Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1909-08-12
DDD383884 833D43s
Through a Woman's !
Heart. !
Hear

By Sidney Warwick.

should have belonged to him. How
was 1t discovered that it was his?"
Stephen told Lathom how the wea
pom had lain for weeks in the drawer
OF his writing table; that at last he
had thrown 1t into the river. OF the
suspicious interest that the man he
now knew to have been the owner OF
the revolver had manifested in that
locked drawer. the rector did not
speak. When he made his statement
to the police. it would be his duty to
tell them; but no good purpose could
be served by telling 1t now.
$50 1t seems after all, Ruthen, that
though you suppressed these facts. II
would hardly have cleared me II you
had made = clean breast of every
thing" Lathom said at last, looking
at the rector's face. 1t was almost
lost in the shadow, but Lathom saw
that there was an agony of shame and
remorse written there.
Jack" cried Hilda, swiftly-"but
won't this discovery about the revol
yer clear you OF suspicion?"
He shook his head.
I'm afraid not, though no doubt II
will help my case. You see, If Miss
Vanstone came upon Hume lying dead
we have still to discover who his as.
sassin was. Probably the police, who
don't like to be proved wrong, will
persist that / was the guilty man i;
possibly their line of argument now
will be that Bonholt Humes revolver
was in Philips possession-that
wrested 1t from him in a struggle
and shot him. Still. Ruthen, you will
tell them what you known"
"Yes; / have only waited that
might see Miss Vanstone. 1t seems
only fair to her that should tell her
what she is as yet unconscious OF
how found her on the scene of
the tragedy, and warn her of my in
tention. Tomorrow go to London
to see her; then Immediately shall
tell the police all I know"
odd that 1t should be Bonholt
Hume's revolver" Lathom said,
thoughtfully. IF 1t wasn't that we
know how devoted Bonholt was to the
dead man" He did not finish the
sentence. Suddenly, on an impulse,
he held out his hand to Stephen.
"Ruthen," he went on, quietly, less
than five minutes ago / thought /
should never touch your hand again;
only--well. / think I understand how
you must have felt. II don't know
that shouldn't have acted just the
same IL had been in your place"
Stephen took the outstretched hand |;
he could not speak caught
in his throat. Hilda still stood aloof,
with hostile eyes. She could not for
give her brother SO easily, and some
thing OF her feelings Lathom OWNED
from her face. Still holding Stephens
hand in his, he held out his other hand
to Hilda in the deepening dusk of the
room-and in the shadows he Joined
their two hands together.
They had almost forgotten the pres
ence Of the blind man, who had stood
a silent listener throughout the rec
tors confession. He was the first to
break the silence now.
"Hark! What's THAR"
The window Of the drawing-room
at the back Of the house, framed q
vista Of the dim garden. from which
the blind mans quick ears mad sud
denly caught the sound Of . cautious
footstsp. The next moment figure
appeared outside the window, and
gave low familiar whistle.
IT'S Freddy Thorntonl" cried L.
Thorn: he felt . little surprised that
Thornton should have made his ap-
pearance In this fashion. almost as
though he had known that the fugitive
Was here In this room. what luck
that he should have turned up to-
nightis
Lathom went out quickly to open
the garden door to admit his friend !;
It Was several minutes before he came
back into the room with Thornton:
they had paused outside, speaking In
hurried whispers.
We have been neglecting Miss
6trangways shamefully," said Lathom.
And she must be growing impatient
to b starting with 30 long journey
before her. Stephen. may run up 10
your room for ! wash Joye, need IL!
-before ! 80, whilst you return ID
Miss 6trangways?'
~ tia men wanf IL ro4n,,, rrs..