The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-06-25

tOE HIS NluuhESS NkAS Ahoa
| she whispered.
Lathom was playing a very minor
Part in the piece. which was boiled
| down weston Of an Adelphi play-that
of an old sporting squire. who shared
the almost inevitable fate Of the
| white haired father Of melodrama, OF
| being dispatched early In the play by
| the scowling heavy man. But for his
| voice Miss Strangways would hardly
have recognized him, as he made his
entrance in hunting pink" so admira-
be was his makeup as an old man.
But the well-bred voice, that was
| subtly different from the STACY tones
| Of the rest of the company, was I'M
mistakably that Of the man whose
service 10 her had made this girl feel
she must warn him Of the threatening
letter that had followed the incident
Of the morning.
| II was the doctor whose suspicious
had first been aroused by the sight Of
the man sitting next to Bonholt Hume.
Unless I'm much mistaken. that
chap there's detective" he had whis-
pered, suddenly, almost as Miss
Strangways pointed Lathom out.
/ Startled, the girl turned her eyes
to the man indicated: like Mr.. Hume,
he was watching the actor on the
stage, evidently with the keenest in
terest.
| Where the audience sat the lights
were scanty, but she was near enough
to see that startled expression had
come into Bonholt Hume's eyes as
they rested on the man on the stage:
she saw, too, the flicker Of smile
playing grimly about his companions
mouth. Remembering the insolent
threatening note. Margaret StraAg-
ways felt convinced that the doctors
suspicion was right. The man looked
like a detective; and, II SO. his pres
ence there seemed to confirm the as
sertion In the letter that had sounded
to her almost incredible, that the man
who had placed her under a sense of
obligation was the John Lathom who
had given the police the slip after his
arrest on murder charge. The same
thought was In the doctors mind.
1T looks uneommonly as II the
statement In that note was fact"
he said to Miss Strangways: "Bonholt
Hume, the near relative OF the dead
man. being here-and that man sitting
by him, who has the unmistakable cut
of plain-clothes inspector"
DIR. Brewer had come to the theater
because Margaret Strangways had
made the request, never for an instant
| ~ thn ucCayffpn
In the note. Now his opinion had al
tered. Not only was the man on the
stage in all probability Lathom but
evidently the writer of the note had
kept his threat of informing the po-
lice.
Under these circumstances what
do you think of doing?" he added to
the GIRL. ''If the man is the escaped
prisoner Lathom. as seems probable,
you know you have no right to set
yourself against the law by warning
him. even II warning could be of
avail, with detective evidently
watching the man."
III l had not thought there was a
chance that he might be Lathom
there would have been no point in my
coming. the girl said. with look OF
determination showing In the anxious
face This man did me service
shall not forget, and II ! can ! mean
to repay It."
"But-a man with such charge
hanging over him7"
= don't believe he killed Philip
Hume" she said, quickly. There was
no conclusive evidence against La
Thorn: you said that yourself. It's
absurd to think him murderer
shouldn't have liked murderer as
liked this man from the firstl Oh. II
was splendid the way he knocked tina,
brute down who kicked my dog!" she
cried. The doctor smiled. He knew
of course. that this essentially femi
nine argument In Lathom's favor was
utterly illogical: and he knew equally
we'll that 1t was useless TO argue
against woman's convictions. This
girl OF impulse added decidedly: .0l
course, I'm going to help him II can
and you'il help me, won't your"
He nodded. An odd look had come
Into his face as though an idea had
struck him.
Yes: since you are set on 1t. sup
pose must help you," he said.
He was not in love with Margare
Strangways, but he was a man WHIT
owed q deep debt Of gratitude to hel
father which he never forgot. and tina
fact may have partly accounted TO
his acquescence against his bette
| Judgment In this impulsiye GIRLS reck
: less intention. When he had come Il
Lendal solely to act as medical at
tendant to Ralph Strangways 1t hat
: been at no little personal sacrifice. blu
. DR.. Brewer had made the sacri6c,
without hesitation. He had never for
! gotten how once. years ago In BIZ
! medical student days. this sirl's fathe
D had saved him from the consequence
|. of an act Of mad folly that might hav,
! | suelt min for him