Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-04-08

a quarter of an hour had passed, and they
were no nearer the discovery Of Sarah
Eastbell. She had vanished away COM
pletely, as by a miracle; and Reuben
stood discounted by the drawing room
window.
''This is beyond all guessing at he
said, with a half groan.
'The window of the picture gallery is
closed and barred" said Mary Holland,
"but they are there still"
81 will see them at once," said Reuben;
meanwhile send out the servants to
search the country. There has been foul
play here"
mo, nor' exclaimed Mary Holland.
"He said-he promised
"Who promised 2" asked Reuben quick
ly.
"Sarah's brother" answered Mary, af
ter a moments silence.
"WelI-promised what?" said Reuben
fiercely.
"That he and his friend would not in
any way disturb the peace of this house
that they were here in all sincerity
that
'Do you ask me to believe in that vaga-
bond, Tom Eastbell? Send the servants
abroad, and leave these men to me-" said
Reuben, passing from her into the draw
ing room, and proceeding through the
room into the hall, and along the corri-
dor toward the picture gallery. He turn
ed the handle sharply and entered.
The two men were there. In the man
lolling in the armchair there was no diff
Guilty in identifying Thomas Eastbell: !:
/ but he who bent closely, and in near
sighted fashion, over a music book prop
ped against the lamp, was a stranger be
had never met before. 1t was at him
that Reuben gazed, distrusting him more
at first sight than Thomas Eastbell.
81 am Reuben Culwick," said our hero
| sternly, looking from one to the other. -
Il don't bear you ill WILL mind" said
Tom; "when L was in trouble once in Pot
ter's Court, and the police came, and
you might have made mischief out Of a
little bit of innersent chaff we had to-
gether, you stood by me like trump, and
I'll shake hands with you, if you ask
me, just for my sisters sake"
(Which of you two men will save him
self from Jail by telling me where Sarah
Eastbell is" thundered forth Reuben
Culwick.
Thomas Eastbell's lower jaw dropped
at Mr.. Culwick's vehemence, and his SEM
blance of astonishment was admirably
feigned, unless he was astonished in real
earnest. Captain Peterson sat down with
his hands upon his knees, in the attitude
of one who anticipated a narrative of
great interest to follow.
"Where Sarah Eastbell isr' said Pc
terson; why do you put such an extra
ordinary question to us, sir, and accom-
panied by such threat as the jail?"
''She is not in the house, and you two
know where she has gone"
Miss Eastbell was in the drawing
room a quarter of an hour ago, when I
stepped in for my violin," said Peter
son; "surely she has not left the house
since? There must be some mistake, Mr..
Culwick, and, mistake or not, you will
excuse me for protesting against your
manner of addressing Mrs. Eastbells
guests"
Captain Peterson spoke with a falter-
ing voice, and with considerable warmth,
as a man might do whose feelings had
been unnecessarily wounded, and Reuben
Culwick regarded him with graver inter-
est. Here was a being to be wary of, if
this were acting.
MAY inquire your nameY said Reu-
ben.
my name is Peterson, sir-Captain
friend of Thomas EastbelTs, and if not
an old friend, still one who does not feel
disposed to allow him to be browbeaten
without a word of protest.
Peterson" muttered Reuben, half
aloud. The name was wholly unfamiliar
to hint had not been mentioned on
that night in Potter's Court, and only
some days afterward by Lucy Jennings,
when it had not fingered in his memory
Captain Peterson's dark eyes peered from
under his brows at Mr.. Culwick, as he re-
peated his name in low tone, and there
was the faintest smile of satisfaction
f1ickering over his fresh-colored face at
the discontinue expressed on Reuben's.
"You both deny all knowledge of my
Cousins disappearance" said Reuben.
1--WE do" said Peterson, with grave po-
liteness; and Tom took his oath upon it
at once, by way of adding force to his
denial. "And now, sir, perhaps you will
tell us what has happened"
"And relieve brothers anxiety" add
ed Tom. "She's the only sister that 1
have got in the world, and we have al
ways been very fond of one another"
you overdo your anxiety" said Reu-
ben, dryly, "and 1 am still suspicious of
you. Sarah Eastbell has disappeared
SuQQeQly IrOm IulS uOuSe-WlCulu Tile
last half-hour-and you are the men of
whom she has been in fear. To that fact
l swear before a magistrate tomorrow.
Tomorrow the police will search the
house and grounds for traces of her. I
telegraph tomorrow to Scotland Yard
for one of it's ablest officers to meet us
here"
Thomas Eastbell was heard to mutter
malediction of the most violent kind
upon his second-cousin's promptitude, but
his friend turned quickly to him, and
said:
Don't give way, Thomas. Don't let
your sensibilities get the better of you,
and lower your character before this man
of many threats. You have been unfor-
tunate, in your early days-you have had
the frankness to confess it to me. and
the generosity to atone for it to others
but your later life is without stain or
blemish Let the police come: you can