The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-10-08

Detmold. inwardly tuning though
he was, remained sileat with IN effort.
He knew beyond question that the
Squire had been dead long before the
race. only he read the hint in the
superintendent words. And so far
As that contemplated deception was
concerned. the motive. Of which was
obvious to him on the face Of II, II
Was nothing to Detmold. What he
did care about was to lay his hands
on Jack Lathom. who. he was sure.
WAS hiding at the Grange.
IF Lathom Is at the Grange well
have him. only. unfortunately. II would
seem you have nothing In the nature
Of proof that he has even been near
the place." went ON the chief Official.
dryly. IF. for instance. you had seen
him
II did see him-when he was i'm
personating the man lying dead in the
room upstairs" said Detmold. impati-
emily.
The superintendent smiled.
But. on your own admission. you
thought It was the Squire at the time"
he said. struggling his shoulders.
And Of course 1t was the Squire
must have been!"
The speaker had known Mr.. Strane
ways well. had had great respect for
him: on the quiet. the superintendent
was fond OF = bit Of racing himself.
And even II the story Of this man.
who. after all, did not belong to the
district. had . shred Of truth In It
but then he was not willing to ae..it
to Detmold. at any rate-tha; he
entertained the possibility for mo
ment.
IT'S house OF mourning" no wen,
on. more sharply. land We can't go
disturbing people on mere supposition.
without q vestige of proof. Haven't
you been long enough In the force to
know that? And don't go talking
about this absurd theory you've got
into your head. to cause annoyance to
the dead mans relatives" he added.
And never SO strongly In his life
had Detmold been tempted to be rude
to . superior ~ then. when he saw
his chance Of capturing Lathom slip
q second time through his fingers.
As matter Of fact. Lathom left the
Grange that same day as soon as
nightfall came. His part at the
Grange had been played. But for his
promise to the dead man he would
not have attempted to evade the police
on the night Miss Strangways had
driven him to the rectory. After
Stephens story he felt convinced that
there was no case against him.
II am TO give myself up" Lathon.
said TO Margaret Strangways. a. he
said goodbye to this girl with the sad
eyes. "Only not In Lendal. or suspi.
cion might be aroused that have been
hiding here. and that must be avoided
at any cost"
He stood holding her hand for
moment ~ they parted, looking into
the sad face. He had . very genuine
feeling Of friendship and gratitude to-
wards this girl who had helped him
so disinterestedly. and he felt deep
sympathy for her in her hour Of sor.
row.
And the plot that had failed--no
doubt. Jack Lathom told himself. he
ought to have been ashamed of his
share In 1t. the part the dead man
had prevailed on him TO play. In or.
der that Pride o. Life might run
that, II the horse won. this girl might
not be left q pauper. Only. straight"
AZ Jack Lathom had always been. In
this case he was not ashamed; II
seemed to him . mere bubble that
would have prevented the horse from
running-only he had liked Margaret
Strangwsys the more for the scruples
that had made her refuse. before the
news came that Pride o. Life was dis.
qualified. to profit by this "pious
fraud"
And her outlook was not 30 hope
less as her father had feared: Lathom
was glad. In leaving her. to know
this. Lady Risdene had unexpectedly
smoothed the path for her nephew
and Margaret: their marriage had be-
come possible ~ soon as the lovers
wished.
Goodbye and good luck" she said
-"and thank you for what you wanted
to do for me-"
Ito be contInued.l