Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-05-06
Through a
-
WOnan'S Heart.
By Sidney Warwick.
By Sidney Warwick.

The hint of the words was unmis-
taxable to Bonholt. He had known
that the question of those old gam
bling debts of his to Anthony Strang-
ways would crop up, but he had hoped
their discussion would be deferred till
after dinner. He did not answer.
"Of course, now you'll be able to
settle your debts of honor, Hume
went on Anthony Strangways, calmly,
since his hint was disregarded. ':And
| know what satisfaction that will
be to a man like you"
GAS a matter of fact, Strangways,
what I've come into isn't worth any
thing like what you think it is said
BOnholt Hume, abruptly, but still with
his pleasant smile. "And a racing
man like you doesn't need to be told
that gambling debts aren't recovera-
BILE by law Have some more wine"
Thanks" There was a smile on
the dark, cynical face Strangways
filled his glass and pushed the de-
canter across to his host He was
not surprised. He knew BOnholt bet
ter, perhaps, even than Bonholt him
self suspected; whatever others might
do, this man of the world had always
been able to read his host like book
But he could afford to smile tolerantly.
He had a trump card up his sleeve
Eyes, I know that. But, of course,
only rank outsider ever pleads the
gaming act. Men like you and myself,
Hume, don't do it, eh? It's rather
amusing to hear you talk. I should
think you'll manage to keep out of the
workhouse, anyway"
The smile died in Bonholt's face; it
had needed rather an effort at the
last
Look here, Strangways, | don't
mind telling you Philip made ducks
and brakes with what his father left
him. Besides, the foundry in Fells-
garth isn't doing anything like so well.
All this dumping down of American
steel rails has affected it. I might be
able to make an Offer a compro-
mise"
Come, you've got everything-and
l know that Hume was pretty warm"
said Strangways in his dry, unruffied
way. you were heir-at-law. BY the
way, Hume, since it wasn't left to
you by will it would have been awk-
ward for you if Philip had ever mar.
ried?"
BonhOlt laughed.
But since he never did marry" he
said, Il don't trouble my head wheth-
er it would have been awkwardlv or
not
"Ah, you're a philosopher, Bonholt.
But about Philips death-rum, mys-
FERROUS affair, wasn't it?" said his
guest who for all his carelessness had
very definite point in view to which
he was leading the conversation. "You
don't suppose this young Lathom did
it?'
Bonholt looked up at the speaker
suddenly for moment, as he was
pouring out more wine. Then he look
ed down at the glass again. What
else is one to Think" he said.
Everything else. There's no case
against Lathom. He threatened Phil
ip after he had row; what of that?
I've had rows On race courses before
today, and told man that the next
time | met him I'd do this or do that.
To call an angry Quitting of passion
proof is nonsense. And it was said
ne was jealous of Philip. Rot! La
thom's not the sort to kill a rival.
We're in England and men don't do
things like that, not men like Lathom.
| suppose the magistrates had to COM
nit him, because of the evidence of
the revolver; but I doubt if a jury
would have found him guilty"
But there was no one else who
could have had any cause for doing
it, said Bonholt Hume, quickly
"Oh, people with motives strong
enough to impel them to murder don't
necessarily advertise them" said
Strangways, with careless shrug
'And in a case like this look for a
motive. Such motive, say, as re-
Venge; passionate woman, for in
stance, who has cause to feel herself
deeply injured by a man, or the mo-
tive of man who would benefit by
his DEATH
The glass that Bonholt Hume was
raising as Strangways spoke never
reached his lips. Perhaps his fingers
unconsciously frightened with too much
pressure on the slender stem of the
glass; it snapped, and the cup of the
glass fell shivering to atoms on the
table. The wine flowed in a blood-red
line across the white cloth between
Bonholt Hume and the empty space on
the wall where Philips portrait had
hung
How clumsy l ami muttered Bon
holt, confusedly, bending his head
over the effects of his clumsiness.
Strangways laughed.
I'm afraid | startled you Of course.
| ought to have remembered that you
were the only person to benefit by
Philips death. But | was speaking
in generalities about murders in gen
eral. Of course, in this case that mo-
tive is ruled out of court That takes
us back to what l was saying about
the motive of revenge. Take that
woman, Miss Olive Vanstone.'
Bonholt was looking at him sudden
ly. very keenly.
Now, supposing a hypothetical case
-supposing that that woman-a pas
slonate woman with | should say.
Italian blood in her-had known Phil
Up" went on Strangways, speaking
quite carelessly, land had, for any rea-
son, believed herself deeply injured
by him, we should get her at once in
the position of a possible