Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1909-08-05

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hind the closed door had been too faint
for him to distinguish the tones; but
he was sure that it must be an hallu
cination on the Others part.
It's impossible he said.
mo, it's true; that was Jack Lath
om's voice!" the blind man said. in
tone of conviction. Jack Lathom'l
| In that room!"
The door OF the drawing-roon had
opened suddenly. and the two men
standing on the threshold of the study
heard Hilda's voice saying:
Il will go and tell Stephen that
Then, as the girl appeared at the
doorway and saw her brother and MT
Grale In the hall, she checked herself
abruptly in the middle of the sentence
The blind man walked across the
hall to her and said, quietly:
You may trust me, Miss Hilda.
heard his voice just now, and know
who's in that room. I'd do anything
In my power for Jack Lathom, that
I've known from . lad. You may trust
mel"
The words. low as they were, had
been distinctly audible in the room.
Lathom came forward, and at the
sight of him Stephens face went
white.
II know. OF course. that I can trust
you, Mr.. Grale!" Lathom said, grip
ping the blind mans hand. "Ruthen,
you see I've turned up again like q
bad shilling. after being hunted from
pillar to post. I owe it to this lady
that / escaped the clutches Of the
police sent to arrest me two nights
ago. Miss Strangways"-and he turned
to the girl-"this is Mr.. Ruthen, one
of my many good loyal friends, who
helped me weeks ago to make my es-
cape from Wildfell." he said. warmly.
The words stabbed the rector guilt
". A loyal friend"--he who had been
screening at this mans expense the
woman whom at that time he had be-
lieved to have been Philip Hume's
slayer!
Miss Strangways' name hardly sur
prised him. as he bowed at the intro
duction. Bonholt Hume had said that
It was at the house Of Anthony Strang-
ways cousin that Lathom was be-
lieved to have sheltered
Strangways, who had not vet an
swered his letter asking for the ad-
dress Of Olive vanstone.
The rector averted his gaze from
Lathom: the blind mans sightless
eyes seemed to be bent on his face,
almost a. though they could see and
read the self-accusing thoughts pass
ing behind it. He remembered Mr.
Grale's impassioned appeal:
Il haven't betrayed you. parson; but
aren't you going to speak now?"
Though the blind man stood silent,
Stephen Ruthen could read that ap-
peal again, dumbly expressed in his
face.
Aren't you going to speak nowf II
only you would speak,"
There was sudden heavy knock
on the front door. startling everyone.
a swift look Of fear crossed Hilda's
face.
quick. out Of sight" she whispered
breathlessly, to her lover, almost push
Ing him back into the room. Fly
By the window. II 1t should be the
police!s
Stephen himself went to the door
before old Martha could come out Of
the kitchen to answer the knock.
With rush Of relief Hilda saw that it
was merely telegraph boy.
The telegram was from Anthony
Strangways-his answer to the rec
tors urgent letter. He CURLY de-
clined TO furnish Olive vanstone's ID
dress.
There was queer light In stephens
eyes - he crushed the strip Of bur
paper 1ercely II his hands ana walked
back % the drawing-room, whore the
blind man still fingered. speaking tol
Lathom and Hilda Marxaret Strane-
Ways VA not there; feeling that Jack
might wish. to speak alone With lii
friends. she had told Hilda that ehe
would visit n another room. ana had
altpped quietly Into the study.
Anthony Str1ngways refuses "a
give me- her address: 10 doubt this
woman hare shielded. ana whom
stu would have warned. has forbid
IN him - tn ~ where u ana her.
I might havs been her worst enemy
that 10 tre1ts ~ ~ this woman
ga whope - rye fastened thin NM