The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1909-03-12
CHAPTER xIv.-(continued).

tEotS' VA 1ts0e W AI1lI ' AiS3iAS, SAAN "Ao
would listen to blind mans vague
assertion? The circumstances of the
case and the nurses lie were suffi-
cicnt ;libi.
Stephen Ruthen had even looked for.
wIrd TO the date of Lathom's trial with
a sert of fierce Impotence, anxious
fer lie suspense to end, telling him.
self that it was impossible Lathom
could lie found guilty-imoossible.
The man must be acquitted; and his
si,ence-a deep wrong and sin against
Latkcm though it was-yould have
saved Olive. Olive must never know
what in her madness she had done;
tie world that would Judge her with
a judgment different from his must
never know. At all costs he must
s,--..e!d her, save her. 1t was not as
though any jury could convict Lathom
Gil the evidence, Stephen told himself
vehemcntly.
And yet if Lathom were to get clear
away tcnight-were not brought up to
trial-his innocence could never be es-
tablished. In his heart Stephen Ru-
tlen hoped tiercely that Lathom might
be recaptured; it would be the best
Tor Lathom in the end, for with the
Trial must come acquittal He refused
10 consider any other possibility: he
told himself there was no other posi-.
bility.
, How could he, Stephen, speak the
VOID that would doom Olive, his be-
loved, to all that the revelation of his
secret must bring? He would rather
sin 10 the end against Lathom than
speak it-this man who would not
have deviated by the merest hairs
breadth from tn enarrow path of hon
or to spare or save himself.
Whilst these thoughts were conflict
ing in his mind Thornton was sneak
ing rapidly.
I've sot my car in the lane.
don't know if the best thing wouldn".
be to make bolt for it back along
the way l came. Mr.. Ruthen, you
must lend Lathom one of your over
coats; in these light tweeds he's con-
sDicuous. Come, we've wasted too
much time already, and every moment
counts"
They went into the hall. At the foot
Of the stairs Hilda stood listening for
II instant. Olives door was shut:
no sound from within.
Mr.. RutFen, you won't mind if we
run eff with this coat of yours?"
Thornton took it down from the stand
as he spoke. Hurry, Jack!"
LatEom slipped into it, and me-
chemically put en- the black soft felt
Lat that his friend held out to him.
Thornton stared at him for a mo-
ment.
BY George!" he exclaimed, excited
~ as sudden thought struck him.
Freddy tore off the white silk muf-
fer he was wearing and wrapped it
round Lathom's neck, letting one end
hang down over the coat. He snatch
ed stick from the stand and thrust
it into the others hand.
You're the blind man, Mr.. Grale;
in d dim light you're the blind organ
list to the life he whispered. Hur-
riedly he pulled the coat collar up
about Lathom's ears and crushed the
wideawake hat down over his brow
"StCop bit-why, it's transforma-
ton! That's the way out for us,
don't you see? For the next half
hour you're Grale, the blind man"
In the dim light of the hall Lathom's
figure in this borrowed attire was GER
tainly like that of Mr.. Grale; even
Stephen was struck by the resem-
blance. The blind organist affected a
somewhat clerical cut in his dress.
Almost as the words were spoken
Hilda cried, in low, warning voice:
Listen! What is that?"
Hurried, stealthy footsteps could
family be heard passing round by the
side of the house, and other footsteps
farther away. coming up the path
towards the hall door.
The police!" muttered Thornton
with groan. and one of them gone
round to the back to cut off escape
that way! Back and front botl
guarded"
Dismay had fallen on the little
group. Only to Stephen Ruthen die
this climax bring almost a sense of re
lief. Since Lathom's arrest he hat
not known moments peace--woult
Enot know a moments peace until tn,
suspense was ended with the trial an,
acquittal of the man he was injurin,
;, so deeply by his silence. If Lathon
succeeded in getting away, he Gu
himself off from the one chance o
clearing himself.
An uncomfortable sob broke fror
| Hilda. She swayed unsteadily; thos
footsteps sounded to her like the kne
|, of their l,st hope. Lathom caught he
in his arms.
r.. Nerve yourself, Miss Ruthen; 70
mustn't break down! Well save hi,
yeti" cried Thornton. excitedl
3 Jack, there's only one bare chanc
I and it depends on your carrying
!: through with a bold front-but thel
Q Ia a chancei Mr. 4tRuthen vou,tl 40,