The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-03-05

y By his silence, the man whom be
had thought Of - lying In tho district
jail committed for trial. here in his
house! Hilda ran mp to her brother.
"Oh. Stephen" she cried. pitifully.
can you help us? Jack has escaped
only Mr.. Thornton has come to tell
US that the police are on their way
to the rectory In pursuit What Is to
J be done!"
I'm afraid there isn't much chance
for me. little girl-only 4; my free
dom's doomed to be but a matter Of
an hour or two have this at least to
, be grateful for that I've seen YOU"
Lathom said to her In low voice. his
eyes bent on the face Of the girl he
loved, from whom circumstances must
| SO soon sever him. whet' sr he won or
lost his desperate bid for freedom.
by this time all the roads in the
neighborhood may be guarded"
NO. there's a lighting chance still."
broke In Thornton. I'VE won't anti.
cipate failure whilst there's a hope
left. You have everything to gain
and nothing to lose by fighting to the
last ditch-and. by Jove. We will, and
you can count on me to the last drop
OF petrol! I'm chiefly responsible for
this. rector. and as a man you'll agree
with me. | know. With the case SO
black against him, Jack might be
found guilty at the assizes But you,
Mr.. Ruthen, know that he's an inno
cent man."
What do you mean?"
The rector had started. His face
was very white. For a moment the
words had sounded like an accusation.
The next moment he realized that II
was his conscience which was accus-
ing him. that had given the words that
semblancc. rs Thornton said quickly:
Don't We all know tive, his
friends? As though Jack could have
done it,"
OF course" Stephen assented, hur.
riedly. Il need not tell you, Lathom,
that all your friends are convinced
that 1t was not your hand that sent
Hume to his account
Thank you for that. Rutaen." cried
Lathom: and the warmth Of his tones
made the rector vince. But which
way are the police coming. Thornton?
II I'm to make dash for Il there's no
time to lose" He turned again quick.
~ to the rector. Both Hilda and
Thornton urge me to make my escape
II ! can. In view OF the circumstances"
OF course" cried Freddy. impa.
tiently. whilst you're safe In hiding
your friends can be working to ind
the guilty man. And he can be found
shall be found. have a theory that
that marked card found In the dead
mans hand contains the key to the
mystery. once We can unravel It.
You'd be mad-stark. staring mad
to give yourself up. We must get you
through the Gordon somehow. Ell, par.
SOM"
"Oh, yes. yes!" broke In Hilda. with
| vehement eagerness. before her broth.
err could speak: and Thornton.
glancing across at the beautiful face,
troubled and tear-stained in the fire.
light that cleaned red In the dusky
waves of her hair. felt for an instant
something OF envy Of Jack Lathom,
desperate though Lathom's position
| was.
| SHOULD like to think some such xirl
would cry her pretty eyes out II I
were in similar peril" ran the thought
in his mind.
stephen Ruthen did not speak. The
new situation had come upon him with
| a sense of shock
Thornton had spoken OF Lathom ly.
ing safe in hiding until. by the tracing
of The actual slayer OF Philip Hume,
the accused mans innocence was es-
tablished How utterly illusionary the
hore was'
Stephen knew-he alone Of all the
| world knew-that Lathem's only
chance of being free man again was
in standing his trial and being acquit-
Ted On The ground that the evidence
did not justify conviction. since only
one person knew who was guilty. one
person who would not speak-him.
| self.
| ITO es continued.l