The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-06-25
NO. ron mustn't do that" he said.

NO, you muuluk 90 t0Als nc 8dlus
quickly. TIL 60
why shouldn't 1! oh. I suppose Il
Is a little nconventional-what OF
that?" with a half-impatient laugh.
I'm afraid I'm always doing uncon.
ventional things: you see, have tho
Strangways blood In me! And what
does II matter IL only can warn hmm
In time? Don't you see, no one will
suspect me; and want you to be out
side to help him then as could not"
she said. with an air of eager excite
ment. No one win ever suspect me
OF having warned him."
'But-what would Capt. Hughes
say?"
Jim? Oh, think know what Jim
would say!" And q soft smile crept
into her face. HE has foolish way
Of thinking whatever do is right.
Besides. Jim's sympathies are always
for the under dog!'"
Jim Hughes was Margaret Strang.
ways lover. now with his regiment In
India. As the doctor saw the look that
had come into the proud. beautiful
face at the thought his words had
stirred, he felt inclined to be envious
Of "Jim." though Jim's prospects OF
being able to marry for years to como
! were Of the remotest, the young fel.
low being as poor as Ralph Strang.
ways and his daughter would be II
Pride o. Life failed to restore their
falling fortunes.
Perhaps you are right: certainly
there's no time to be lost" said tho
doctor, briefly. mo doubt the de.
tective will act as soon as the curtain
falls"
Very quietly he and the girl slipped
out Of the theater. Meanwhile the
detective had leaned over to Bonholt
Hume.
Face altered by the makeup. OF
conrse-but that's the man, ! think
he said.
The detective was smiling: Il meant
n good deal to his wounded vanity, the
prospect of laying hands again on tho
man who had once slipped through his
fingers; he was smiling. too. to think
OF Mr.. Bonholt Hume's little ruse.
which he had nipped In the bud. Why
had Mr.. Hume tried to warn Lathom?
II was rather curious under tho cir.
cumstances. He was watching Bon.
holt Hume's face. The appearance Of
the man on the stage who called him.
self Craig was so altered that, but for
the warning note he had intercepted.
and the change Of color In Mr.. Hume's
face as the actor made his entrance
the detective would have been by no
means sure that he had run his man
to earth.
Not a bit like Lathom! Your rs.
sumption seems TO me absurd" re-
piled Bonholt. hastily, wondering i'm.
patiently whether Lathom would get
his message in time: evidnetly 1t had
been too late to catch him before he
made his entrance on the stage.
Would the man have the sense to bolt
at once? Bonholt Hume had no par.
ticular friendliness for Lathom; In.
deed, he had virtually accused thia
man after the disappearance OF Philip
before the tragedy came to light; but
he was desperately anxious now that
Lathom should slip through the de-
IeGIiteb CtulCn0b. N0t lue lehbl Ull
In the world like Lathom." he added.
perhaps you are right" the other
said. dryly. rising and walking towards
the entrance. He waited there until
| the curtain should fall on the first act.
He felt he could AFFORD to take his
time.
Meanwhile Margaret Strangways had
gone quickly to the door at the back
| OF the wooden erection. Unceremo-
niously she flung 1t open. to and her.
self close by the wings of the tiny
stage. The climax at the end OF act
/. was being reached, heralded by
tremolo chords on the cello. the ono
stringed instrument In the orchestra
| OF three: on the stage sho saw the
old squire tplayed by Lathom) fall un-
| der the murderous blow and lie pros
trate In the patch Of moonlight: other
characters rushed excitedly on to tho
stage. Then In a twinkling change
came over the scene: the Illusion OF
reality vanished. the murdered" man
came to life. the carpenter In his shirt
| sleeves rushed on to the stage and be-
/ gan to shift the borders" The cur
tain had fallen on the flrst act.
/ Ito BE continvsd.)