The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-08-06

4
sary in Jack Lathom's interests; but
the deception hurt Miss Strangways
more than the man she was helping
to escape knew. Not only her innate
sense of honesty, but her grief for
the father she loved, deeply rebelled
instinctively; but she had with char
acteristic impulsiyeness constituted
herself this hunted mans friend. and
whatever Miss Strangways undertook
she always carried through in no
half-hearted fashion.
Lathom had to be got through the
danger zone. The suspicious Of the
police centered round the Grange.
and SO long as the fugitive remained
there he was in peril. It had been
arranged that today she should get
him through the gates In disguise and
drive him to the house at Westham
where the old servant Of the Thorn
tons lived. where he had sheltered
on the night after his escape from
Wildfell. DR.. Brewer, unlike Miss
Strangways, had been glad that this
deception was necessary. His efforts
on Lathom's behalf had not been al
together disinterested; 1t suited his
own purposes admirably for It to be
supposed that his patient. the owner
Of Pride o. Life. was sufficiently i'm.
proved In health to drive out.
What a pity that my first meeting
with Miss Ruthen should be so un-
fortunate!" said Miss Strangways
presently. The car was thudding
along the open country, through deep.
cut lanes splashed with the pink and
white Of mayblossom: Lendal was
left behind. How hateful she must
have thought mel" with q faint
laugh. Only I think she will forgive
me when she knows what my reason
was"
How could she be anything but
very grateful?" said Lathom. earn
estly.
He owed so much to this girl; but
for her warning he would have been
arrested at the theatre; and this kind
ness touched him all the more deeply
that he was practically stranger to
her-and he a man with terrible sus-
picion hanging over him.
He had spoken Of this on the night
he had found himself at the Grange,
after Bonholt Hume and the detect
i've had taken their departure.
"Oh, but l never for a moment
thought you guilty." she had said,
looking at him with her frank, clear
eyes. You see, you were hardly a
stranger to me after coming to my
assistance when those two ruffians
tried to force their way through the
gate; and a woman trusts to her In
stincts, you know
Il feel very much inclined" Marga-
ret Strangways went on now, "after
driving you to Westham, to go as
far as Wildfell to see Miss Ruthen
and explain. It's not SO very far for
q fast car. I want to remove the
impression left on her mind as soon
as possible"
She remembered the look of pain
on the girls face-the girl who had
recognized her lover In the car thru
his disguise. and would be quite in the
dark as to the urgent necessity for
the reception that must have wounded
her to the quick. The thought Of the
man she herself loved. Jim Hughes.
away in far-off India. added to Mar.
garet's sympathic understanding OF
Hilda Ruthen's feelings. and made her
eager to clear away the misconception
at once.
Lathom made an eager movement.
1T would be awfully good Of you,"
he cried. The thought Of Hilda's
wounded feelings had tortured him.
81 can't be sufficiently grateful"
Then he added suddenly. as a thought
struck him: Miss Strangways, will
you add yet another kindness? Let
me go with YOU"
go with me? To Wildfell?" she
cried. surprised. He nodded. but
wouldn't that be putting your head
into the lions mouth with a ven
geance?"
Il think not. For one thing. l am
disguised: and Wildfell is the last
place where the police are likely to
dream Of looking for me-" he said.
You see. they viii be under the i'm
precision / am still at the Grange;
they are watching the gates, little
dreaming have been struggled
through"
Miss Strangways laughed. She was
In love herself. and like him sepa-
rated from the being she loved, and
abe understood his feelings. And the
thought of making two lovers happy
appealed to her.
well. 1t seems very mad and reck-
less-only suppose you have made
up your mind. Mr.. Lathom." she cried.
Then we'll drive into the lions
mouth"
The white ribbon of the road
slipped away beneath them: the dis
tant landscape. cottages. and farms.