The pioneer express., 1909-05-21
CHAPTER xxI,-(cont,nued.)


'Halloa, Strangways; let> me in
troduce you to my wife, Mrs. Carr
And, of course, understood. Well,
you know you can get married more
easily in Scotland than in this coun-
try-quite legally tied up, as cases in
court have proved. again and again.
The next day at the house where
Hume had been staying heard all
about It, They'd been married in the
farmhouse parlor in Scotch fashion;
they had declared themselves man
and wife before several witnesses, and
they had entered their names, and
the witnesses had entered theirs at
testing the marriage. in the farmers
big old Bible. And there l saw the
names Frank Carr and Olive Van
stone. l was sufficiently curious to
make inquiries about the legality of
such marriage, entered into by the
woman, at any rate, in good faith.
Absolutely valid"
Bonholt Hume sat without speak.
ing. Even Strangways felt suddenly
rather sorry for him.
That, of course, was in Phils faith
ers time. When l next met Phil he
had succeeded to the property.
asked him about the lady. He was
nervous, l could see. He told me he
lad kept his marriage quiet because
CT his father, knowing the old man
wouldn't approve; that since, unhap-
PLY, the lady had died suddenly
abroad, in Switzerland, to his great
grief, he had never made his mar
rage public. and asked me to keep
mum. had no reason for doubling
him, especially as he spoke so feeling
ly of her. Judge of my surprise at
seeing woman l believed dead in
Wildfell tonight. Then l understood.
Evidently Philip had tired of her
had discarded her; told her some
tale, no doubt-either that the false
name invalidated the marriage, or
that they had been married on this
side of the border-not married at all,
in fact. And now she must have
traced him here in some way, evil
IDENTIFY not knowing she was legally
his wife, for one can only assume
that; of course. she'd have come for
ward otherwise. l don't think any the
better of the dead mamie was al
ways rather blackguard where
women were concerned. I'm no saint,
but draw the line at some things"
Il don't believe it," said Bonholt.
suddenly. His voice seemed to have
changed, like his face. His tones
quavered to shrillness.
We'll, naturally you don't want to
believe it. Only don't have any illu-
sions. 1t strikes ME that if any kind
friend were to open Miss Vanstone's
eyes you would find you hadn't so
much right to this Inheritance as you
imagine. If kind friend told her,
Bonholt- You see, could prove
who Carr was. Oh, there'd be no
difficulty, with my help, in proving
her the dead mans widow"
"Hush!" muttered Bonholt sudden
ly leaning across the table and spas
medically clutching the other mans
wrist. The door opened and the
manservant came in-the taciturn
manservant Bonholt had brought with
him from the house he had lived in
when Philip was alive. Matthew
Bland his name was.
DO you know. Hume, l don't like
that man." said Strangways, after
Matthew Bland had gone out again.
Don't quite know why, but the feel
ing's there. I've noticed that he
watches you, when he's in the room,
as if
"Oh, that's nonsense!" cried Hume,
quickly. But there was look in his
| eyes that, no less than little ex-
| citement in his manner as he made
the disclaimer, impressed Strangways
curiously. Was Bonholt Hume afraid
of this man, he found himself won
| dering.
Bonholt crumbled his bread ner-
vously for moment; his lips moved
as if he were about to speak. Then
suddenly he added
"And suppose it were true-I don't
say that believe you-what do you
mean to do?"
Il was waiting for you to say that?"
said Strangways, lighting cigarette
thoughtfully. after all, she might
have difficulty in proving, her case,
unless chose to go to lot of trouble
because should be an important
witness; no end of trouble for me
Besides, Just now it so happens that
you can be uncommonly useful to me
Hume"
'You mean about these old debts, >
said the older man, quickly. "Ol
course, unless remain in undispute6
possession-and really 1 can't think
this woman has any real claim
couldn't settle up with you. O.
course, what l said just now abou
the gaming act was merely joke-el
you understood that?"
Just so; fascinating joke" mur
INJURED his guest, dryly, who knew ex