The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-07-16


the river yesterday and this new point
OF view that had presented itself to
him, Stephen had made up his mind
that his silence must end.
Now the way had been made easier |
for that belated confession by the con. |
viction that he had misjudged Olive |
in his thoughts. Yet he still shrank |
from going to the police until he had |
seen her-had told her of what he |
knew of that nights tragedy. of his |
determination TO make a clean breast |
of it. He realized that the police |
might take a different view from his |
own; the shock of the news must be
broken to the woman by him. not be
put bluntly to her by the police of how
she had been found with that weapon
in her hand by the side of a man lying
murdered.
II was possible that when he told
| Olive some chord of memory might be
| stirred in her mind: she might remem-
| Der the events of that Enlightenment
| Der how she came to have in her hand
| the revolver that beyond question
| caused Philip Hume's death.
Now. fortunately. he had clue by
which he could trace Olives present
| whereabouts. Strangways and she
had travelled together by the Lon
don train: Strangways must tell him
| where he could communicate with
Olive.
Il must lose no time In seeing her,
and then I must tell the police"
Stephen Ruthen told himself. He did
not know Strangways' address. but
that he could find out.
Bonholt Hume had not yet returned
TO wildfell. when he was interro-
gated respecting the revolver by the
police on his return. what explanation
would he have to offer?
Again and again it had required In
Stephens mind how he had caught
Bonholt prying into his drawer in the
study-the drawer where that revolt
yer had lain. What other motive
could the man have had but to search
for that weapon. the action of a man
pricked by guilty fear? 1t was that
odd fact which gave an ugly look to
volver. If owner he was; and Thornton
had been positive in his assertion.
Mr.. Hume returned to Wildfell that
! day: Stephen Ruthen unexpectedly
I, encountered him In the village tina;
afternoon.
Hilda was with her brother: they
we're walking down the street when @
corner of the read brought them face
10 face with the benevolent.looking
white-haired man who had been 81
much in the rector's thoughts. Steph
EMS first impulse was 10 walk on with
= out stopping: somehow he though
e that he found recurring again an,
@ again in his mind since the revelation
Il of the ownership of the revolver mad
:. him conscious Of a little sense o
shrinking constraint.
y But Mr.. Hume stopped.
"Ah. Miss Ruthen. am glad to ru1
across you.' he said. his face heamin
y with its most benevolent expression
s. Il have been away from home: so
back at noon today. And | hay
brought back some news for YOU
was something significant in tn
a. speakers tones. and sudden excite
n. ment flashed into her face. "Yo
mean you mean about"
~ "Hush!" said Bonholt. lookin
'e quickly round him, for In her excite
L. ment the girls voice was raised. "Ye
At about Lathom." he added, in To-
IN tones.
For a moment Hilda had to supper
herself by her brothers arm: she fe
IL herself trembling all over. News 4
e. last of Jack Lathom, after the miser
m of those weeks of silence that ha
Of dragged YEARLY by since that brit
stolen interview with the man sh
- loved after his flight from the polio
IL Since those moments of agonized su
IN pense when he had passed out of III
il. reetory under the very eyes of the p
". lice who had tracked him there. an
ny she stood waiting tensely with :
dreadful fear at her heart. not DARN
nd to look from the window, hardly da
a ing to hope that the desperate rus
le- Freddy Thornton had suggested /;
no the one chance Of escape would su
lip coed, listening to the measured Ia
ping of a stick down the garden pat
re- as it were of blind mans progress
ed until the fainter-growing sounds die
o. away in the distance. and. incredib
er as il seemed. she had known that h
en- lover was still fceeAfrom that hour
er this Hilda had heard no word fro
er him. did not know whether he We
'p- still In England or had succeeded
ly getting out of the country. did n
lis know whether he might not be |
be starving. desperate. Just at first
Ut the shock of the news a dizzine
he seemed to sweep over her.
lie But almost at once the girl eonque
he ed the weakness.
b Quick. tell me-tell me-" 81
le- whispered. feyerishly.
nd .g went Yesterday m see Mr. Rail-