Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-04-22
CHAPTER xIx-(Continued.)

guV'nor," explained Joe, alflly, INC
fear of that with him, you knowl'
Mrs. Chatterton turned purple with
suppressed indignation, Miss Peggy
Chatterton laughed-a very pretty and
charming laugh it was-and Mr. Chat
terton glared at the speaker, for mo-
ment Speechless.
F'Sir, if you would try to be little
more funny on the stage, where | pay
you adequately to be funny, and a lit
tie less funny off, where your face
tiousness is invariably ill-timed, no
one would be sorry, Mr.. Grisson,' he
said, witheringly, in his best ore ro-
tundo manner.
And then Mrs. Kirby had to inter
vene as peacemaker.
Supper over, the party drew round
the fire and talked lazily, whilst the
rising wind beat against the windows,
occasionally mounting to scream
about the angles of the old inn, only
emphasizing the peace and cOslness
within. The talk soon became profess
sional stories of incidents on tour,
the latest anecdote about the newest
theatrical celebrity, the prospects OF
their visit to Lendal. Jack Craig sat,
scarcely joining in the talk, smoking
and staring at the fire from his cor
ner of the half-circular oak settle.
1t was a queer new world, of new
customs and ways, into which he had
found himself plunged so unexpected
ly; but he liked it. The life was full
Of variety, full Of hard work that left
him little time for breeding; and he
liked his fellow members in the com
pany who had from the first made
him feeel one of themselves, in true
Bohemian fashion, on the strength of
JOes introduction OF him as "one of
the BEST" without any curiosity
manifested. at any rate-as to his an
tedents.
A novel, interesting life to a man
brought up as LathOm had been, and
he felt uncommonly grateful 70 Girls
son and Monty; but it was not to be
wondered at if he sometimes had his
black moods of depression, when he
wondered what was to be the end of
It. This rowing Bohemian life was
pleasant enough for awEile-for a
change-but when would he be able
to resume his own position again-go
back to the girl he loved? Would the
mystery of Philip Hume's death ever
be solved? There were times when
ha
upon him.
He had not written to Hilda. The
fear of the letter falling into other
hands deferred him Even though he
were to suppress his address, the post
mark on the letter might give the po-
lice clue. For that reason he had
written to no one, not even to his
friend Freddy Thornton, on whom, no
doubt, the police were keeping a
Watchful eye.
He had been afraid that Freddy
might get into trouble, in view of the
latter's reckless share in his escape;
and he had been relieved to see no
hint Of it in the newspapers that he
had scanned eagerly. The fact was
the police had their suspicious, but
had no proof. There was only the
BARRIERS assertion that in the dusk he
had seen a car which he believed to
be Mr.. ThOrnton's: the police had
Oyerhauled Freddy's motor car, to find
it's owner the sole occupant pro-
testing and virtuously indignant own
er at being stopped. The police still
had their suspicious, but not enough
proof to go on, and so Freddy had not
suffered for his reckless law breaking
fact which was a relief to the man
he had helped.
Faced by future that seemed blank
and hopeless, Jack Lathom sometimes
wondered whether that fight into
which Freddy Thornton had persu-
AIDED him almost in spite of himself
had not been a mistake-this flight
that cut him off from his friends, from
Hilda-whether it would not have
been better to face the trial Perhaps
it was the sight of the girl on horse
back that night, who had reminded
him of H!lda, that brought these
thoughts as he sat smoking medita
lively and looking into a fire. Almost
unconsciously he gave a sigh.
rs it so bad as that, Craig?" broke
in Joe, banteringly. q believe you're
in love, old chaplin love at first sight
with that girl you were so polite to-
Miss Strangways.'
80 that was why you were so Ions
coming didn't know you'd been en-
countering ladies on the road!" crieC
Peggy Chatterton, quickly, looking
sharply across at Jack And Joe
laughed as he saw the look 1t was
rather a jealous CLEAN, which afford
ed him a malicious enjoyment; for he
suspected that Peggy, who had shown
herself so tickle and heartless toward.
innumerabl eadmirers in her father!
company, was no longer heart-wholt
since Jack Craig had joined the tour
and he proceeded to give a highly
colored version of the incident
81 never saw a clearer case of low,
at first sight, said Joe, gravely shak
ing his head, seeing the color in Peg
gy's cheeks and chuckling inwardly
But I'm sorry I've given the shov
away. old chap. Have you heard O
Mr.. Strangways being worse, Mrs
Kirby?'
Hes very i'll, I'm afraid 1 dom
know rightly what's the matter wit
hinl-some long-standing disease, CON
plicated by heart trouble; he went tn
pace too hard as a young man" Mrs
Kirby in her younger days had bee