Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1909-08-26
Heart.
BY Sidney Warwick.
CHAPTER xxxv-Continued.


CHAPTER xxxv-- Continued.
| Her increduIous eyes were fastened
OH his face. Her lips moved, but she
did not speak.
i Finding you there, remembering
your wild threats Of revenge against
this man, suspected-can you won.
der that + suspected THAT you, and
none other, had fired that shot! Until
few days ago there was no doubt In
my mind that you had killed Philip
Hume. My only thought when found
got you back to the rectory that
night unseen by anyone I swore that
no one should ever know that you had
been on the scene OF the as then un-
discovered tragedy" he said, speaking
rapidly and feverishly. That was the
burden had to bear: to live through
the long weeks guarding my secret.
Hume had disappeared, all the village
was specializing about his disappear
ance; you were lying deIirious:
alone knew--even In my sleep /
couldn't get away from the dead man!
Then before the discovery OF the
crime you recovered your reason !;
and ron had forgotten stealing out,
half deIirious, that night couldn't
tell you what knew, what suspect
Cd. / told myself / would guard you
from that terrible knowledge. And
even when the man my sister loved
was accused I did not speak.
Horror, bewiIderment, incredibly,
ah found expression in Olives white
face.
"Oh, but Stephen, this is madness;
4 IL fmpossibie." she cried at last.
Had the rector lost his reason, that
he was obsessed by this wild hallu-
cination?
mo, 1t is true, Only I no longer
believe II to have been an act of
yours done in your delirium. Some
thing came to my knowledge within
the last few days, and when tell the
| police. az / must, / think you have
nothing to fear, for must break ST
lence now. Only before going to them
| wanted to warn you Of my Intention
But 1t can't be truei" the woman
broke out vehemently again. II
couldn't have been there--should
have forgotten It SO completely? You
are suffering from some wild delu-
| sion"
III 1t III q deIusion, how did the re-
voiver come to be In nay possession
that took from your hand that night?
| You saw 1t yourself-that weapon you
IIighted on BY chance at the very time
the news Of the discovery OF the
tragedy came. / was hiding that re-
voiver because believed was shield
| Ing you" said Stephen. II know now
/ 10 whom II actually beIonged--not to
ron. as I had believed: 1t was that
knowledge that convinced me you
could not have had 1t In your posses
sion Till after 1t was fred"
Then to whom did II belong" she
cried quickly.
| ITO Bonholt Hume"
/ Outside the room the rehearsal was
going on; the impatient voice Of the
| stage-manager came family 1t inter-
vals into the room, but neither Olive
nor Ruthen was conscious Of the In
lterruptionS, their thoughts griEped by
| ! drama more poignant 70 this man
ard woman than any sver played be-
hind Tie footlighSs II = mimic stage.
Then pfesently:
III this b true. II ron kept silent
70 shield me. ~ you thought, Stephen"
the woman was saying -still standing
Iby the door, conscious now Of 4
shrinking fear 0f this man with the
via. unnatura1iy bright syes, more
than half convinced that 10 was i
mailman whom she must humor-3'it
ID only another service Of many that
| have repaid With ingratitude. You
must ton the police. OK course; i
viii answer any questions. don't
wish ~ one word to keep you from
What seems tn be your duty
/ And now Olive vanstoiie was back
Oh the stage waiting for her cue,
nlled with On intense relief that
Stephen Ruthen was gone. Strang-
Ways watched her curiously, wonder
lhe what had taken place In the man.
sger's room between her and tho maj,
Who had been 10 insistent To see her:
vhatsver Il WA. the interview had
shaken her.
MsanWhlle stephen drove from the
theatre 10 Kings Cross. ID take the
Afternoon train to the North. He had
IA hour to walt; he paced restlessly