The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1909-05-28
Through a !.
Wonan's Heart.
BY Sidney Warwick.

At the bottom of the river not fal
from where the police were dragging
lay the revolver that he had taker
from olives clutched fingers ON the
night Of the tragedy. It had no,
needed the glimpse of the blind or
ganist to remind Stephen aRuthen-
though it 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 WON
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 en- 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.
err, empty now-yet which the rector
was convinced had been locked when
he left it. That discovery had dis
quoted him. Could it 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 Bonholt
Hume's nervously glib explanation; -
and the weeks that had passed had
not brought the answer. He thought
| of ~ non, &c ho ,,,o Il,od alone <ho TOW,
ing path towards the little group of
men interestedly watching the opera
tions in progress. Il,
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
on the inspectors face, was kindly in
structing that official how he, Freddy,
would have conducted, the dragging
operations. Every one liked Thornton,
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
and see Ruthen. He came forward to
meet him. ~ -
"Halloa, Ruthen! Il wanted to see
you; was going to call at the rectory
on my way back. Bad business this,
isn't it, 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, if rather
tactless, sympathy, pointing out that
her bereavement might be a blessing
in disguise. that, after all, Ned had
been far from being an ideal husband
until Ned'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-
so!ers. ... .,sa-
by the way" went on Thornton,
Il saw your guest, Miss vanstone,
last night, when I was seeing friend
off by the late train to town; caught
a glimpse Of her face in q carriage
window as the train was moving off,
and rather expected to find you on
the platform, but I couldn't see you.
Had no idea Miss Vanstone was leay.
ing you too soon."
Stephen made some vague reply
He would have liked to ask IL Olive
was alone, and, If not, whether Thorn.
ton had recognized her companion
But Freddy volunteered no informa
ton on that point. zt. 80
"Why wanted to see you this
morning, Ruthen, was about Lathom
l haven't been idle in that matter, !
can tell you!" went on Thornton, evi
IDENTIFY full of suppressed eagerness
"And believe I've made discovery
I You remember that rather disreputa
BILE looking man who came to the clut
the night Philip Hume and Lathon
had their row, and asked for Hum:
under the name of Carr? Well. I'VE
traced him, which the police failed tt
do, and-halloa," he broke of. in sud
den excitement. Il believe those chap,
with the drags have, found some
thing!"
The men in the boat were rowing t,
the bank, shouting out to the inspect
or. Not the gins sheet they swer,
searching fort was some small
thing that glittered for moment ii
: the spring sunlight that the irol
teeth had brought to the surface o
the water. And a.. swift suspicion
flashed across Ruthen,s mind as b
and Thornton walked quickly up t
the little group of bystanders VIII
crowding about the inspector in tn
eager excitement of this sudden dis
covery.
"a revolver!" Stephen heard
voice exclaim, before he; was nea
, enough to see what one Of the pei
. spring men in shirt sleeves ha
| landed to the officer.