The searchlight., 1909-09-24
CHAPTER xxxvlll-continued.

CHAPTER xxxvlll-Continued.
mo; by the laws of racing Pride o
Life had no right to run, Of course
said the doctor, quietly. Miss Strang.
ways. know how great q shock this
aust have been to you-but when
your father died last night, almost in
sight of the goal, were we to break our
promise to the dead man? It was this
your father schemed and planned for.
for your sake-by Pride O. Life he won
over ten thousand pounds; all for you!
He depended on me, and I kept faith.
as would have kept faith had 1t been
ten times the fraud 1t was! Miss Strang.
ways, l am not an emotional man-but
there was nothing l would not have
done for your father; I was under a
debt Of kindness to him felt nothing
could repay" and there was an earn
estness not to be mistaken In the
speakers voice. 1T was a desperate
scheme that took inception in your
fathers brain on the day DR.. Hill told
him he was doomed man. He sent
for me-and then the plot was
hatched.
Whether I'm living or dead. Pride
o. Life must run, for my little girls
sake!' he said.
1T was his one consuming passion:
he wanted to beat his cousins filly
Lady Olive; but far more, he wanted
to leave you something more than
debt. That was the supreme consider
ation-but for that he would not have
contemplated this fraud. II fraud It
can be called. For, after all. the horse
would win or lose on its own merits;
1t was only a mere fortuitous circum-
stance, that Of his death, that would
have prevented the horse running. He
persuaded himself that 1t was justifi-
able; he had given SO much to the
Turf-let 1t give back something at
the end for you, his daughter. Itseemed
SO cruel-he believed Pride o. Life
was good enough to win-so cruel that
the accident Of his death should can
Gel the chance. make him lose his last
stake! And now Pride O. Life has
won-and we have a hundred witness
es and more to prove that-that your
father. was seen alive after the race!"
He paused on the note of triumph
he could not keep out Of his voice.
Margaret Strangways remained silent.
Presently the doctor spoke again.
Your father and began to lay our
plans as soon as l superseded DR.. Hill.
We began by barring the gates. as a
precautionary measure; there were
too many people interested In finding
out his state OF health. Meanwhile, I
circulated reports Of my patients i'm.
proving health. so that his living
should not create surprise. At that
time I never dreamed your father
could live SO long by weeks as he did.
but an indomitable will can do much.
! imported nurse whom I could
trust: the chief difiiculty was to find
someone who could, when the neces-
sity came. impersonate your father.
We had thought Of old David. the SER
want. devoted to his master. but l.
We were doubtful. And then our meet
ing with Mr.. Lathom suggested . way.
It was like an inspiration.
"You drove him from the Grange
through the danger zone. but he had
promised your father and me that he
would come back and help us, un-
known to you; and he came back.
has been here all the weeks of your
absence. He would not tell you-but
l know that 1t was out of gratitude to
you that Mr.. Lathom gave his promise
to your father. And, Miss Strang.
ways. your father died the happier for
believing this-this pious fraud would
be carried through with success, that
his horse would run and win back for
you something Of his lost fortune.
Then we had planned to give out In
the course OF this afternoon that Mr..
had passed away sudden.
ly: 1t would hardly have excited sur.
prise-the reaction following on the
and suspense. II you had
not come when you did. you would
never have known that your father did
not live to see Pride o. Life's victory"
The doctor ceased speaking. From
his manner it was obvious he was
not ashamed of his snare in this fraud
"A fraud In which he had no person
al interest to serve. and nothing to
gain-his repayment of q kindness
once received from the man who was
dead.
1t was a moment or two before
Margaret Strangways spoke: the doc
tors words had not left her unmoyed, |
had not failed of their effect on her.
Then, in broken voice:
Il understand now: and II I spoke |
or bitterly. | am sorry. You
have only acted kindly: and l am not |
lngrateful. Only my father did wrong,
even though he did it for my sake
and the wrong must be undone. Pride /
o. Life has not won. because the horse |
had no right to run in the race. Ny
cousins horse. which came in second.
Ia the real winner"
"But you can't" began the doc
Tor. aghast.
"Oh. 1t isn't honest to perpetuate the
Iraud," the girl said. in q low. steady /