Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-07-01
Through a
WOnan's Heart.
By Sidney Warwick.
CHAPTER XXVIll.-(Continued.)

CHAPTER xxvIll.-(Continued.)
Before the doctor had finished
speaking the green baize door that
shut off Ralph Strangways' rooms
from the rest of the house suddenly
opened, and tall, elderly man in a
long, green dressing gown, supporting
himself by gold-headed, tasseled
stick, appeared at the doorway; and
Bonholt Hume, startled at this sud-
den unexpected apparition, cried:
Ralph Strangways!"
What this? What's this | hear?"
the old man demanded, ENORMOUSLY,
looking from one to the other, frown-
ing under his white, bushy eyebrows.
Though it was years since Bonholt
had seen Mr.. Strangways. he saw that
the eyes were as alert and keea rs
ever, though the man himself ap-
peared to have aged very much. And
here was Ralph Strangways, owner
of Pride O. Life, in the flesh, not so
i'll but that he was up and about
and all that mystery that Anthony
Strangways, usually a cool, level-head-
ed man of the word, had conjured up
about his cousin evidently a Pigment
of his imagination. Almost immedi-
ately Bonholt Hume pulled himself
together from his bewildered sur
prise.
MY dear Mr.. Strangways, am re-
joiced-' he began, making step
forward, with outstretched hand.
The other man waved him off.
How surely received you here to-
night, Mr.. Hume? You surely re-
ceived my message this afternoon
that l did not choose to see you?
Spies, sir-yes, spies-are not want
ed here!" the figure in the dressing
gown broke out excitedly, evidently
working himself up into a passion
Il know that you and my cousin An
thony are thick as thieves-Anthony
who would be glad to hear of my
death! Let me tell you-you who
have come spying here"
The doctor went to the side of the
old man, whose pale face was work
ing cOnvulsively, and laid a soothing
hand on his arm.
rs this wise, Mr.. Strangways? he
said, first to come out at all, and
then to let this gentleman's presence
excite you
The old man threw Off the doctors
hand impatiently, but the words
seemed to have their effect. He
turned away from Bonholt Hume, ig-
noring him utterly. And your errand
in my house, sir?" he said to the de-
tective
The detective repeated his story.
A look of frowning suspicion had
deepened in the old mans face; his
eyes were bent searchingly on the doc
tor as he leaned heavily on his stick.
you haven't been letting this es-
capped prisoner into the grounds of the
house, Brewer" he demanded.
That's the worst of my illness; peo-
pie impose on me-think they can i'm
pose on me with impunity now that
I'm ill!' with another vehement out
burst of his quick temper. IF I find
you've been harboring this rogue in
my house, Brewer, Tll--I'll--"
The doctor shrugged his shoulders.
eff you persist in exciting yourself
like this, Mr.. Strangways, | can't
answer for the consequences. And if
you can't trust me, think
mo, no; you're good fellow,
Brewer" broke in the white-haired
man, in a suddenly changed voice. Il
know what your care and attention
and skill have done for me. There is
some mistake-at least so far as you
are concerned, Brewer" He turned
to the detective. "But you shall
search the house. | am a justice OF
the peace, and | insist on your doing
that-not only to satisfy yourself, but
to satisfy me that this escaped scoun-
drel isn't hiding in my house"
The hall door opened and Margaret
Strangways appeared, to look in be-
wildered amazement at the scene on
which she had intruded.
AS she saw the figure in the dress
ing gown, leaning heavily on the tas-
selled stick, by the open balze door,
an eager almost incredulous, cry
broke from her: "Father!' 1t was as
though the girl could scarcely believe
her eyes. She made swift move
ment toward the old man, then
paused, with a startled look and part
ed lips, as if about to speak.
But"
| Already the doctor had moved
quickly toward her, and, under cover
| of some commonplace remark, touch
ed her arm warningly.
"Hush!" he whispered, so low that
neither the detective nor Bonholt
Hume heard anything but the seem
ingly careless remark with which he
had arrested the words on her lips
| "hushi"
CHAPTER xxx.
| A Brass Button.