The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1909-07-16

Before the finding of the weapon in
the river yesterday and this new point
of view that had presented itself to
him, Stephen had made up his mind
that his silence must end.
Now the way had been made easier
for that belated confession by the con-
viction that he had misjudged Olive
in his thoughts. Yet he still shrank
from going to the police until he had
seen hcr-had told her of what he
knew of that nights tragedy, of his
determination to make a clean breast
of it. He realized that the police
might take a different view from his
own; the shock of the news must be
broken to the woman by him, not be
put b,untly to her by the police of how
she had been found with that weapon
in her hand by the side of man lying
murdered.
1t was possible that when he told
Olive some chord of memory might be
stirred in her mind; she might remem-
Der the events of that night-remem-
Der how she came to have in her hand
the revolver that beyond question
caused Philip Hume's death.
Now, fortunately, he had a clue by
which he could trace Olives present
whereabouts. Strangways and she
had Travelled together by the Lon
don train; Strangways must tell him
where he could communicate with
Olive.
II must lose no time in seeing her,
and then 1 must tell the police"
Stephen Ruthen told himself He did
not know Strangways' address, but
that he could find out
Bonholt Hume had not yet returned
to Wildfell. When he was interro.
gated respecting the revolver by the
police on his return, what explanation
would he have to offer?
Again and again it had required in
Stephens mind how he had caught
Bonholt prying into his drawer in the
study-the drawer where that revolt
yer had lain. What other motive
could the man have had but to search
for that weapon, the action of a man
pricked by a guilty fear? 1t was that
odd fact which gave an ugly look to
Bonholt Humes ownership of the re-
volver. if owner he was; and Thornton
had been positive in his assertion.
Mr.. Hume returned to Wildfell that
day; Stephen Ruthen unexpectedly
encountered him in the village that
afternoon.
Hilda was with her brother: they
were walking down the street when a
corner of the road brought them face
to face with the benevolent-looking,
white-haired man who had been so
much in the rector's thoughts Steph.
ems first impulse was to walk on with
out stopping; somehow he thought
that he found recurring again and
again in his mind since the revelation
of the ownership of the revolver made
him conscious of little sense of
shrinking constraint.
But. Mr.. Hume stopped.
"Ah, Miss Ruthen, I am glad to run
across you,'' he said, his face beaming
with it's most benevolent expression.
Il have been away from home; got
back at noon today. And have
brought back some news for you
"News?" echoed the girl. There
was something significant in the
speakers tones, and a sudden excite
ment flashed into her face "You
mean you mean about"
"Hush!" said Bonholt, looking
quickly round him, for in her excite
ment the girls voice was raised. Eyes,
about Lathom," he added, in low
tones.
For moment Hilda had to support
herself by her brothers arm; she felt
| herself trembling all over. News at
last of Jack Lathom, after the misery
of those weeks of silence that had
dragged YEARLY by since that brief
stolen interview with the man she
loved after his flight from the police.
Since those moments of agonized sus-
pense when he had passed out of the
| rectory under the very eyes of the po-
| lice who had tracked him there, and
she stood waiting tensely with a
dreadful fear at her heart, not daring
| to look from the window, hardly dar-
| ing to hope that the desperate ruse
Freddy Thornton had suggested as
the one chance of escape would sue
coed, listening to the measured tap.
ping of stick down the garden path,
as it were of blind mans progress,
until the fainter-growing sounds died
away in the distance, and, incredible
as it seemed, she had known that her
lover was still :ree-from that hour to
this Hilda had heard no word from
him, did not know whether he were
still in England or had succeeded in
getting out of the country, did not
know whether he might not be ILL.,
starving, desperate. Just at first in
the shock of the news dizziness
seemed to sweep over her.
But almost at once the girl conquer
ed the weakness.
"Quick. tell me-tell mel" she
whispered, feverishly.
81 went yesterday to see Mr.. Ralph
Stran1ways Of LendaI Grauoe vvhnse