The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1909-02-05
CHAPTER XII.
6onholt Hume Is Mysterious.

CHAPTER Xl.
Bonholt Hume Is Mysterious.
Just for moment, in the vertigo
that swept over him at that tensely-
whispered question which shattered
hi ssense of fancied security, Stephen
Ruthen felt as if the solid ground
had slipped from beneath his feet.
II haven't betrayed you, parson-
but aren't you going to speak now"
Stephen Ruthen reeled-came back
to himself with cold sweat breaking
out all over him. The blind man
knew!
His lips moved; his parched tongue
was inarticulate. The words would
not come
IF young Mr. Lathom hadn't been
arrested l shouldn't have spoken even
to you, parson," went on the organ
list, nervously, excitedly; II haven't
forgotten all owe to you" There
was a depth of feeling in the old
mans voice that made it pathetic.
"On my way to Fellsgarth today l
called at the rectory TOTO tell you
what it was in my mind to do, but
you were out Parson," he broke out
vehernently, with young Mr.. Lathom,
that I've known since lad, arrested,
couldn't keep silent any longer. I'll
never believe the lad did it-and it
wasn't Lathom whom met near the
Stone Cross that night. I had to
speak. I couldn't betray you, parson
but I've known all along it was you
met that night-you, and with you
the woman who came to you in the
vestry after that week-night jserv-
ice"
Stephen Ruthen found his voice at
+, last. Every nerve in his body sud-
denly became tense.
What are you driving at, Grale?"
Even now in his forced se1f-control
his voice was unsteady. you say
!
that the woman did not speak, Yet
you profess to have recognized her
you, blind mani"
''No, she didn't speak, Mr.. Ruthen;
only we blind folk learn to sharpen
the other senses left to u.s." the other
man answered, with quiet conviction.
Il knew there was a woman there,
T s,, IL
didn't speak in the vestry, but /
wasn't mistaken then, was 1? l felt
her presence, heard the light rustic
of her cloak. And there was a faint
perfume clinging about her-it was
that same perfume that l detected as
passed close by her that made me
recognize the woman in the roadway
4 Even if hadn't heard your voice, !
should have known it was the same
woman he said, in a tone that ad.
mitted of no argument.
Stephen Ruthen's Jaw was set and
square.
'"The lady You speak of was i'll in
bed on the day you profess to have
met her; like all the village, you must
have heard of her serious illness
The doctor was called and a nurse
procured on the night before the cir
cumstance you refer to. That is easy
of proof. Her room has never beer
! left day or night; a nurse has Away:
been in attendance. And do you NEAR
! to assert that this lady would leave
her bed, leave the house, in her cri
tical state on a stormy winters night
e Really, Mr.. Grale!" And he tried tt
y force a laugh. 1t sounded strang'
l and unnatural in his own ears. can,
!, you also maintain that I was there?
"Parson, wasn't mistaken =
e couldn't be mistaken" said the blin
J. man, with quiet obstinacy.
s The agitation in the voice that ha
d accosted him in so strange and pei
o emptory fashion on that night ha
n not disguised for him Stephen RI
then's voice. And why should tn
s speaker have displayed such agits
IS ton?
:. Then, do you mean that you thin
it was I who killed Philip Hume
e said the rector, in oddly-straine
i, tones; "or that Twas ever preser
d when he met his death?"
Then his choking, pent-up feelin
le swept him away into passionat
d outburst:
d "Grale, you've known me Ion
e time. Will you believe me when
b. say this? swear to you solemn
70 that l neither killed Hume nor did