Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-07-17

Yea," said he, turning his bright face
upon her, "we'll get thro' it all right"
"You are both very good to me-"
said she, going to him, and shedding
some tears on his shoulder.
"There nowhere" said he, pat
ting her. Then turning to me, "She
means you, too, my lad"
eyes" said she, resuming her seat,
and looking down, "Mr. Birley has
told me all you have done for me to
find out about my poor father-and all
that he and you suspect, too. And l
caunot-oh, l cannot!" she cried,
shuddering and pressing her hands to
her eyes-"look at that terrible, cruel
man again!"
81 could not help telling her, my
lad" said Birley, in answer to look
of reproach from me. "The old chap
wrote questions to her about tn papers
You found, and l had to explain"
But" said l, in some alarm, "you
know, Miss Lacroix, we must not, we
cannot denounce him-we must not,
doubt, say anything till we have some
evidence that he is really the man. 1
think, | am sure, l soon shall have
that evidence, but even then we must
be careful what we say.'
This, l was glad to find, was not re-
garded as more than general, though
confident, expression of hope, SO l was
not asked awkard questions. Now that
my anxiety concerning Louise was for
the time allayed, l felt exceedingly
tired. l promised to call next day to
tell them about my journey, and rose
to go to my lodgings, where my land
lady, / knew, or her herculean son,
would still be sitting up for me.
Birley accompanied me to the door,
talking according to his wont. He put
on cap which hung in the hall, and,
leaving the door adjar, walked with me
to the gate. The air refreshed me,
and, full as was of Fraulein Haas 8
revelation, felt impelled to tell Birley
something OF it. Thus, almost uncon-
sciously, We walked away from the gate
down the lane leading to the high road,
and was led into telling him all, the
more so that he did not seem sceptical
OF the value of her visions We had
thus left the house some minutes, how
many ! cannot tell, when several
sounds like screams in rapid succession
rose behind us into the still night.
We stopped together and looked at each
other.
"By the Id" exclaimed Birley.
81 left the door openl'
We were hurried back by common
impulse. We found the door adjar,
apparently as we had left it, but when
we entered and approached the room in
which we had been sitting We heard
Steinhart's voice.
"Well, Manuel" said Birley, when
we were in the room, $50 you've come !;
| expected you wouldn't be long"
Steinhardt turned (Louise wat, he'd
him from the other side of the table
with fear in her eyes); he did not
answer his brother-in-law, but stared at
me.
"What is the meaning of this?" he
asked. "Were do you come from?'
"From Easel" [ answered, "whera
was not wanted. Fraulein Haas
wised to see yOu, not me; she is well,
and it is for you she is anxious, not for
herself. She sent you line by me-"
handed him the letter.
He impatiently tore the envelope,
and read with irown. l knew the
words; 1 tried to read from his face
how they affected him. Their point, |
thought, found joint in his harness
he evidently WINGED; he looked on the
floor, on this side and on that, as if
for once he were made to pause and
consider. But this was only for a
moment; he looked up at me and then
at Birley, the same insistent, MASTER
tul Steinhardt as before.