The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-06-04
Through a
WOman's Heart.
BY Sidney Warwick.
CHAPTER overwhelmingly

CHAPTER overwhelmingly
stephen was asking himself that
question now. He had not come upon
the tragedy until some ten minutes
after II had taken place. II was the
sound OF the distant shot, which the
wind brought to his ears as he stood
at the door OF the rectory that had
made him run instinctively In the d.
TectiCn whence the shot had proceed
ed. Finally he had come upon the
tragedy-olive bending oger the dead
man. clutching the revolver that
Thornton was examining now.
But 1t was Olive who had shot
Philip Hume?
That had been hts instant natura,
assumption. He had remembered her
wild threats. her fierce, passionate
words. as she told him IN the vestry
of the church how irreparably this
man had wronged her. That and the
fact that she had stolen out. I'LL as she
was, and had gone In the direction Of
Hume's house all pointed'to one thing.
He had assumed that thereVdver was
hers, that she had brought It with her
when she came to Wildfeli-that IT
could have belonged to any one else
had never once entered his thoughts.
How blind he had been. how ready to-
assume that she was guilty?
Whilst these thoughts aiished
through. his mind. Thornton 'wss
speaking to the inspector.
What is this thing doing at the.
bottom Of the river? Bonholt Hume
ct such store by 1t. And look--fise
chambers loaded and one discharged
ffeddy was saying, with signin-
canoe OF tone. And it's Of the same
caliber az Lathom's revolver: takes
this same cartridge. It was because
che bullet that killed Hume fitted
Iathom's revolver that caused the
magistrates to commit him for trial.
Well. here's another revolver that
would take the same cartridge--yos
compare that bullet with the bullet
from one OF these cartridges, Inspect
brand with one chamber dis
charged! What do yOa male Of
'that?"
One chamber discharged-Iut not
by Olive! Stephen REthen felt him
self shaking all over IN the rush al
tremendous relief at that thought. Il
weapon that could nud have been IN
her possession when she stole out of
the rectory-how could she have fred
It?
And IL Olive vas inKsocent, who was
guilty!
It was BonAoft's revolver. Thorn-
ton asserted. stephan reAenbesed
how, long before the tragedy was
known. Bonholt Hume had virtually
accused Lathom. RS though he were
preparing the ground for suspicion:
It was Bonhoh who Ind everything To
gain by Philips death: Donhor who
lad been 30 inexplicably searching In
hat locked drawer. as though In some
way he had come to know that the Ia
tai weapon lay there.
Stephen Ruthen Pulled himself up
IN the midst or these thoughts. He
,fealixed that his mind was leapinE IN
swift suspicion that might be
rs baseless n he nov believed his
'bu0psNsWA "a ohbS ~ 0nSO OEGu- uG
revolver might have passed ont OF
Bonholt Humess possession long be-
sDre the tragedy.
Thornton and the inspector we're
soil talking In lowered tones; they
had walked away from the little
group cot bystanders. Mechanically
kept pace with them.
~You may take II from me that In
6mholt Hume's revolver. Thornton
Was saying. And there are one or
two questions Bonholt has got to an
swa-for the circumstance OF this
weapon being found here. with one
chamber discharged. has an ugly, sus.
piciO1s look In connection with the
murder. He's got to tell us when this
revolver was last in his possession,
and II he can explain how it came to
be At the bottom of the river..
You may safely leave 1t to the
chief Inspector to make any necessary
Inquiries. Mr.. Thornton" said the Of
hcer. dry!y. Certainly none can be
made Of Mr.. Bonholt Hume today. for
| saw him Seave .Fellsgarth this morn
Ing by train"