The searchlight., 1909-01-08
Through a
WOnan'S Heart.
By Sidney Warwick.
BY Sidney Warwick.

I stay any longer: / have exceeded the
time the doctor allowed me-he said
| might only see you for a minute or
| two, and that was not to let you talk.
We want you to get strong and well
quickly. you know
He stole out OF the darkened room.
Olive had forgotten, II was like
miracle. A load seemed 10 have slip
ped from on his shoulders. II only
the finding of the dead man did not
touch that sleeping memory to life;
that was the only danger. He prayed
she would never remember! Or IL she
did remember and this man who was
priest drew In his breath sharply
she must be convinced in spite OF her
self that 1t was only some fancy Of her
delirium that had never touched ner
real life: that 1t was absolutely inn
possible she could have killed Philip
Hume.
He was a minister of God-but he
was also a man, the man who loved
her And IL lie could save her
The day passed, bringing no news.
The thaw was temporarily arrested
that night by brief return Of the
frost-it was thawing again the next
morning; but the frozen snow OF
those three weeks only surrendered
slowly. Another day passed.
II was on the third morning that the
doctor with some reluctance gave per-
mission for his patient to go down
stairs for little while. She was still
TOO weak to walk more than a few
steps: she had to be carried down.
In the study a great fire OF logs reared
cheerfully up the chimney; Olive sat
looking white and frail, staring intent
ly into 1t. Outside the rain beat on
the window panes: now AMI then n
clod of snow would slide over the gut
ter of the roof and fall with a thud
desk.
Hilda was busy In the kitchen cook
ing. She put gay, smiling face In at
the door at intervals snatched from
her duties: she made such charm
ing picture, with hCf sleeves rolled mp
| almost to the shoulder. her pretty
rounded arms covered with flour. that
| Il was a pity Jack Lathom could not
/ have seen her then. When the door
I had closed Oh her on one of these fys
/ ing visits, Olive had spoken again OF
Philip Hume.
TO all my questions you only say
| that he is not at home" she broke
out presently. Il believe You are keep
ing something back from mel an
sure you are keeping something
back" she cried.
What should be keeping from
you?" he asked. evasively. He has
rot been in the village for three
weeks"
The rector had averted his face t.
avoid meeting her questioning eyes
the unexpected challenge of her word
had disconnected him. He bent dowl
as IL to examine one OF the keys oi
the tiny bunch hanging from the key
hole of the top drawer: he was afrai'
she might read In his face how mucl
her words had disconnected him.
That top drawer of his desk Stephel
Ruthen had for three weeks KEEP
locked. although he was man VIII
seldom locked up anything; had KEEP
1t locked and the key in his pocket
He had had occasion to open tn
drawer that morning: the sight o
what lay inside had made him wonde
again row he was eifectually to &c
rid of it-that sinister piece OF evi
dence connected with an as yet und.s
covered crime. II was so dihicu!t U
disEose OF such pieces OF Evidence
TREY had a way Of turning up agai'
sln.ost miraculousiy, as criminal rec
ords so frequently showed. rs thong
fire could not destroy them. nor cart
or water hold them.
He had closed the drawer an
locked il. Now on an Impulse
turned the key and pulled open th
drawer again. and looked al the thin
living there as though IL possessed
T orrihie fascination for him-the n
ye,ycr tha; he had brought back o
that fatal night. tiny weapon, ruste
. in places. There was mark OF rus
staining the top sheet OF q pile OF sci
mon paper or which ii lay. The brow
splash In the center of the white shee
gave il grotesque resemblance I
an ace Of hearts.
: Stephen had feared to leave tn
weapon near the scene of the TRACED.
afraid lest in some unforeseen wa
IL might prove a clue implieatin
Olive. How was he TO dispose OF II
: He had asked himself that question
dozen times.
At first sight 1t had appeared a sin
nile matter; SO small an object ha
seemed thing easily made ava
with: yet it had presented difficu
ties. One night he had stolen OF