The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-07-23
Through a
IWon1an's Heart.
By Sidney Warwick.
CHAPTER xxx,-tconsinued.)

CHAPTER xxxi.-fcontinued.)
Thank you very much. Mr.. Hume"
said Hilda, in low. not quite steady
tones, with a warmth she had not
shown him since his implied accusa-
ton Of Jack Lathom weeks ago. The
girls voice suddenly faltered and
broke; she turned to hide the uncon-
trollable emotion that had swept over
her and walked quickly away. leaving
her brother and Mr.. Hume together
as the inspector from Fellsgarth po-
lice station came up.
Il hope you will pardon my inter-
rupting you. gentlemen" the inspect
or said. with salute. "but I have just
come from your house. Mr.. Hume.
heard you had returned home. and
drove over expressly to see you this
afternoon. No need for you to run
away, sir" he added. parenthetically.
to the rector ''The fact Is, Mr.. Hume,
I want to ask you"
The inspector paused abruptly; the
faint sound of a small object shivering
to atoms on the pavement arrested
his words.
Mr.. Hume had been smoking q
cigarette through a monthpiece; his
teeth had suddenly closed with snap
on the amber. biting through It; the
broken holder fell TO the ground. Bon
holt Hume's face. drawn with dis
composure that at first he was beyond
power of controlling, had gone blood
less to the lips; his eyes were staring.
as If fascinated by 1t, at something
that the inspector had. whilst speak
ing. taken from his pocket.
It was the revolver that the iron
teeth of the drags had brought up
from the bed of the river.
At the sound of the tinkling crash
volver he was handling to Mr.. Hume.
and probably attributed the startled
expression on the elderly mans face
to the accident. But, IL SO, the rector
knew better. Stephen Ruthen had
seen the strange look of fear flash into
Bonholt's face, driving out every
vestige Of color. at the instant the pc.
lice officer produced the weapon-fear
Enthusiastically caused by the sight of
the revolver which the rector at least
knew for the weapon that had carried
death to Philip Hume-and the vague
suspicious that Stephen Ruthen had
tried to fight against were back with
a rush In his mind. immeasurabiy
deepened.
Now that's unfortunate, Mr..
Hume" said the inspector. in respect
full coincidence, locking at the splinter
ed fragments of amber; and Bonhoit
Hume. pulling himself together with
an effort from the momentary agita-
tion that from some cause seemed to
have swept over him, stopped down
with forced laugh.
"Yes: l don't know how I managed
to do 1t. That's the worst of brittle
thing like amber
"And too badly broken to be mend
ed. Pm afraid But this revolyer-I
wanted to ask you If you recognize it.
sir. said the inspector, holding out
the weapon toward him.
Mr.. Hume seemed to shrink back
from it, as though ayerse from even
touching it.
Ill What should know OF
TT" His tones were shaking and
strained. utterly unlike his natural
voice.
'It was dragged from the river yes.
terday. Mr.. Hume. We have had in
formation that 1t belonged to you.
And your servant, Matthew Bland.
told me-"
Matthew Bland! What did he tell
your" There seemed to be a feyerish
excitement behind the startled ques-
ton that, as II involuntarily. broke
from Mr.. Hume.
The inspector looked surprised at
the speakers manner.
"Oh, he declared unhesitatingly that
the revolver was yours. II was found
In the river yesterday; it was loaded
in Ave chambers; one chamber had
been discharged Not only does the
bullet that killed Mr.. Philip Hume
correspond with the bullets in the 9TH
er five cartridges. but 1t looks uncom-
monty suspicious. the weapon having
been found in the river"
But you don't mean" Bonholt
Hume checked himself suddenly. the
pallor of his face was marked, and
there was a nervous vehemence in his
words. Even II the revolver were
mine-and that's impossible = what
could it have to do with Philip Hume's
death? It's ridiculous, utterly ridicu-
lous! It has already been shown that
Il was Lathom's revolver that killed
my nephew-the revolver he was
proved to have carried that night
Why. you compared bullet from the
cartridges 1t took with the bullet TAX
en- from the dead man. And since you
know It was Lathom's revolver that
But that's what we don't know"
said the inspector. dryly. He could
not quite understand Mr.. Hume's ex-
~vsoA vohomanea and his nrOfpssional