The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-02-12
CHAPTER xI.-(continucdl.

CHAPTER xI.-(continucdl.
The person in the room was Bon
| holt Hume. He had the air Of having
| entered hurriedly. He was standing
by the desk. his figure thrown up
against the freight, his fingers grasp
| ing the handle OF the top drawer
that drawer where for three weeks a
| revolver had lain under lock and key.
staining the sheet Of sermon paper
with its blot OF rust.
Bonholt Hume swept a quick. fur
tive glance. first at the door, then at
the window. But stephen was not
near enough to the window to be
seen: he was swallowed up in deep
shadow where he stood.
Then. swiftly. as II treasured that
his action could not be seen, Bonholt
Hume pulled open the drawer.
But Stephen had locked that draw
er. though the need for locking II was
/ gone, before going out Stephen re-
memt cred that distinctly. Had locked
it-three weeks had made II habit
with him-and the key was in his
pocket! And Hume had opened the
drawer!
| Stephen could not he sure whether
there was a key In the lock now, and
he was too intent in watching Humo's
face, shown up distinctly in the fire.
light. as the intruder pursued these
amazing proceedings.
The white-haired mans face was
full Of suppressed eagerness: Lis
hand dived swiftly into the drawer
and felt round 1t, his eyes were Lent
down with intent expectancy--then "A
sudden CLEAN of disappointment swept
over his face. as though he had failed
pected to And there.
Was the object OF Bonholt Hune's
mysterious movements the revolver?
What else could he have len
searching for In that particular
drawer?
But how could this man have OBJ
tanned the faintest inkling of its pres
ence there? And what was the ex-
PLANTATION OF this stealth and mystery?
For a moment Stephen Ruthen
stood with shaken nerves, in the grip
of a sudden dread. But only for mo-
ment; then anger and resolution
came upon him simultaneously.
He stepped up to the window. his
face close to the panes.
With a start Bonholt Hume looked
up, and the eyes Of the two men met
Probably Bonholt Hume had neve,
been more taken aback In his life
than when he looked up from his
mysterious proceedings in the rec
tors study to see the rector himself
watching all his movements. His
jaw dropped; blank, utter consterna
ton showed in every line OF his face
Instinctively he jerked himself ints
of bending over the drawer in which
Stephen Ruthen had surprised him
and tried Intellectually to screen tn,
open drawer with his body.
Stephen went away from the win
dow and walked into the house
straight to the study. Bonholt Hum,
greeted him with a rather poor pre-
tense of being at ease; he spoke witt
nervous rapidity.
just Sdlcu u sct sou, AutHcN
I've been waiting in the dining room
for you: then l thought, as you nigh
be some time. I'd have a look at you
!. books till you returned, and took tn
. liberty Of an old friend Of comm
. in here. There was book wante
, to see"
Stephen Ruthen's face was sterr
He said. quietly:
And did YOU expect to find il /
that drawer?'
!. "Ah. l wanted 10 explain that, no,
= It was you came to find me loolin
in your drawer-I expect you though
! 1t was like my impudence?"
:, And Ronholt Hume gave it'll
: laugh. as II to carry of an awswar
. situation lightly. Ruthen did nj
: laugh. He stood looking hard at tn
!. older mans face in the freight.
You will pardon the liberty.
know. when | tell YOU the caus,
Look" He held up his wrist an
pointed to the button hole of the cut
, f.em which the link, was MISSING
Fact is. I've lost one of my sleey
+. links somewhere. | noticed the los
= as | was looking ut a book on you
y desk. Ii occurred to me the lin
;. might have fallen into the top drawe
!, which was onen an inch or two"
Open. Are You sure you are nj
mistaken. Mr.. Hume?" Stephen sal
nnie1ly u YVES under tn. insnrs,
!, locked"
!. He had more than an impressio
y that he had locked it: he remen
- bered that, az he was leaving Ii
!, study with the revolver. il had struc
Tim how he had mechanically locke