The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1909-02-12
CHAPTER x,.-fcontinued).

against tne nrengnt, MS nngerS 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 it's 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 if 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 it was
gone, before going out. Stephen re-
membered that distinctly. Had locked
it-three weeks had made it habit
with him-and the key was in his
pocket! And Hume had opened the
drawer!
Stephen could not be sure whether
there was a key in the lock now, and
he was too intent in watching Hume'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; his
hand dived swiftly into the drawer
and felt round it, his eyes were bent
down with intent expectancy--then a
sudden CLEAN of disappointment swept
over his face, as though he had failed
to find some object that he had ex.
pected to find there.
Was the object of Bonholt Huma's
mysterious movements the revolver?
What else could he have been
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 start Bonholt Hume looked
up, and the eyes of the two men met.
Probably Bonholt Hume had never
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 jerlsed himself into
an erect position from his attitude
of bending over the drawer in which
Stephen Ruthen had surprised him,
and tried Intellectually to screen the
open drawer with his body.
Stephen went away from the win
dow and walked into the house
straight to the study. Bonholt Hume
greeted him with rather poor pre-
tense of being at ease; he spoke with
q nervous rapidity.
81 just called to see you, Ruthen.
I've been waiting in the dining room
for you; then thought, as you might
be some time, I'd have look at your
books till you returned, and took the
liberty of an old friend of coming
in here. There was a book I wanted
to see"
Stephen Ruthen's face was stern.
He said, quietly:
"And did you expect to find it in
that drawer?"
"Ah, wanted to explain that, how
it was you came to find me looking
in your drawer-I expect you thought
it was like my impudence?"
And Bonholt Hume gave a little
laugh, as if to carry off an awkward
situation lightly. Ruthen did not
laugh. He stood looking hard at the
older mans face in the freight.
"You will pardon the liberty,
know, when I tell you the cause
Look" He held up his wrist and
pointed to the button hole of the cuff
from which the link was missing
Fact Is, I've lost one of my sleeve
links somewhere. 1 noticed the loss
as l was looking at book on you:
desk. 1t occurred to me the linl
might have fallen into the top drawer
which was open an inch or two"
open? Are you sure you are no
mistaken, Mr.. Hume?" Stephen said
quietly. II was under the impress
sion that I had left that drawe
locked"
| He had more than an impression
that he had locked it; he remen
bered that, as he was leaving III
| study with the revolver, 1t had struc
him how he had mechanically locke
the drawer again, although the nee
for that precaution no longer existed
He was sure he had locked it, an
the key was in his pocket.
Locked! My dear Ruthen" M
Hume seemed quite surprised. "Br
how could have pulled the drawe
open il locked quite apart from IL,
fact that had 1t been locked coul
hardly have expected to find m