Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-06-17


had first been aroused by the sight OF
the man sitting next to Bonholt Hume
unless I'm much mistaken, that
chap there's a detective" he had whis
pered, suddenly, almost as Miss
Strangways pointed Lathom out.
Startled, the girl turned her eyes
to the man indicated; like Mr.. Hume
he was watching the actor on the
stage, evidently with the keenest in
terest
Where the audience sat the lights
were scanty, but she was near enough
to see that a startled expression had
come into Bonholt Hume's eyes as
they rested on the man on the stage;
she saw, too, the flicker of a smile
playing grimly about his companion's
mouth. Remembering the insolent
threatening note, Margaret Strang,
ways felt convinced that the doctors
suspicion was right. The man looked
like a detective; and, if so, his pres
ence there seemed to confirm the as,
sertion in the letter that had sounded
to her almost incredible, that the man
who had placed her under a sense OF
obligation was the John Lathom who
had given the police the slip after his
arrest on a murder charge. The same
thought was in the doctors mind.
cit looks uncommonly as if the
statement in that note was fact,
he said to Miss Strangways; "Bonholt
Hume, the near relative of the dead
man, being here-and that man sitting
by him, who has the unmistakable cut
of a plain-clothes inspector"
DR.. Brewer had come to the theater
because Margaret Strangways had
made the request, never for an instant
attaching an credence to the assertion
in the note Now his opinion had al
tered Not only was the man on the
stage in all probability Lathom but
evidently the writer of the note had
kept his threat of informing the po-
lice.
Under these circumstances what
do you think of dOing?" he added to
the grill. eff the man is the escaped
prisoner Lathom, as seems probable,
you know you have no right to set
yourself against the law by warning
him, even if a warning could be of
avail, with a detective evidently
watching the man.
eff 1 had not thought there was a
chance that he might be LathOm
there would have been no point in my
coming" the girl said, wAh a look of
determination showing in the anxious
face. This man did me service
shall! not forget, and if l can l mean
to repay it,"
"But-a man with such charge
hanging over him?"
Il don't believe he killed Philip
Hume" she said, quickly. 'There was
no conclusive evidence against La
thom you said that yourself. It's
absurd to think him a murderer
shouldn't have liked a murderer as
liked this man from the first! Oh, it
was splendid the way he knocked that
brute down who kicked my dog!" she
cried The doctor smiled. He knew
of course, that this essentially femi.
nine argument in Lathom's favor was
utterly illogical; and he knew equally
we'll that it was useless to argue
against a woman's convictions. This
girl of impulse added decidedly: "Ot
course, I'm going to help him if 1 can
and you'll help me, won't you?"
He nodded. An odd look had come
into his face as though an idea had
struck him.
Yes; since you are set on it, I sup
pose l must help YOU" he said.
He was not in love with Margaret
Strangways, but he was a man who
owed a deep debt of gratitude to her
father which he never forgot, and that
fact may have partly accounted fol
his acquescence against his better
judgment in this impulsive girls reck
less intention. When he had come tc
Lendal solely to act as medical at
tendant to Ralph Strangways it had
been at no little personal sacrifice, but
DR.. Brewer had made the sacrifice
without hesitation. He had never for
gotten how once, years ago in his
medical student days, this girls father
had saved him from the consequences
of an act of mad folly that might have
spelt ruin for him.
What had better be done? NJ
time ought to be lost in warning him,
the girl said, quickly. Il am almos
surprised he has not seen Mr.. Hume
and the detective from the stage-as
he cannot have done, or he must have
BETRAYED some sign of recognition.
had thought of writing a note, but i
will be better to go myself" She
half rose as she spoke.
mo, you mustn't do that" he said
quickly. 'I'll 60
"Why shouldn't 1? Oh, I suppose
is a little unconventional-wha o
that?" with half-impatient laugh
I'm afraid I'm always doing uncon
ventional things; you see, have thu
| Strangways blood in me. And wha
does it matter if only 1 can warn HIM
in time? Don't you see, no one will
suspect me; and l want you to be out
side to help him then as l could not,
she said, with an air of eager excite
ment mo one will ever suspect m
of having warned him."
''But-what would Capt. Hughe
say?"
Jim? Oh, I think'I know what Jir
would say!" And a soft smile crep
into her face. "He has foolish wa
of thinking whatever l do is right
Besides, Jim's sympathies are Away
for the under dog!'"
jim Hughes was Margaret Strang
| WAYS lover. now with his regiment i