The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-02-05

ieU DAY or 080ts . 0uS0es ~ 0fWoyO
been In attendance. And Do you mean
70 assert that this lady would leavs
her bed, leave The house, In her crt-
teal state o. . stormy winters night?
Really. Mr.. Crale!" And he tried to
force . laugh. II sounded strange
and unnatural in his own ears. and
you also maintain that was there!"
-Parson, wasn't mistaken II
couldn't be mistaken" said the blind
man. with quiet obstinacy.
The agitation in the voice that had
accosted him in SO strange and per
emptory a fashion on that night had
not disguised for him Stephen Ru-
then's voice. And why should the
speaker have displayed such agita-
ton?
Then, do you mean that you think
1t was I who killed Philip Hume?"
said the rector. In oddly-strained
tones: ''or that I was ever present
when he met his DEATH"
Then his choking. pent-up feeling
swept him away into passionate
outburst:
"Grale, you've known me long
time. Will you believe me when I
say this? Iswear to you solemnly
that I neither killed Hume nor did I
see any one kill him. That is the
truth. You must believe IT,"
I've known you for long time,
parson. and i've always known you
too for q good man. But whoever It
was stopped me"-he spoke doubt
fully. as though the odd conviction
was not dispelled-"whoever 1t was.
he was not alone. There was
woman. And those two knew some
thing, were frightened Of something.
The man who seized my wrist was
shaking all over as II In mortal fear.
Parson," he whispered. earnestly.
.'those two, man and woman. could
tell how Philip Hume died! And
there's a mans life an innocent
mans life-in the BALANCED"
Stephen Ruthen saw the yelled I'M
passioned appeal In the words-ther
personal appeal.
II cannot help YOU" he cried.
The situation was becoming unenii.
rable. "You won't be convinced that
the woman in your mind was danger.
ously III in bed on that night; the
doctor or the nurse can prove II.
have no more to say. You mus. look
elsewhere than at the rectory TO- TO
woman you profess to have met. Coed
day"
Stephen turned away. He won.
dered II he could much longer endure
the horror OF this terrible secret
thrust upon him. the burden OF which
was weighing down his soul. With
face white and drawn he walked
Through the gate to the rectory.
In the house he went straight 10
his study straight to the locked Graw-
er of his desk. He took ont the 10
volver resting on the rust-stnined
sheet OF sermon paper. and walked
out Of the rectory again.
The blind mans conviction was I'M
shaken that the woman he had spoken
of TO the police had been Olive. and
her companion of that night himself:
that positive impression stephen Rn-
then had carried away from the inter-
view: Grale's conviction remained ut
terly mistaken.
And In face OF this danger that had
cone from so unexpected quarter,
II was more imperative than ever
row The he must get rid of the
weapon he had taken from Olives
hand as she bent over the dead man
IN the snow-that weapon that. II Ii
were found. might fasten on Olive tho
guilt CT Philip Hnme's death. That
necessity was urgent, paramount. He
must dispose of that possibly fatal
evidence OF her act before accident or
Oh; nee could reveal It's testimony TO
othe ieses than his.
Stephen Ruthen walked towards the
river. II has swollen and discolored:
great masses OF half.melted snow
were Icing hurried down by the cur,
rent. lie walked the he part where
tie liver IVES said 10 run deepest
On lie bank he paused and locked
esref.lly round. No one in sight.
Quickly he flung the revolyer iala
n.id-siream. The brown sa's.ias
waters closed over II.
The dusk Was drawing In ~ Sic.
phen Enthen walked slowly back 10
the rectcry: chin wind that nal
cone with the twilight wh'speres.
through TIE ieaaless trees In the
dcsclate ga:den. There was a fire in
his study. and as he walked up the
sath TO the house, from the window
set IL fn angle glowing pathway of
fefseeted warmth and color streamed
cut ever the wintry garden.
Then tie qaivering trail OF light
that redeemed across the half.melted
snow was blurred and broken for
moment. as some one In the room. In
visible to Stephen from where he
stood owing TO the angle Of the win.
dow. passed between the fire light
and the names arresting his aftentiOn