The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-10-15
CHAPTER Kill.

bOunOt hume 010 SUNK OUT Oh the
theatre on the previous night. . man
terribly afraid.
This woman. whose passionate de-
nunciat:on Of him on the stage Of the
theatre seemed In . moment to have
mined the ground under his feet, had
zen him on the night Of Philips
death!
The very unexpectedness OF her &C
cusing words had taken him unawares.
He had never dreamed that she could
have seen him on. that night when
startled BY her appearance on the
scene Of his crime moment after he
had fired the shot. he had crouched
n hiding behind that great monolith.
She had give. no sign Of having seen
him-probably. - he realized now. In
her ha.f-delir.ous state she had hard.
" been consc'o GUS Of the face pecrine
rom Its hiding place. that must never
the'ess have unconsc!ously imprinted
tself on her mind: and though Bon
hot Hume had avoided her since. he
had felt treasured that she could not
have seen him.
Would her story b believed?
In his room ut the hotel that night.
lying awake almost till dawn. unable
to sleep. he had debated that cues
tion: would her story be listened to?
Surely her long silence would help
to discredit this wild story-and Mat
thew Bland. who knew 90 much, who.
II he sroke. could put . rope about
his neck. would b safe out OF the
country. out Of reach. n only tina,
revolver had not been Identified -
his: that would strengthen Olive Van.
stones story. OF course. Though he
had strenuously denied knowledge Of
how II had come to be In the river.
had denied having seen the weapon
for months. he was far from sure that
the police believed him. He had won.
dered for days II he were not being
kept under surveillance.
What was he to dof That recurring
question beat again and again across
his mind. through those long night
hours when sleep would not come.
Now he decided upon instant flight.
now he determined to brave II out.
since with Bland out OF reach Of ques-
tons there was only an hysterical
woman's word. Was not his word -
good ~ hers?
Not until the dawn was breaking
did sleep come to the tortured man.
. broken. troubled sleep Of an hour or
two. When he rose. looking horribly
III and hagxard. Bonholt Hume was
still In the grip Of indecision. Fear
was at his elbow like tangible pres
ence. whispering panic-counsels Of
night.
But he had little money about him,
and flight would bring suspicion to .
head: there would b. an instant hue
and cry.
At last he decided that he must 70
turn homo and put bold front on Il.
Matthew Bland would b already on
the sea: this woman's uncorroborated
story was not proof. Her very I'd. :
that she was on the scene Of |
The crime would look suspicious. He
must return TO Wildfell for the pres.
snt. at any rate: this would give him
The opportunity Of getting money. to |
be ready for disht At . moments mo-
lice. For the present. even II there
was suspicion. be told himself there
pould b no proof.
Il Was late In the day when Boaho!t |
Hume reached the Old Hall. He had |
not gone to Fsllsgarth 1tation-his |
nerve had failed him: hs had driven In |
cab from station i've miles distant. |
A. the servant opened the door hs |
put . question . her. trying 70 CON.
.rol his voice.
HAS anyone called whilst I'VE been
lwayf
"Yes. sir: the olics-superintendent |
rom Fellsgarth. He asked when you
would b returning. No one else, cir.
There are some letters on the library
able
Why had the superintendent called!
rhe words had sent q stab OF fear
through the guilty man. whose nerves
vere on the rack. He walked unstead.
" into the library and dropped heayi-
y into . chair.
Presently no rose and walked over
o mirror on the wall. - the thought
anne suddenly to him that the servant
lad stared curiously ct him n she
opened the door. In the gathering
lusk Of the room the white. haunted
ace looked hack 1t him from the
'sass-a changed. very different face
rom the chsrubic. benevolent coun-
enance that had been % wsll-known
md popular In the village. The sight
4 his reflection In the glass startled
i'm.
He crossed the room and dropped
INTO his chair again-
Why hid The superintendent called.
Outside The long. opss Preach win
ovs the dusk was CLOSING IN over the
rooded grounds: shadows we're cresp-
q out freo the corners q he room.
% haA always Aate1 this house n
10 dusk sincs PAilip's death; haA Il.
Fays AaA he lamps lighted early. He
truck . match WITH impatient, nerve
- Singers. crossing over . IL great
ro1o standard lnADt A. tho match