Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-09-09

alternative. Having once decided to
speak, will tell you all without omit
ting any particular.
"Tt is your wisest course said l.
"'Mr Drebber has been with US
nearly three weeks. He and his Sec
retary, Mr.. Stangerson, had been trav-
cling on the Continent. l noticed
Copenhagen" label upon each OF their
trunks, showing that that had been
their last stopping place. Stangerson
was a quiet, reserved man, but his en-
ployer, 1 am sorry to say, was far
otherwise. He was coarse In his naD-
it's and british in his ways. The very
night of his arrival he became very
much the worse for drink, and, IN
deed, after IL o'clock in the day ne
could hardly ever be said to be SOBER.
His manners toward the maid servants
were disgustingly free and familiar.
" Norst of all, he speedily assumed the
same manner toward my daughter,
Alice, and spoke to her more than
once in way which, fortunately, she
IS too innocent to understand. On one
occasion he actually seized her In his
arms and embraced her-an outrage
which caused his own secretary to re-
pIOdSH ulQ 1OI Ills uu"dhIy SohooSS'
"'But why do you stand all this? l
asked. I suppose that you can get rid
of your boarders when you wish
"Mrs. Charpentier blushed at my
rertinent question.
"sWould' to God that l had given
him notice on the very day he came,
she said. But it was a sore tempta-
ton. They were paying pound day
each-14 pounds a week, and this IS
slack season. l am a widow, and my
hoy in the nafy has cost me much. L
grudged to lose the money. acted for
the best. This last was too much,
However, and I save him notice to
leave on account of it. That was the
reason of his going
! "'Well?'
"'My heart grew light when saw
him drive away. My son is on leave
just now, but 1 did not tell him any
thing of this for his temper is violent
and he is passionately fond of his sis
ter. When closed the door behind
them a load seeme>. to be lifted from
my mind. Alas! in less than an hour
there was a ring at the bell, and
learned that Mr. Drebber had re-
ti1rned.>> was much excited and
evidently the worse for drink. He
forced his way into the room where I
was sitting with my daughter and
made some incoherent remark about
having missed his train. He then
turned to Alice, and, before my very
face, proposed to her that she should
fly with him. "You are of age," he
said, "and there is no law to stop you.
I have money enough, and to spare.
Never mind the old girl here, but
come along with me now straight
away. You shall live like princess" :"
Poor Alice was so frightened that she
shrank away from him, but he caught
her by the wrist and endeavored to
to draw her toward the door. I
screamed, and at that moment my son
Arthur came into the room. What
Happened then 1 do not know. 4
heard oaths and confused sounds Of a
scuffie. 1 was too terrified to raise my
Lead. When / did look up saw Arthur
standing in the doorway laughing,
with a stick in his hand. 81 don't
think that fine fellow will trouble us
again." he said. 81 will just go after
him and see what he does with him
self" With these words he. took his
hat and started off down the street,
The next morning we heard of Mr..
Drebber's mysterious DEATH
"This statement came from Mrs.
Charpentier's lips with many gasps
and pauses. At times she spoke so
low that I could hardly catch the
words. I made shorthand notes of all
that she said, however, so that there
could be no possibility of mistake
"It's quite exciting" said Sherlock
Holmes, with a yawn. What hap
pened next?'
when Mrs. Charpentier paused. u
the detective continued, II saw that
The whole case hung on one point
Fixing her with my eye in a way
which I always found effective with
women, asked her at what hour her
son returned.
"T do not know she answered.
"'Not know?
"eNo; he has a latch key and let
himself in
"'After you went to bed?'
eyes
"'When did you go to bed"
"'About eleven
$50 your son was gone at least two
, hours?'
eyes
Possibly four or five?'
eyes
"'What was he doing during that
timer
"T do not know she answered
: turning white to her very lips.
, Ito be conunued.)