The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1909-07-02

sorry to disturb him. II he brought
a friend back with him." said the de.
tective. with fine air Of careless.
ness-''as think he did. fancy, as
matter Of fact, that saw him walk.
ing to the gates of the Grange With
a gentleman"
But the old man was not to be
pumped.
II saw no one with the doctor,
SIR" he replied.
The detective looked. hard at the
speaker; the old mans face was
quite impassive, but his interlocutor
was by no means convinced. That
the little racing tout, on whose in.
formation he was acting, was proba.
bly, an utter rogue he had no doubt.
but he believed that the man had
spoken the truth in this instance, be.
cause evidently he bore little good
will towards Lathom; the bruise on
his mouth was testimony to that.
Moreover, though the man. when
questioned, had professed ignorance
of it, the detective was pretty sure
that he had some knowledge of the
telegram that had informed the po-
lice of Lathom's whereabouts; and
under these circumstances his tale
had plausible ring about it.
Inside the house, as they were be.
ing shown by the servant into a
morning room, DR.. Brewer appeared
in the hall He stared as If sur.
prised to see these two visitors.
II hardly expected to see you here
again, Mrs. Hume" he remarked,
dryly.
Mr.. Hume was spared the necessity
of answering. The detective said:
"You are DR.. Brewer? / wish to
see Mr.. Strangways."
The doctors manner could not have
been more suave or polite
THAT, am afraid, is out of the
question. Mr.. Strangways is in a
critical state of health, and as his
medical adviser l do not feel justified
in allowing him to be excited by see
ing visitors. especially at SO late an
hour. Perhaps you can explain your
business to me?" he said.
The detective was watching him
closely in the dim light of the hall.
He remembered having seen this
man at the theater: he had trained
memory for faces. 1t was curious
that the doctor should have left the
theater about the time Lathom had
disappeared, if the tout's story were
not true.
81 am an inspector of police" he
said, curtly; I'VE had information
that John Lathom, wanted on q
charge of murder, was playing at the
portable theater here under the name
of Craig. Some one must have given
a hint for the man, for he bolted
from the place few minutes before
I went round to arrest him; bolted
in his stage clothes. l have definite
information that he was seen entering
the gates of these grounds not long
ago.
Nonsense, man." broke in the doc.
tor, smiling. Il can assure you the
gates are always kept locked; Mr..
Strangways is so pestered by unwel.
come intruders connected with the
turf that, by his orders, they are kept
fastened. Is it likely this man would
have been admitted-a stranger, and
in his stage clothes?"
"My information is that he was not
alone. In other words, DIR. Brewer,
that you lent him a coat and that
you admitted him. My informant is
outside ready to affirm this, and a
couple of the local police are guard.
ing each gate" he added, with sig
nificant emphasis, ito see that no one
answering to Lathom's description
leaves this place."
The doctor smiled.
II must congratulate you on your
energy; only fear your elaborate
precautions are wasted labor" he
said, suavely. at is true l was at the
theatrical entertainment, where 1 es.
corted Miss Strangways; 1 left her
there, having to return to my patient.
AS for letting you see Mr.. Strang-
ways to worry him with these ridicu.
lous assertions, simply decline"
ITO Be Continued.l