The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-07-02
CHAPTER xxvll.-conslnv,d.

AeS, sutue1u 10 see MISS StI10BW6yt
q the drop scene descended.
Who are your" she cried. what
do you want?"
I want to see Mr.. Craig at once.
was the breathless answer: and q
Jealous CLEAN came suddenly into Peg
gy's eyes. Urgently, I cant tell you
how urgently!
Miss Strangways rushed past the
girl to where Lathom was assisting
the stage carpenter to move the set
pieces; Mr.. Chatterton expected the
members of the company to make
themselves generally useful. Lathom
turned In surprise to see Miss Strang-
ways.
I've come to warn you" she whis-
pered. excitedly. drawing him aside;
'that is. Tiff your name is Lathom?
l am your friend; please understand
that; and want to help you. A de-
tective and Mr.. Bonholt Hume have
been watching the performance, and
Ut any time"
Yes, he said, in low voice, I'm
Lathom. It's good OF you to trouble
about me; ! don't know how to thank
you"
You must lost no time. And don't
leave by that door-that way you
might run into the detectives arms!
A friend OF mine. DR.. Brewer, Is wait
Ing outside the door on the other side
to help y0u--you can trust him."
With the girls GREATNESS words a
fighting CLEAN had come into the hunt
ed mans eyes. He turned and crossed
rapidly to where Peggy Chatterton
stood watching the pair Of them: he
whispered something to her that
brought startled look to her face.
then with Miss Strangways he hurried
across the stage. Almost before the
two figures had crossed out OF sight
the stage door opened and the detect
I've appeared. with no suspicion in the
world that he had been forestalled by
about two minutes, and inquired for
Mr.. Craig.
He did not find Mr.. Craig. Peggy
Chatterton's instructions seemed to be
curiously misleading, and after Re had
found the mems dressing room. to
discover that Craig was not there and
was on the stage again, a stolid car
penter, into whose ear Peggy had
whispered six hurried words, was
clumsy enough nearly to knock the
down with a heavy fiat"
he was moving into position; and as
the detective was lodging imminent
destruction In one quarter, a stage
IN n
blundered into him, and dropped some.
tAing weighty on his foot with great |
appearance Of concern.
BY this time the detective was be- |
ginning to understand the position of i
affairs; Lathom had evidently got |
wind Of danger. and his friends were |
hts flight He mathematical |
his own vanity, that had prompted
him to come to effect the arrest single
handed: but it was too late to ask
himself now why he had not brought
! local constable to watch the other
entrance. II was evident that his bird
had flown.
Outside in the gathering dusk hur-
led colloquy had taken place between
Lathom and the doctor. Miss Strang-
ways. to avoid any suspicion. had re-
urned to her seat in the theater In a
ever OF apprehensiyeness. wondering
I her efforts and the doctors would
succeed.
Lathom was still in his makeup:
till wearing the pink hunting coat
With the brass buttons. There had
,een no time to change.
Put my oyercoat on" said the doc
or. hurriedly, as they stood out Of
light OF the group OF loafers hanging
bout at the lighted entrance TO the
heater; that thing you're wearing's
half mile OF. Make
our way as quickly as you can to Mr..
house. I'll meet you In
he lane by the side OF the house
'ou know the gate there in the wall?
II be there as soon as you. only we
mustn't be seen together"
AS the doctor gave these rapid In
tructions figure dashed up through
he dusk and peered into Lathom's
ace, as he was struggling into the
pose overcoat. II was the spidery.
cSSCU IdCiuS NOut NuO u0u tcll Tue
ote for Miss Strangways that after
oen.
NO. you don't. Mr.. Jack Lathom."
q cried. shriliy. with q malevolent
rim. There's tee looking for you.
nd T."
Without word Lathom made q
udden dart forward: he was in
angerous mood. and this man meant
D hinder his escape. On the alert
Q he was. the little fout's speed did
ot save him this time: out shot
be others fist. and down he wentl
nth q cry OF pain. Lathom did not
ause; he bottled across the field
owards q lane at the back of the
heater to avoid passing the knot OF
ystanders near the lighted entrance
the front. The doctor stood wait
az for the evii-faced little tout to |
lse: but the man lay grooming and
evidently afraid to get
n Than c<sOn tho l0~xc-