Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1904-04-21
CHAPTER XIII


or Second-cousIn Sarah, whom we left
with her shawby slster.in-law In this
grounds Of etdge Hill. Taken of hei
guard by Mrs. Thomas Eastbell's Sudden
appearance, disturbed by the events OI
the night. and ever conscious oe the dan
gcE which the presence Of the two in
trudera IN her aunt's house foreshadowci
she followed the woman in good faitl
some distance along the garden path,
and In the direction Of the high road.
I'VE will 90 no further" she said; ''tcl
mo what have 10 fear from your hus,
band and Peterson, and viii reward you
handsomely"
Listen then an well 40 you can.
aln't R'golng 10 speak loud for anybody"
II am listening"
Sarah Eaatbell inclined her head more
closely 10 the woman, who began whlM.
pering about her husband In a rambling
fashion that was dificult to follow. un.
I'll she went suddenly back three steps. TO
hhrah'S surprise, and stood gazing At
her. or at something near her.
What Ii III" exclaimed Sarah; what
-"
There was no opportunity to say more,
to scream, or TO struggle. Two strong
arms closed round her, and q cloth, wet
and sickly with drugs, was pressed to
hcr mouth and nostrlls by merciless
hand. that seemed TO snatch her az once
from active life 10 oblivion.
When she came back TO consciousness
u was 10 life apart from sedge Hill,
and those who loved her there. She was
lying on a bed, with Sophy Eastbell dox.
Ing by the side of q scantily furnished
Gre. There was a narrow window In the
side OF the room, with some boards nall
ed across tito keep the light OF one spllt-
tcring candle from betraying itself to the
night.
Suddenly Sophy woke up. and gave a
nervous jump In her chair at finding her
slster-ln-law crouched upon the bed, with
her great dark eyes gIarlng at her.
Where have you brought met Why
am | in this dreadful placer" Sarah ask.
ed In an eager voice.
You've come round. have your said
Rophy. "Well, am glad Of that. Blest
II ! didn't think they'd oYeFdone II with
their klory-what'a.its-name and sent you
bang of afore they meant It."
Sarah EaStbell was sitting at the edge
Of the bed now, regarding her jaller
with eager attention. She was scarcely
back from dreamland yet.
why have been brought hereT khe
asked less patiently.
You'll know In good time, gal. There's
no 'casion for a hurry. or q furry. Take
II cool, You're safe enuf."
Sarah Eastbell was standing at the
door Of the room when she had recovered
herself. II was locked, as she had sus-
pected. a
TITS no use your thinking of getting
out, Sally" said Toms wife: don't build
on that, or harm will happen to you.
That's certain"
~'Do you think | am the weak girl
whom you remember lastf" said Sarah,
walking from the door to the woman's
side, and clutching her tightly by the
waist, "or that am to be frightened by
this trick Of yours, and of the wretches
who have assisted your DO you know In
what peril you have put yourselfT'
"Oh, yes, We all know; It's all been
thought on" said the woman ironically.
We're ofsthe don't care sort, and have
chanccd Il. You can't say II wasn't we'll
done, Sally"
''GIve me the key Of the door, or YOU
will find me the stronger woman of the
twol" cried Sarah.
Don't 'ketch hold of my wrist like
that" cried her sister-in-law, 'or you'll
be sorry II l go away, or II any one
downstairs comes up instead Of me, be-
cause you are too violent for my COM
nany Won oantt hnkawo ILL., . Ia, a..
all your fine fash silk. l have only to
shreek out, and there are three men be-
low who don't stand nonsense sich as
youru."
Sarah Eastbell released her hold. Yes.
she was In danger, and must be eau
tious. They who brought her to this
den had risked great deal In entrapping
her, and would risk more rather than
allow her to escape. She must be pru-
dent and on her guard, not defiant and
aggressive.
II amt got no key, II you must know"
said Sophy, as she returned to her chair
and sat down; "this Is my room, and
we're both locked In together. I'm 10
take charge Of you, that's all, my gal.
and think yourself lucky It's me-"
What place Is ltP" Sarah asked again.
"a place Of bis'ness," was the enigmat-
ic answer.
"Coiners--ths old gang from Potter's
Court-the Petersons," cried Sarah.
Mrs. Eastbell did not answer. She
warmed her thin hands at the fire, and
convenient cough prevented all possibil-
ity Of reply. She was prudent woman,
and not likely to commit herself and her
friends by responding to leading Ques-
tons of this character.
The spiritlng away of young lady
from home without her consent, and with
out leaving clue wherewith to trace her.
Ii no light feat In the nineteenth cen.
tury, and Mrs Thomas Eastbell had
shown a natural pride In the neatness of
the achievement, True, the house was
ave or six miles from q quiet city, and |
was desolate enough at all times, the |
hour was late, the circumstances were |
and how to profit by the riches
of old Mrs. Eastbell and her granddauEh-
ter had been the study of six months, but |
still Mrs. Thomas Eastbell had some |
thing to take credit for. It was q bold
stroke carried out by desperate men, and
L had succeeded where a more timid |
line of policy would have assuredly fail I
ID.
1t was the boldest bit Of business that
he Peterson gang had ever been engas-
ID in, and the Petersons had been en-
ragged, under various aliases, in innumer-
lble shady transactions. They had come
% fresh fields and pastures new" by
adopting the fair county of Worcester as
! sphere for their operations; they had
'ented tumble-down old ediice In a
Wild part of the country, and put on the
loor the name Of Jackson, button maker;
hey had even made few acQuaintances
n distant villages, and bore a respecta-
lie name among honest, unsuspicious folk
who believed in them and their buttons.
No one visited them certainlyN-it was an