The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-01-29

Hilda made 1 startled movement,
and her face went whittier. A deep
ened dread was closing down on her
as she listened for the solicitors next
words.
"Lathom has always been fond Nof
guns and shooting, ~ you know-a
taste I cant understand myself.
dislike to be IN the same room a q
frearm: I'm always wondering II its
loaded. Lathom's an excellent shot
and fond OF revolver practice. It
seems that on the night when It II
assumed Hume met his death Lathom
called at q gunsmith's in the town
about . revolver he had left for some
repair ana took 1t away with him. and
presumably had It on him when he
met Hume. That fatal coincidence IL
q bad bit OF evidence. It Is only proof
to me. believing. as do In his limo
cence. how misleading apparent cir
cuns:antial evidence can be. Jack
Lathom was carrying revolver that
highland the bullet that caused the
fatality is such one as the cartridge
for that revolver would take"
Hilda fought back the choking cry
that rose In her throat. Her hopes.
founded ON Stephens assurance that
no real evidence could be found to
connect Jack with the crime, were
crumbling. He was innocent-she
knew he was innocent. the man she
loved: but how fatally strong the EVIL
Journ coovnnAg
Il doubt II Lathom would have been
arrested but for the fact that he was
known to have had a revolver In his
possession that night-a revolver that
the bullet fitted" said Mr.. Culverton.
What fools the police are! And
have they succeeded in proving that
Jack also bought a pack Of cards that
night?" broke In Thornton. inpatient
ly. "A card was found In the dead
mans clutch-and the presence Of
that card points to a deeper mystery
than the police will admit-afraid Of
showing their own incompetence,
suppose. But l believe that, IL we
could only read 1t, the clue to the
| crime and the criminal lies In that
marked card found In Philip Hume's
hand. There's that man who asked
for Hume at the club under the name
OF Carr"
I'VE are making every effort to
trace that man." said the solicitor.
| Unfortunately. he has had three
weeks in which to make himself
scarce. And then there Is another
curious fact. This morning the or.
ganist of your church, Rutlien. came
forward to furnish the police with some
Information. 1t seems that on the
night, and, indeed, at the estimated
hour Of the crime, Mr.. Grale encoun.
tered. close by the place where poor
Hume was afterwards found a man
and woman under queer circum.
stances"
The rector drew In his breath. His
eyes were bent feverishly on the
speaker, UNNECESSARILY startled. The
blind man had spoken! What had he
said? How much was known?
Whoever the man was, Grale swore
he was not Lathom. He knows La
thom's voice well. II only we could
find out who that man and that WON
an were, and why they were there q,
that hour"
"Then-then Grale could give nc
clue?" broke in the rector.
He can only swear that the mar
was not Lathom. He is positive oil
that. The man. 1t seems. leapt for
ward, selling Grale's wrist. and bads
him harshly not linger. The very &C,
has suspicious look of guilt. The
woman did not speak at all-but hi
Is sure a woman was there. YER,
queer business. But 1t was not unit
the news of the murder that CRAZE at
tached any significance 10 It," addet
Culverton.
They drove home from the solicit
or's Office in Thornton's Panhard
Hilda could not have walked: sh,
seemed almost stunned as Thornton
assisted her into the car. For a mo
ment Stephens gaze rested on he
face: he withdrew it quickly. a,
though the pain and horror struck hin
with a sense OF guilt and shame. H,
had only to speak word and Jacl
lathem would be free. Only on,
word-but he had left 1t unspoken
He wondered If Hilda would ever for
give his silence IL she knew.
Scarcely word was spoken during
the drive back. The hint of TRACED
he had caught in Hilda.s face had sud
denly confirmed for Thornton what b.
already had suspected-that this cir
and the man in prison were NOR
!, than merely friends. that Hilda love,
Jack Lathcm. and with a delicacy O
: sympathy he refrained from intrud
ing on the silence OF her absorbe,
thoughts. His own anxiety on La
thom's account had been intensifie
by the lawyers words. He realize
how black the case seemed agains
his friend.
In Stephens mind was tumult @