The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-06-04
as they walked down the street. /

|, as they walked down the street. He
was new to the neighborhood. = tall.
clean-shayen man with a dark face.
about whom no one knew much. Old
DIR. Hill used to speak OF him slight
ing,y-but then DIR. Hill was feeling
very sore. He had been friend as
well as the medical adviser Of Ralph
Strangways until quite recently: ev-
cry one In the town had been sur
prised when they heard that his serv-
ices had been dispensed with and .
new doctor installed in his place.
Il warned Strangways that his
chance of living till the day Of the
city and suburban was Of the slight
est" he would say bitterly: land we
have yet TO see whether this man
he's called In. in defiance of all claims
Of friendship. quite apart from Ques-
lions of medical etiquette. can work
miracles with his new-fangled theo
ries."
1T was not until the new doctor
came that the gates began to be lock-
ed regular. and his old friends were
| told that the Squire couldn't be seen."
the publican remarked to Joe that
afternoon. "If he's as well as they
make out, why shouldn't he see his
friendss Do him good. | should think
Besides folks who've got good money
on Pride o. Life want more than the
Doctors bare word that the Squire Ii
| improving-especially after what old
DIR. Hill said about his chances Of see
ing the day OF the race. It's curious.
too, about that door
"what door," asked Joe.
well, a door has been fixed. shut
ting of one wing where the SQuire's
rooms are had that from one OF
the servants; you can't stop servants
from talking. They never see tho
| master now-there's q nurse from
| London. Mysterious, I call IT, MY
belief is that he's very Ill indeed. and
| they don't want people to know II
though why they shouldn't beats ma.
And the folks that try every known
dodge to get q glimpse Of the owner
of Pride o. Life-well. you'd BIO sur
| prised!'
whist sort OF folks!"
Racing touts-m~n In the pay o.
the bsg bookmakers-all sorts OF meA
interested In the race. Yon sea
there's been more money invested o.
this race than usual SO long before
the event. Naturally. there are plenty
who've got a very good reason for
wanting to throw II Pride o Life's
likely to rim, which she can't DO II
the Squire dies before the race. Why.
I've Rad a couple OF 'em In only this
morning, asking questions--no mis-
taking 'em or what they're after, ny
| as they think themselves-one Of 'em
little chap like broken.down jock
ey. Well. they can bet their lives
theyn moi have a chance Of getting
inside the gates Of the big housed"
said the landlord. as he turned away
to serve another customer.
As II happened. the two men Of
whom the publican had spoken might
have succeeded In at least getting
into The grounds of this carefully
guarded house that afternoon, but for
Jack Lathom.
He rad gone out to study his part.
Most OF his time seemed 10 be occu-
pied in either rehearsing or learning
his lengths" when he was not actu-
ally playing. owing to the nightly
change of bill. and. like most actors.
ne found the hest way Of committing
the words to memory was to declaim
| them a1oud-a proceeding that natu-
rally neeessitated solitude. He had
betaken himself to field with con-
venient gap In the hedge. In lane
running down by the side OF the wall
ed grounds Of the Grange. This field
had been lucky discovery made
early in the week. when he had Como
| to have r daylight glimpse Of the old
house that had strangely aroused his
interest.
One or two ruminatiye cows stared
| at him as he walked up and down.
possibly thinking that he was speak
ing the absurdly .melodramatic words
OF his part for their benefit. Then.
suddenly. he broke on In the middle
l.of a speech and stood listening with .
good deal more interest than he was
able to infuse into the part he was
to play.
Ito BE continued.)