The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-04-30
CHAPTER xlx-tcon,inueo.,

Ing too much money elsewhere, so
thought Id come back to the old
guv'nor.' explained Joe, airily. mo
fear of that with him. YOU know"
| Mrs. Chatterton turned purple with
suppressed indignation. Miss Peggy
Chatterton langhed-a very pretty and
charming laugh IL was-and Mr.. Chat
terton glared at the speaker. for mo-
ment speechless.
Sir. II you would try to be little
| more funny on the stage. where | pay
you adequately to be funny. and lit
/ tie less funny of, where your face
tionsness is invariably ill-timed. no
one would be sorry, Mr.. Grisson." he
said, witheIingly, in his best ore TO
tundo manner.
And then Mrs. Kirby had to inter-
vene as peacemaker.
Supper over. the party drew round
the fire and talked lazily. whilst the
rising wind beat against the windows.
occasionally mounting to a scream
about the angles OF the old inn. only
emphasizing the peace and cosiness
sional: stories of incidents on tour.
the latest anecdote about the newest
theatrical celebrity, the prospects of
their visit to Lendal. Jack Craig sat.
scarcely joining in the talk, smoking
and staring at the fire from his cor
ner OF the half.circular oak settle.
II was queer new world, of new
customs and ways. into which he had
found himself plunged SO unexpected
~; but he liked 1t. The life was full
OF variety. full of hard work that left
him little time for brooding; and he
liked his fellow members In the COM
pany, who had from the first made
him feeel one Of themselves. In true
Bohemian fashion, on the strength of
Joe's introduction of him as zone of
the best" without any curiosity
manifested. at any rate-as 10 his an
tedents.
A novel. interesting life TO a man
brought up as Lathom had been. and
he felt uncommonly grateful to Girls
son and Monty; but 1t was not 10 be
wondered at IL he sometimes had his
black moods of depression. when he
wonde.ed what was to be the end of
1t. This rowing Bohemian life was
pleasant enough for awhile-for
change-but when would he be able
to resume his own position again-go
back to the girl he loved? Would the
mystery Of Philip Hume's death ever
be solved? There were times when
the seeming hopelessness of II struck
upon him.
He had not written to Hilda. The
fear of the letter falling into other
hands deferred him. Even though he
We're 10 suppress his address, the post
mark on the letter might give the po-
lice clue. For that reason he had
written to no one. not even to his
friend Freddy Thornton. On whom. no
doubt. the police were keeping
watehful eye.
He had been afraid that Freddy
might get into trouble, in view of the
latter's reckless share I'm his escape:
and he had been relieved to see no
hint of 1t in the newspapers that he
had scanned eagerly. The fact was
the police had their suspicious. but
had no proof. There was only the
BARRIERS assertion that In the dusk he
had seen a car which he believed 10
be MIR. Thornton's; the police had
oyerhanled Freddy's motor car, to find
its owner the sole occupant pro-
testing and yirtnously indignant own
hpinp hA
had their suspicious. but not enough
proof to so on, and SO Freddy had not
suffered for his reckless law breaking
fact which was a relief to the man
he had helped.
Faced by future that seemed blank
and hopeless. jack Lathom sometimes
wondered whether that fight into
which Freddy Thornton had nersu-
aided lin almost In spite of himself
had not been mistahe-this flight
that cut him off from his friends. from
Hilda-whether 1t would not have
been better to face the trial. Perhaps
1t was the sight of the girl ON horse
back that night. who had reminded
him of Hilda, that brought these
thoughts as he sat smoking medita-
lively and looking into fire. Almost
he gave sigh.
Is II so bad as that, Craigs" broke
In Joe. banteringiy. Il believe you're
In love, old chaplin love at first sight
with that girl you were SO polite to-
Miss Strangways."
SO that was why You were so long
coming didn't know you'd been en-,
ladies' on the road" cried
Peggy Chatterton. quickly. looking
sharply across at Jack. And Jos
laughed IS he saw the look. I. was