The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-08-20

-
should have belonged to him. How
was It discovered that II was hisf'
Stephen told Lathom how the wea-
pom had lain for weeks In the drawer
OF his writing table; that at last he
had thrown 1t into the river. OF the
suspicious interest that the man he
now knew to have been the owner Of
the revolver had manifested In that
locked drawer. the rector did not
speak. When he made his statement
to the police. ii would be his duty to
tell them; but no good purpose could
be served by telling 1t now.
so it seems after all. Ruthen. that.
though you suppressed these facts. It
would hardly have cleared me II you
had made . clean breast OF every
thing" Lathom said at last, looking
at the rector's face. 1t was almost
| lost in the shadow. but Lathom saw
that there was an agony Of shame and
remorse written there.
Jack" cried Hilda, swiftly-'but
won't this discovery about the revol.
yer clear you OF suspicion!"
He shook his head.
I'm afraid not, though no doubt 1t
will help my case. You see. II Miss
vanstone came upon Hume lying dead.
we have still to discover who his as
sassin was. Probably the police, who
don't like to be proved wrong. will
persist that l was the guilty man;
possibly their line Of argument now
will be that Bonholt Hume's revolver
was in Philips possession-that l
wrested 1t from him In q struggle
and shot him. Still. Ruthen. you will
tell them what you known"
Eyes; l have only waited that !
might see Miss vanstone. It seems
only fair to her that should tell her
what she Is as yet unconscious OF
how l found her on the scene Of
the tragedy, and warn her Of my In
tention. Tomorrow l 60 to London
to see her: then Immediately l shall
tell the police all l know"
"Odd that 1t should be Bonholt
Hume's revolver" Lathom said,
thoughtfully. IF 1t wasn't that we
know how devoted Bonholt was to the
dead man" He did not finish the
sentence. Suddenly, on an impulse,
he held out his hand to Stephen.
"Ruthen." he went on, quietly, less
than five minutes ago / thought
should never touch your hand again !:
only-well. think understand how
you must have felt. Il don't know
that shouldn't have acted Just the
same II had been in your place"
Stephen took the outstretched hand /:
he could not speak-something caught
In his throat Hilda still stood aloof
with hostile eyes. She could not for
give her brother SO easily. and some
thing of her feelings Lathom OWNED
from her face. Still holding Stephens
hand in his. he held out his other hand
to Hilda In the deepening dusk Of the
room-and In the shadows he Joined
their two hands together.
They had almost forgotten the pres
ence Of the blind man. who had stood
silent listener throughout the rec
tors confession. He was the first te
break the silence now.
"Hark! What's that?"
The window OF the drawing-room
at the back of the house. framed q
vista of the dim garden. from which
the blind mans quick ears had sud
footstep. The next moment q figure
appeared outside the window. ant
gave a low familiar whistle.
IT'S Freddy Thornton" cried La
Thorn: he felt little surprised tina
Thornton should have made his ap
pearance in this fashion. almost a,
though he had known that the fugitiv,
was here in this room. what lucl
that he should have turned up to
night"
Lathom went out quickly to opeI
the garden door to admit his friend
1t was several minutes before he cam,
back into the room with Thornton
: they had paused outside. speaking IL
. hurried whispers.
Strangways shamefully," said Lathom
And she must be growing impatien
J to be starting with SO long q journe.
! before her. Stephen. may l run up /,
. your room for q wash-Jove. l need it
: -before l 60. whilst you return I,
! Miss Strangways-
As the men went to rejoin Mis-
!. Strangways Lathom drew Hilda bacl
, into the room: he held her In hi
: arms for . moment close to him.
Sweetheart" he whispered. "w
may not be able to snatch anothe
: precious moment together before W
have to part; but after this revelation
Of Stephens leave you with q nes
{ hope that our parting Is not for long
+ that happiness IL waiting for us a
some not far distant bend Of the road
This clue may lead to the tracing O
r the real criminal"
{ They stood for . space In the din
A Glimpse Of the Past.