The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-01-15

murder. I understand that the police
are searching all about the place
where the poor chap was found. in tho
hope Of finding some clue. Mind you.
the body was dragged some distance
after the crime: I'm sure OF that.
The murder seems to have been absc-
lutely motiyeless. Who could have
done It? Surely no one in the viii
lage."
The doctor paused for breath. The
rector seemed to have nothing to say.
"Bonho.t Hume is tremendously up
get-only natural. Of course" went on
Dr. Sprent. who was fond of hearing
his own voice. Though. mind you.
was never disposed to swallow i'm.
plicitly all I have heard about the
almost fatherly affection OF Bonholt
towards Philip. Or, IL SO. I doubt IL
Philip returned 1t particularly deep
ly. I've heard him say-but that's
neither here nor there. Bonholt's
bundle Of nerves. He refused. with
display Of fear almost childish. to
go into the room where the POOR chap
lay. There was sort Of cowardice
about his attitude, as 1t seemed to
me-" the doctor added. impatiently.
DIR .Sprent was one of the very few
reorle with whom Bonholt Hume had
never been a favorite.
"Sprent. want you to call in at
the rectory as you pass" Stephen
said.
why, you don't mean? Miss
Vanstone was SO much better this
morning. though | wasn't sure 1t was
quite wise OF me to let her go down.
stairs so soon"
Unfortunately she heard of this
this terrible thing. Burrow blurted
out the news In her hearing" said
the rector. His eyes were troubled.
I~"She tainted away. We got her up
stairs--but she hadn't came back to
herself when came out to find you"
That's bad. Any excitement's tho
very worst thing for her now"
The two men walked to the rectory.
The doctor came downstairs. looking
very grave.
I'm going to send over a sleeping
dranght. I'll look in again tonight.
She seems very excited-unduly ex.
cited. Do you know II she and the
dead man were acquainted?" he asked.
II think 1t possible" said the
rector, turning his face away as he
spoke.
| Throughout that afternoon Stephen
/ did not go near the sick room. DR.
| Sprent sent over sleeping draught
for Olive; the nurse told him that II
had taken effect and that the patient
was sleeping heavily. DR.. Spreni
came again that night.
She's asking for you. Ruthen," he
said. after leaving his patient. only
it's better you didn't see her until the
morning: 1t would only excite her
I've promised that she shall see yor
in the morning. II she's better.
great pity she heard about this case
She seems to take an excessive inter
est in luxurious how people in al
abnormal state of health will excite
themselves unduly."
He paused: then added abruptly
I'm afraid that nurse isn't as dis
Greet as she might be. One woul,
hardly have thought she could be sucl
a fool, but she has actually been talk
ing TO the patient about the murdere,
man. SPOKE to her pretty sharply
gave the woman to understand sh
should never nurse another case u
nine. | feel | ought to tell you thi
that I'm going to say Ruthen Sh
told the patient that 1t was though
in the village your sister and poo
Hume were likely to make mate
of it. Miss Vanstene asked me quit
excitediy II 1t were SO. What a foe
that nurse is"
. Stephen looked at the doctor wit
a startled face. What a terribly con
plicated knot it was! He ought I
have stopped Burrow-and what II
! credible thoushtlessness had pc
D sessed him to leave unlocked tn;
drawer where the revolver was?
+ had been open scarcely more than a
!. inch: the CLINT Of the barrel mul
have attracted Olives attention
1
Q had instinctively associated tn;
weapon with the tragedy.
And the nurse could hardly ha,
, been guilty of more unfortunate 1
q discretion in coupling Hilda's nan
i with Hume's to Olive. But it was
relief TO know. as he did know. tn
Hilda had never cared for Hume. II
y fear of such possibility had impell,
n him more than week ago 10 put Il
Z question to his sister. Hilda h,
n laughed and told him that she had ,
o ready refused Philip Hume. and wou
never marry him under any circu
q stances.
It had been on the tip Of Hilda
tongue to add her news about ia,
= Lathom and herself. only she had l
= Trained. Jack was to prove hims,
before any one knew of their engas