Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-06-24
CHAPTER xXvII.-Continued.

Il want to see Mr.. Craig at once,
was the breathless answer; and {
jealous CLEAN came suddenly into Peg
gy's eyes. Urgently, can't tell vol
how urgently!
Miss Strangways rushed past the
girl to where Lathom was assisting
the stage carpenter to move the SET
pieces; Mr.. Chatterton expected the
members of the company to make
| themselves generally useful. Lathon
turned in surprise to see Miss Strang
ways.
I've come to warn you," she whis
pered, excitedly, drawing him aside;
that is, Tiff your name is Lathom
am your friend;s please understand
that; and | want to help you. A de-
tective and Mr.. Bonholt Hume have
been watching the performance, and
at any time"
eyes, he said, in a low voice, ''Fm
Lathom. It's good of you to trouble
about me; don't know how to thank
you"
You must lost no time. And don't
| leave by that door--that way you
might run into the detectives arms !.
A friend OF mine, DR.. Brewer, is wait
ing outside the door on the other side
| to help you-you can trust him"
With the girls GREATNESS words a
fighting CLEAN had come into the hunt
ed mans eyes. He turned and crossed
rapidly to where Peggy Chatterton
stood watching the pair of them he
whispered something to her that
brought startled look to her face,
then with Miss Strangways he hurried
across the stage. Almost before the
two figures had crossed out of sight
the stage door opened and the detect
i've appeared, with no suspicion in the
world that he had been forestalled by
about two minutes, and inquired for
Mr.. Craig.
He did not find Mr.. Craig. Peggy
Chatterton's instructions seemed to be
curiously misleading, and after he had
found the mems dressing room, to
discover that Craig was not there and
was on the stage again, stolid car
whispered six hurried words, was
clumsy enough nearly to knock the
newcomer down with a heavy "f1at"
he was moving into position; and as
the detective was lodging imminent
destruction in one quarter, stage
hand carrying some heavy props"
blundered into him, and dropped some
thing weighty on his foot with a great
appearance of concern.
By this time the detective was be-
ginning to understand the position of
affairs; Lathom had evidently got
covering his flight. He mathematical
his own vanity, that had prompted
him to come to effect the arrest single
handed; but it was too late to ask
himself now why he had not brought
a local constable to watch the other
entrance. 1t was evident that his bird
had flown
Outside in the gathering dusk a hur-
ried colloquy had taken place between
Lathom and the doctor. Miss Strang-
ways, to avoid any suspicion, had re-
turned to her seat in the theater in a
fever of apprehensiveness, wondering
if her efforts and the doctors would
succeed.
Lathom was still in his makeup;
still wearing the pink hunting coat
with the brass buttons. There had
been no time to change.
GED,,4 NV oxyoroao+ 0,1 cni6 tho dnc-
tor, hurriedly, as they stood out of
sight of the group of loafers hanging
about at the lighted entrance to the
theater; that thing you're wearings
conspicuous half a mile off. Make
your way as quickly as you can to Mr..
Strangways' house. I'll meet you in
the lane by the side of the house
you know the gate there in the wall?
I'll be there as soon as you, only we
mustn't be seen together"
AS the doctor gave these rapid in
structions a figure dashed up through
the dusk and peered into Lathom's
face, as he was struggling into the
loose overcoat. 1t was the spidery-
legged racing tout who had left the
note for Miss Strangways that after
noon.
mo, you don't, Mr.. Jack Lathom,"
he cried, shrilly, with a malevolent
grin. There's a tee looking for you,
and t"
Without word Lathom made a
sudden dart forward; he was in a
dangerous mood, and this man meant
to hinder his escape. On the alert
as he was, the little tout's speed did
not save him this time; out shot
the others fist, and down he went
with a cry of pain. Lathom did not
pause: he bolted across the field
towards a lane at the back of the
theater to avoid passing the knot OF
bystanders near the lighted entrance
at the front. The doctor stood wait
ing for the evil-faced little tout to
rise; but the man lay grooming and
whimpering, evidently afraid to get
I'D. Then. as soon as the doctor saw
that Lathom had reached the lane, he
left the PROSTATE man and hurried
away, relieved that the fracas had
occurred too far from the group of
figures by the theater entrance to
have been noticed in the dusk.
"I'll pay you back with interest for
that b1ow!" he muttered, with saw
age snarl, as he ran.
In the theater Bonholt Hume had
waited in his seat with growing
anxiety after the detectives depart
,,ra until bic state 0f restless imDa-
thence became uncomfortable. Present
ly, feeling he could not bear the sus-
pense any longer, he rose and made