The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1909-06-25
CHAPTER xxvll.-continued.

prised to meet Mr.. Hume in Lendal;
then the thought had almost at once
crossed his mind that no doubt the
warning telegram to the police at
Fellsgarth had been prompted by
none other than Bonholt himself,
though he would not wish to appear
in the matter. Seeing Bonholt here
now rather confirmed that view.
NO. sir; there's plenty of time.
Lathom won't have any suspicion, if
our information happens to be correct.
shall know him at once, if it's our
man, no matter how he's made up.
Time enough to act then
What name is he supposed to be
playing under?" asked Bonholt, care
lessly.
"Craig-John Craig"
The detective smiled to himself. 1t
rather amused him, this pretended ig-
norance, when he felt pretty certain
that the wire had been inspired by
Mr.. Hume.
II wonder if it is he?" said Bonholt,
in his si'kiest tones.
He pulled out bundle of telegraph
forms from his pocket, as if he had
suddenly remembered something, and
observed to his companion with a
smile:
"Your reference to wire has just
reminded me that I shall be too late
to dispatch telegram tonight after
the performance is over"
I'D %lo
form by the glow from the coke bra
zier; then made his way to the en-
trance through knot of people enter
ing, and asked a question of the man
taking the money.
"Yes, sir I'll find lad who'll take
a note behind for you in a minute or
two" said the man at the receipt of
custom
Bonholt handed him the telegraph
form folded like a note. and with the
name Craig" on it, and put a silver
coin into the mans hand.
"It's urgent" he said.
1T shall go almost at once. sir"
AS he spoke the man whistled for a
lad, and Bonholt Hume went back in
to the theater He found the detect
i've no longer in his seat.
For, as a matter of fact, something
had suddenly aroused that individuals
suspicion concerning the alleged tele-
gram; and the detective had unob-
trusively followed the figure of Bon
holt Hume as he walked out, and had
heard the doorkeeper's words. that
he would find lad to take a note be-
hind the scenes.
II see," the detective had muir
INJURED to himself. keeping we'll out of
sight of Bonholt Hume; then it
wasn't Hume who sent us the wire
after all. as thought. This begins to
get interesting"
He saw the doorkeeper give the
folded note he had received from Mr.
Hume to a boy.
take this round to Mr.. Craig" he
heard the man say.
The detective followed the boy. Out
side in the open. as the lad was about
to go in at the door at the back of
the wooden building, the detective
drew alongside of him. and with a
quick dexterous movement took the
note out of the boys hand. almost be-
fore the latter realized what had hap
pened.
TITS all right my lad" he said.
quietly. There's been a mistake.
The gentleman doesn't want this de-
Nvered to Mr.. Craig at all. He sent
me after you"
The detective read the note scrubbed
on. the telegraph form. smiling rather
grimly..
Inspector From Fellsgarth here
looking for Jack Lathom." were the
words on it.
pretty deep. Mr.. Hume-only not
quite deep enough!" he remarked to
himself, as he tore into the theater.
He dropped into his seat without
a word as to his discovery to Mr..
Hume. who had no suspicion in the
world that his warning to Craig had
miscarried.
Got your telegram off all right, l
suppose. sir?" he said to his neighbor,
with perfectly grave face, Its for.
tunate you remembered it in time"
Eyes; 1t was rather urgent" said
nnsuspecting Mr.. Bonholt Hume.
The curtain had already gone up
and almost as the detective took his
seat the man who called himself John
Craig made his appearance on the
tiny stage. where, besides the detect
i've and Mr.. Hume, another person
among the audience was watching
eagerly for his entrance-an unsus
pected factor in opposition that the
detective. who had so easily thwarted
Bonholts plan, was not reckoning
with: Margaret Strangways, who had
already formed suspicion who the
detective was and why he was there
Bonholt Hume had tried to war;
Iathom and had failed. II this CIR
failed also. nothing could save Jacl
Lathom.
AS Lathom spoke his opening lines
Miss Stransways had turned with
quick exclamation to DR.. Brewer, VIII,
had escorted her: from the cast o
Oharacter1 she saw that the name Thu
Z.