The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-05-28
Through a
WOman'S Heart.
By Sidney Warwick.

A
needed the glimpse of the blind or
ganist to remind Stephen Ruthen--
though 1t had been Grale's whispered
words, startling him with the revela-
ton that some one else at least sus-
| pected that he and the stranger wom-
| an at the rectory knew something OF
the tragedy, that had impelled Ste
phen to go straight to his study and
take from the locked drawer that
weapon, where for three weeks 1t had
lain on the pile of sermon paper and
sink it where the river ran deepest.
And he had come back from dis
/ posing OF that piece of evidence. TO
see through the window Bonholt Hume
in his study. bending over that draw
er, empty now-yet, which the rector
| was convinced had been locked when
he left IT. That discovery had dis
| quoted him. Could 1t have been for
that revolver that Bonholt Hume was
searching-the weapon that lay now
in the sitting mud of the river bed be-
meath the moving iron drags of the
men in the boat?
Stephen asked himself that ques-
ton, even as he listened to Bonhol:
Hume's nervously glib explanation"
and the weeks that had passed had
not brought the answer. He thought
of 1t now. as he walked along the tow.
ing path towards the little group OF
men interestedly watching the opera
tons in progress.
Among them. talking to an inspect
or Of police who was directing the
work of dragging from the bank. the
rector saw Freddy Thornton. Thorn
ton, to Judge from the tolerant smile
en- the inspectors face. was kindly in
structing that Official how he. Freddy.
would have conducted the dragging
but even his best friends regretted
that he was SO omniscent.
In the middle of his advice to the
inspector he happened to glance round
ard see Ruthen. He came forward to
meet him.
"Hal.oa. Ruthen. I wanted to see
You; was going to call at the rectory
on my way back. Bad business this,
isn't 1t. about poor Ned? I've Just
been trying to persuade his wife to go
home instead of watching the drags at
work. only she won't: she seems al.
most distracted. poor body. though
from all accounts Ned used to lead
her an awful life. Women are rum,
aren't they?"
stephen had already caught sight
of Ned's wife, feverishly watching the
men in the boat: one or two village
women were standing by her who
were offering we'll meant, IL rather
tactless, sympathy. pointing out that
her bereavement might be blessing
in disguise. that. after all. Ned had
been far from being an ideal husband
until Eed's wife turned suddenly on
them, with passion in her pale, tear
less face and babe them hold their
whisht." to the surprise no less than
the Indignation OF her would-be con-
solers.
by the way" went on Thornton,
i saw your guest, Miss Vanstone.
last night. when was seeing q friend
of by the late train to town; caught
a glimpse of her face In a carriage
window as the train was moving of,
and ] rather expected to find you on
the platform. but | couldn't see you.
Had no idea Miss Vanstone was leav-
ing you too soon."
stephen made some vague reply.
He would have liked to ask IL Olive
was alone. and. II not, whether Thorn
ton had recognized her COMPANION.
But Freddy volunteered no inforna-
ton on that point.
why l wanted to see you this
morning. Ruthen. was about Lathom.
haven't been idle in that matter. l
can tell yon!' went on Thornton. evi.
IDENTIFY full OF suppressed eagerness.
And believe I've made a discovery.
You remember that rather disreputa-
BILE looking man who came to the club
the night Philip Hume and Lathom
had their row, and asked for Hume
under the name of Carr? Well, I've
traced him. which the police failed to
do. and-halloa." he broke off, in sud
den excitement. Il believe those chaps
with the drags have found sone-
thins!"
The men in the boat were rowing to
the bank. shouting out to the inspect.
or. Not the s..n effect they were
searching fort was some small
thing that glittered for moment in
the spring sunlight that the iron
teeth had brought to the surface of
the water. And swift suspicion
flashed across Ruthen's mind as he
and Thornton walked quickly up TO
The little group of bystanders who
crowding about the inspector in The
eager excitement of this sudden dis
,overy.
a reyolver." Stephen heard
soice exclaim. before he was near
enough to see what one of the rer.
sriling men in shirt sleeves had
landed to the officer.
But instinctively before he heard
the word spoken he had known what
the river had given up. A revoier,