the
drawer again, and looked at the thing
lying there as though it possessed
horrible fascination for him-the re.
volver that he had brought back on
that fatal night, tiny weapon, rusted
in places. There was mark of rust
staining the top sheet of pile of SER
mon paper on which it lay. The brown
splash in the center of the white sheet
gave it a grotesque resemblance to
an ace of hearts.
Stephen had feared to leave the
weapon near the scene of the tragedy
afraid lest in some unforeseen way
it might prove a clue duplicating
Olive. How was he to dispose of it:
He had asked himself that question {
dozen times.
At first sight it had appeared sim
ple matter; so small an object hat
seemed a thing easily made ava!
with; yet it had presented Difficult
ties. One night he had stolen out
intending to make hole in the ic'
and drop it into the river; but river
: have given up similar secrets before
and he dared run no risk. But !
must be disposed of, and SO effectuall,
that no chance could bring it to ligh
again.
"Stephen!"
He looked up quickly from the draw
er where that grim thing was. Tn
desk, piled with books, was betwee
r them, and it was impossible tina
2 Olive could see it or even the ope
) drawer; yet he started and instinc
1 lively made a movement to close 1t, a
j. the sound of her voice reached him.
Stephen, what is it you are keepin
e from me? Your manner tells me
q Her words ended abruptly.
Some one had come up the garde
:. path, passing the window hurriedly
Il there was loud knock on the doc
startling Olive by its suddenness; 81
|. had not seen the man pass the Wi