The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-01-22
Through a
Woman's Heart.
By Sidney Warwick.


know you have some news-some
news about that cruel crime." cried
Olive. suddenly. watching his face in
tertly.
II was as though her woman's sharp
ened intuition had caught. under the
forced lightness of his manner, hint
not 10 he hidden OF some inward ter
rible anxiety
News? Nonsense What news
should | have? No time TO listen to
gossip, busy man like I am. I can
! see you are bent on making yourself
i'll again II I'll let you, but don't
mean TO let you! Seriously. Miss
Nanstonc. YOU are harming yourself
! by this excitement. You must really
not tax your strength by talking"
Almost imperccptibly he beckoned
to Stephen Ruthen, who followed him
from the room. shutting the door after
! him.
Outside on the landing the forced
smile fell from the doctors face.
How strange that she should guess
| IT," he said. with a jerk OF his head
t0WaFuS the uOOT.
Then you have news about the
tragedy" said Stephen. with dry lips
The doctor nodded.
Il heard II just as ! was leaving
| your gate and It's upset me. Ruthen-
because | like the lad. and won't
believe a word of 1t. though the evil
dence seems very strong"
what in heavens name do you
mean?" cried the rector. looking into
the others face. with vague. new,
terrible fear gripping him.
Neither man caught the sound OF
the light footsteps of bare feet cross
ing stealthily over the floor OF the
room they had just left. or heard the
handle as II was cautiously turned. or
saw the door being opened an almost
imperceptible space. Behind the
chink of the barely opened door. to
which In a spasm of fictitious strength
she had dragged herself. Olive was
listening feverishly.
| DIR. Sprent answered.:
Young Jack Lathom They've ar
rested him for HGme's mnrder!"
Arrested Jack Lathom?" echoed
stephen Ruthea, as though for an in.
slant his mind could not grasp the
meaning of the words he had heard.
The doctors announcement had
come TO him like blow In the face
swift, binding. utterly unexpected
blow. under which his senses reeled.
For moment the walls seemed to
/ rocE about him. Lathom arrested for
! Hume's murder,
Sprent saw his agitation. He grip.
I ped the rector's arm.
/ Pull yourself together. man." he
said hurriedly.
Almost as he spoke his grip tight
cned systematically, rs terrible cry
broke upon them. startling them i'm.
mcasurabiy-a cry of horror that rang
in the ears Of the listening men. A
! cry in a woman's voice-Hi.da's voice
-zHilda who had just heard from
Martha the news the doctor had
brought
For second they stood aghast:
| then made a simultaneous rush down
the stairs. Hilda stood In the hall.
with look of incredulous horror
! frozen en- the white face. shaking like
slender lily in a wind.
"Stephen-Stephen. | can hardly
/ believe it's true" she cried. wildly.
They've arrested Jack-my Jack-ar
/ rested him. the man | love. whom
! have promised to marry. They've ar.
rested him for Philip Hume's MUIR
! der" The pitifnl cry trailed on into
! silence.
Stephen Ruthen listened speechiess
md aghast. How blind he had been
-Hi!da and Jack Lathom were in
love. were engaged to be married. 1t
had only needed this TO add the final
eliminating poignancy to the situa-
ton. His sister loved Jack Lathom-
and Lathom was in prison charged
with this mans death.
And upstairs on the landing the door
had opened wider. and the white
clad, barefooted figure was listening
intently. with a feverish light OF tri.
umph burning in her eyes. as she
whispered to herself:
| huc" otcpncn WAS
shielding some one! That revolver
was proof. And it's Lathom-because
Hiida loves this man Stephen Is
shielding the murderer of my love!
Though 1t won't bring my dead to life
at least his murderer will sufIer-oh
| am glad his murderer will suffer.
And Hilda's loyer|I owe no symnathy
or pity TO this girl who stole Franks
love from met"
Hilda suddenly broke out again We,
hemently:
stephen. why don't you speak !
What are you going to do: You must
do something to save Jack. Oh. how
Whipping Dead Horses.
II Is often more difficult to revive