The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1909-06-25
Through a
Woman's Heart.
BY Sidney Warwick.

she whispered.
Lathom was playing very minor
part in the piece, which was . boiled
down version 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
service to her had made this girl feel
she must warn him of the threatening
letter that had followed the incident
Of the morning.
1t 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 Humes 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 Strang-
ways felt convinced that the Doctors
suspicion was right. The man looked
like detective; and, if 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 sense Of
obligation was the John Lathom who
had given the police the slip after his
arrest on a murder charge. The same
thought was in the doctors mind.
sit looks uncommonly as if the
statement in that note was a 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"
DR.. Brewer had come to the theater
because Margaret Strangways had
made the request, never for an instant
attaching an credence to the assertion
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 if warning could be of
avail, with detective evidently
watching the man."
IF 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 a look Of
determination showing in the anxious
face. This man did me a service I
shall not forget, and if can l mean
to repay it,
"But-a man with such a charge
hanging over him?"
81 don't believe he killed Philip
Hume" she said, quickly. There was
no conclusive evidence against La
thom; you said that yourself. It's
absurd to think him a murderer
shouldn't have liked a murderer as 1
liked this man from the first! Oh, it
was splendid the way he knocked that
brute down who kicked my dog!" she
cried. The doctor smiled He knew
Of course, that this essentially femi-
nine argument in Lathoms favor was
utterly illogical; and he knew equally
well that it was useless to argue
against woman's convictions. This
girl of impulse added decidedly: "Of
course, I'm going to help him if can,
and you'll help me, won't you?"
He nodded. An odd look had come
into his face as though an idea had
struck him.
Eyes; since you are set on it, l sup.
pose must help you," he said.
He was not in love with Margaret
Strangways, but he was a man who
owed deep debt of gratitude to her
father which he never forgot and that
fact may have partly accounted for
his acquescence against his better
judgment in this impulsive girls reck-
less intention. When he had come to
Lendal solely to act as medical at
tendant to Ralph Strangways 1t had
been at no little personal sacrifice, but
DR.. Brewer had made the sacrifice
without hesitation. He had never for.
gotten how once, years ago in his
medical student days, this girls father
had saved him from the consequences
of an act of mad folly that might have
spelt ruin for him.
What had better be done? Nc
time ought to be lost in warning him.
the girl said. quickly. II am almost
| aurnriood ho hoa mt ooos. NJ IY,.vn a