The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-04-30
CHAPTER NN

CHAPTER Nm
Only one person slept that night in the
big house at Sedge Hill. While Mrs.
Eastbell slumbered, the inmates were
astir, and not few of them abroad, beat
ing right and left for scraps of informal
ton. and failing in their object miscra-
bly,. Sarah Eastbell had disappeared.
leaving not trace by which she might
be followed.
AS Reuben rode to Worcester he scan-
ned the hedge rows. and the dry bitches,
for trace of her; he turned into yawn-
ing lanes where all was of an indistin-
guishable darkness; he refined in his horse
hfty times to listen to the noises of the
night the Shrek of distant engine. toll
ing on with its luggage through the coun-
try to some bustling center; the rattle
OF the train. the rustling of the trees.
the whlrring of night bird in the long
grass OF the meadows the yelping of dogs
Ill the farm house yards, az he dashed
by. He found his way at last to Wor-
cester, and went slowly, hopeessly alony
its deserted streets in the direction of
the police station.
1t was seven i'll the morning when he
was at Sedge Hill again. He rode back
III hot haste. AS if something unforeseen
were to be thwarted by his quick return:
and he was prepared for evil tidings, "a
he passed into the hall and found Miss
Holland, pale az he had seen her last.
awaiting him with eager eyes.
w hat news--what has happened since
| have been awayT' he exclaimed.
Nothing has happened" answered
Mary Holland: land you? Have you
heard or seen--"
There is not trace of her"
lie sat before the fire where his cousin
Sarah was surprised by her sister-in- law.
and endeavored from his bewildered brain
to shape out a scheme for her discovery.
when the maid Hartley entered with
breakfast on little tray. and set it down
on coffee table at his side.
There was letter lying on the t1ay.
addressed to himself. The superscription
was in strange hand. q fine bold hand
writing. characterized by too many flour
ishes TO be wholly satisfactory, and he
took up the letter curiously, broke the
seal and read the following epistle:
"Sir-After your discourteous behavior
OF yesterday evening cannot. with sat
isfaction to myself. remain a guest in
your aunt's establishment. l feel com.
PEELED to withdraw from position which
IL is Incompatible with my dignity 10 re-
tain. l have intrusted Mr.. Thomas East
bell with my kind regards to his grand
mother to whose hospitality and inyaria-
bic kindness | am forever deeply indebt-
ed. My servant will call for my violin
III the course of next week. | beg 10 re-
main. sir. your Obedient servant.
edward PETERSON"
There was deep furrow on the brow
of Reuben Culwick when he had finish
ed the perusal of this letter.
why was this man allowed to leave
the houseT he asked. "He who calls
himself Captain Peterson
Il didn't know that he was gone. sir.
Not that could have stopped him, Mr..
Culwick. as all the servants were away
when | saw him last
When was that?"
AT five o'clock this morning. He WAS
talking to Miss Holland-here. inst
where | stand, strand think that they
were having few words. | don't know
for certain, but | think So"
You suspected them!'' said Reuben
quickly.
"N-no, sir. / don't say that" was the
quick answer, as the woman iiinched be-
fore his steady gaze; 'but | was curious.
of course. It's all in such a muddle. sir.
just now, and Miss Hollands very kind:
she's been always very kind to all of Us.
but wanted to hear what they had to
say, because poor Miss Sarah was angry
at those two being together in the garden
last night"
Those two--which two?"
Miss Holland and the Captain"
Sarah was angry" repeated Reuben
with whomT
with Miss Holland, just before You
came. She said she couldn't trust her.
| heard that as l was passing with NV
mistress cruel, quite by accident"
That will do" said Reuben. mooiily:
don't say any more. / will wait for
Miss Holland"
tTo be continuedl
A Man of Family.