The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-02-11

become permanently fixed.
81 have seen you somewhere, and that
Is what bothers me Bit" SAID MT
Splud, by way of apology.
Reuben did not tell him that he was
lodging next door but two, and that they |
had passed each other in the street with
toIerable frequency; but the idea had sug-
gested itself to put few questions Oh
his own account, when a third person
Joined them. The newcomer was small,
spare men, in a long, seedy great coat
with big horn buttons, extending from
his chin to his heels, and who wore
dirty yellow handkerchief tied loosely
round his throat. He was man OF an
unearthly pallor, and pitted so deeply
with smallpox that one wondered how he
had ever struggled out Of his malady
alive.
"You don't want me tonight, sup
poser he said to the proprietor.
"Yes, do want you. Because pay
you," said Mr.. Splud, sharply; you don't
want your money next Saturday. sup
poseW he asked, with SO much biting
sarcasm.
Eyes, | do-and I'll take care | get ii"
said the other, far from civilly, "along
with last weeks. What's the use OF
dressing up and performing In the bless
ed rain before nobody? There's nobody
here, there's nobody coming, and tbs
beastly shame on me-"
"If l have the honor Of addressing
Signor Vizzobini, may add that l have
come here this evening expressly to wit
ness his performance" said Reuben.
Have you, thought said the acrobat,
surprised in an extraordinary degree.
"Well, If you can't let a fellow off, Ill
I go and Dress" and he walked away in
deep thought.
"He is a vagabond not up to his work" p"
said Mr.. Splud II took him by ndver-
tisement, on the faith of his recommenda-
tions. He has fallen off three times this
week. and if he breaks his neck one of
these fine days it will be happy release
to the profession"
"What is that mans real name?" ask
ed Reuben.
81 haven't the slightest idea; Jack
Sheppard, perhaps"
"You know his address, surelyT
"Oh, yes. No. 2 Potter's court, Wal
worth road"
"Thank you. Good night"
Reuben knew nothing Of Potter s
Court; but he muttered, "Poor Sarah
as he went down the cavernous entry in
search of No. 2. He knocked at a par
lor door with the handle Of his stick,
and a grim-loOking individual in his shirt
sleeves answered the appeal.
whats up" he said, in not too civil a
style of address,
"Do you know a Mr.. Vizzobini?' said
Reuben. HE performs at the SAKE
Gotha gardens on the slack rope"
"Ohw said the parlor floor, disparag-
ingly; "top of the 'ouse--front ROOM"
Reuben went up the dark stairs, reach
ed front room door with his stick, and
raped gently.
"Who's there?" said a faint, veal
voice, which Reuben did not recognize.
81 come from the Saxe-Gotha."
"From Tomr
"Yes."
The door was cautiously opened, ant
there streamed through the aperture
through which a woman's face was peer
ing-white and wan and pinched-a rusl
Of hot air as from furnace mouth.
SIS he locked up?" said the woman
, somewhat alphabetically.
"No. He will be back presently,
) think"
I Come in If you like, then; we DON
charge any MORE" said the woman, will
a somber llppancy, and glided back noise
lessly to the side of a big fire that wa
E blazing In the CRATE, sat down In tn
I chair she had quilted, and leaned he
: head against the wall like a woman tire
d out.
But It was not her at which he gaze
" so intently as at the figure of girl
K striped cotton dress, who lay face-fort
most on the patchwork counterpaue Q
the bed 1t was figure Of despair tina
= thrilled him; 1t was surely Second-cousi
# Sarah covering from him in that hou
a of her discovery.
Z 81 say, what's your message" aske
ar the woman. "What have you got to sa
n about Tom, and what has Tom to say
,e "Are you Toms wifer'
Eyes, am"
"And that's Toms sisterT
- Here the woman burst into paroxys
a of coughing, for the cessation of whiC
:" "" Reuben waited patiently, keeping his eyt
:" - upon the figure on the bed, and doubtf
still If it were sleep that kept Sarah
:. dumb and passive. 1t was a violel
- - cough, that of Mrs. Eastbells, which WI
y rending away all the life that was lie
~ in the sufferer, who carried consumptiC
In her every look and ftful breath.
"You have come for her." said MI
~ Eastbell, in q husky voice.
y "Yes, | have come for her, il she
g trust me-"
10 20 You're just the chap for the likes
y MS to trust" said Mrs. Eastbell, ironic;
=, ", "and poor Sally Is sure to be uncol
90 mon glad to see you. Not that she
~ mind much which way 1t is, for she's be
n awful down."
ns "Indeedl Has sheT"
"It 1t amt Worcester prison, It'll
:. the Surrey canal. Here-hi-Sally
- screamed the woman, you're fetched, I
=, gal. Here's a cove says he wants y
Lo partikler."
no The girl lying on the bed sprang
fDl on her hands at once, and glared tOwl
M them both shaking her long black h
Nm. from her head as she did so. Her ff
nj was flushed with sleep, but the pal
od rapidly stole over 1t as she recogniz
Reuben Culwick standing by the
place observing her.
What can you wantT' she murmur,
10 what has made you come in search
81 meY
To- ITO help you," was the answer, "fo
bly, am afraid that you are in bad hands. 9
hn, | wish to take you from them"
lad There's no getting away" answer
the Sarah; "ask her"
abb Tom wouldn't like it," said Mrs. Es
en- bell, thus appealed to. "Sally's hand
And Sally knows too much" adj
IAN the girl scornfully. "and If she moved
Ice. step away from home they would tell
.wo police where to find me-"
cod Il wouldn't, Sally" said the won
tch raising her head from the wall, and
a a Clining it forward in her self-defense.
lrs. You know who would"
18th "Ah! | can't answer for him." repl
] NnanF,a - kaoA -