The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1909-03-26
CHAPTER xvi.-fcontinusd.)

no photograph had accompanied the
description tt. make his Identification
easy; moreover, he was rot dressed
in the way described in the newspa-
Fer report. He was wearing gray
Norfolk jacket and knickerbockers,
| with an artists knapsack slung over
| his shoulders, his appearance sug-
costing a painter out on a sketching
| tour
Unless by his own manner he ex-
cited suspicion, he was comparatively
safe. so long as his portrait remained
out of the papers. This Lathom re-
sliEed, and how necessary it was, if
not always quite easy, that he should
show a careless. unconcerned front
The police would be looking out for a
man in the blue serge suit which the
prisoner had worn at the magistrates
inquiry; Lathom had Freddy Thorn
ton to thank, not only that he had
sot out of the neighborhood of Fells-
garth safely, but also that he had OBJ
tanned a change of clothes. Freddy's
energy and resource had been mex
haustible.
After passing out of the rectory in
the guise of the blind organist Lathom
had made his way to the cross roads
near the house now occupied by Bon
holt Hume, tapping his way with his
stick, never once dropping the role he
was playing, feeling that invisible
OIL ho fha
waited by the lonely Stone Cross,
whose shadow had once fallen like
pointing finger at dead man lying
in the drifted white of the roadway,
Until Thornton had picked him I'D in
his car.
Thornton did not let the grass grow
under his feet. After leaving the rec
tory he dashed off to the house of an
acquaintance, man of about La
thom's Height and build, to borrow
some clothes; he was slowing away
in the motor car change of attire
for Lathom almost before the bewil-
dered man had time to inquire why
he wanted them. Freddy drove off
like the wind. without vouchsafing
sEy explanation. Ee picked I'D La.
tfom at the appointed rendezvous,
end had then taken him at breakneck
speed miles across country to the
house of an old servant of the Thorn
tens. who was devoted to Freddy and
could be implicitly trusted. There
Lathom had passed the night.
ho
this bright spring morning, with the
world before him, hunted man fc1
whom all the police in the country
would be on the lookout.
His plans were as yet indefinite. He
Fad left the house where he had slept
with the vague idea of walking to the
nearest town and taking train to Liy-
crpool-of trying to get out of the
country. He had no lack of funds.
He was revolving his plans when he
came upon the two actors.
Can you tell us which road we
take for Dalebrook?" Joe Grisson
had gone up to Lathom as he an
preached. "Some time ago a rustic
informed us that we were to keen
straight on through Westham, but he
forgot to tell us that finger posts in
this locality seem to be put up for
the purpose of practical jakes on trav-
elers!" And he waved a hand at the
obliterated lettering on the post.
1t was in house on the outskirts
OF Westham that Lathom had spent
the night, and he was able to direct
them.
But Dalebrook's twenty miles
away or more" he added.
Eyes, it's a bit of stem" Toe
agreed, cheerfully. "Still, walkings
grand exercise; nothing like it for
giving one an appetite. Although, for
that matter" he added, soto voce,
what 1 more particularly want is
something to take away mine!"
And he looked ruefully at the Shiny
quagmire near the finger post where
the shilling with which Monty had
tossed "Heads or tails" had made it's
abrupt exit from circulation, reducing
their capital to threepence-half-penny.
"Folks talk about actors being a
lazy lot, lying in bed till midday. /"
added Joe, turning to proceed on his
journey. "Well, don't mind telling
you. sir, that my friend and I have
covered ten miles, as ever is, this
morning, by way of constitutional
you know! Fact. You wouldn't think
it. would you, seeing us as fresh as
Faint? Up with the dawn, give YOU
my word. Think nothing of it. Keeps
enc fit and all that. Other men in
my position might have hired a mo
ter car to cover the thirty miles be-
tween Slaton and Dalebrook. But m,
Harley Street mans always ureine
me to take exercise. So my friend
and determined to foot it. And, as
| said before, I've got an appetite al
ready. Well, we mustn't keep you
sir. Come along, Monty, my boy"
During Joe's airy remarks Monty's
face remained as gloomy as ever
That ice could be cheerful under tn,
distressing circumstances was mex