The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-10-01

acting upon IL They were waiting,
and holding their tongues.
Yet the last few weeks had left .
marked alteration In Bonholt Hume's
appearance. There was q haggard.
haunted look in his eyes; many wrin.
ties had lately cut deeply into his
ace; and there were rumors afl0at
hat he had been drinking heavily.
Tor some reason the finding OF that
Weapon in the river. the ownership Of
which he had at first denied and then
subsequently admitted, had shaken
him. Fear was never far away from
3onholt Hume's elbow.
On the night Anthony Strangways
had first dined with him after Philips
death had made him master Of the
treat house In Wildfell. his guest had
dropped q remark at the dinner-table
about the taciturn, bloodless manserv-
ant. Matthew Bland.
DO you know, Hume. I don't like
hat man" Strangways had said.
wondering as he spoke II Dor solt
could for any reason, curious as II
u.
quite know why. but the feelings
there. I've noticed that he watches
you, when he's in the room. as f."
Hume had interrupted him; but. for
Ill his disclaimer on that occasion.
Hume was afraid Of Matthew Bland.
As he sat in the theatre tonight again
and again his thoughts reverted to the
man.
During the past week or SO. in his
nervous. suspicious state. Bonholt
Hume had got It into his head that
the police were watching his move
ments. perhaps were trying to pump
Matthew Bland. But II his plans had
not miscarried. that danger was
passed: tomorrow morning Bland
would be out Of the country. He had
induced the man to agree to leave
England. had paid him large sum to
goa very large sum. He had booked
passage to America for him under
another name-had only that morning
driven him In his motor-car to Q sta
tiop many miles from Fellsgarth that
the police might not get wind Of
BANDS departure from Wildfell. To-
morrow the great ship would have left
Liverpool with Matthew Bland on
board: tomorrow he would feel safer.
He ought to have got Bland out of
the country long ago. he told himself
with Bland out OF the way, who Is
to prove anything" he whispered to
himself. and there was a relief In the
thought. Suspicious are nothing
without proof. and tomorrow Bland
will be out Of the range Of awkward
questions"
Bonholt Hume sat through the first
two acts Of the play. watching Olive
with an odd interest. II was curl
Gus feeling to know that she had been
Philips. wife after all. that the old
Hall was hers by right. did she but
realize It! She was playing with a
force and passion wonderful In an &C
tress SO inexperienced. holding the
crowded house whilst she was on.
making the triumph Of the evening, as
the repeated outbursts OF applause
testified.
Such q woman would be q danger.
Gus enemy, he realized. were she but
to get an inkling of the truth. and
MI. Hume shivered q little In his stall
at the thought.
When the second act was over he
rose from his seat and made his way
behind" to find Anthony Strangways.
Going splendidly!" said Strang-
ways. enthusiastically. Tomorrow all
the town will be talking of the new
actress I've discovered! The part fits
her like a glove. Il knew she had only
to find expression of her own tempera-
ment to make her part stand out vivid
ly from the play"
Now the third act was almost
through: Bonholt had not gone back
to his stall. He had stayed behind,
talking to Strangways. interested In
watching the working Of all this ma.
chinery OF illusion. His spirits were
rising with the thought that tomorrow
morning Matthew Bland would have
left England.
On the stage. separated from where
he was standing by the built-up scene,
the climax Of the act was being reach
ed.
II was Olives cue. A breath'ess
hush had fallen on the great audience.
held by the appeal Of the poignant sit.
uation that was being unfolded-a
tense waiting moment as the woman's
figure appeared on the darkened stage
this woman OF the play. wild. way
ward. passionate. who had fitted
through its scenes like q breath OF
storm, standing out an impressive.
tragic figure against the background
OF suffering and sorrow that WAS her
destiny-this woman stealing now
through the dusk Of q wintry twilight
to find. not the consummation of her
hopes. but the man she had loved with
all the passion Of her wild nature ~
ing murdered.
Hidden from sight. Bonholt Hume
watched with startled eyes. Some
thing In the scene. and Ia the woman
,Ar ,NA -