Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-04-29

"Oh! you're Jennings. 1 have heard
of you, but don't know that we have
ever met before. May I ask what you
want, marm, now you are heref" asked
Thomas. you'll excuse me, but since
my grandmother's death and Sally's dis
appearance-and until Sally returns
consider I am the head of this estab-
lishment."
81 am compelled to answer your ques-
tion if this is true statement" said
Lucy.
Yes, should think you were. True
indeed-that's a good one! Why, you
don't know that my poor grandmother
killed herself thinking about me-" he said.
''She was worried-she wanted to leave
me all her money-and she died of dis
appointment because she hadn't time to
finish her new will"
He addressed Lucy Jennings, but he
was watching the effect of this announce
ner of his eyes.
"It is heavens mercy that your grand
mother died them" replied Lucy to him.
II have been making inquiries concern
ing you to-day, and have heard Of moth
ing to your advantage. You and one Ed
ward Peterson were In this house, from
which your sister has disappeared said
Lucy. Among my congregation there
were two or three who remembered the
Petersons, and thought they they could
be- traced. We are searching for them
now under the name Of Jackson"
Thomas Eastbell put one hand to his
shirt collar; his throat had begun to swell
suddenly, and he felt uncomfortable.
"Oh." he said, IF that's it you're on 4
wrong"
Tots had looked round at the sound Of
his voice some moments since, but he had
not noticed her till then, and then his
voice utterly deserted him, and his eyes
protruded in amazement. He did not ask
any further questions of Miss Jennings.
The child belonged to Edward Peterson.
He and his wife had the charge of her
once, and grown tired of her, and lost her
in Camberwell back street, where Reu-
ben had found her; and Edward Peterson
had discovered her a year or SO after
ward, and taken her from the Jenningses;
but he could not stop to explain shat
now. A few days ago that child was
at Jackson's button factory, and she
must have come to Sedge Hill with the
news. He was caught in a trap again.
He knew it had not been safe to return,
but that fool Peterson had persuaded
him. They knew all, and were getting
him into a line by degrees; everything
might have been discovered, for what he
knew to the contrary. He must "cut 1t, f"
at any risk.
He went into the passage and closed
the door behind him. He took down a
hat from the tree in the hall and put it
on. 1t was Reuben's hat, and went over
his eyes, and was altogether bad fit; but
the sooner he was off the better, and
where he had put his own hat he could
not recollect in the present confusion Of
his faculties.
He went on tiptoe to the front door,
and drew back the heavy bolts and the
big lock. He opened the door and let
in the wind and rain-and. Sarah East
bell!
Yes, it was his sister, with shawl
over her hair, and her face, white and
wild, peering from it. She had come
back-she knew all-he was done for!
"Tom, you villain" she shrieked forth,
at first sight of him.
Thomas Eastbell went down on his
knees at the same moment as Reuben
came from the drawing room.
"Oh, Reuben! take care of me-" Sarah
murmured, as she went fearlessly to the
friendly shelter Of his arms; II have no
one else"
"She could never take care of herself" "
muttered the inflexible Lucy, as she fol-
lowed Reuben Culwick into the hall.
1t was as Mary Holland had said, and
Sarah Eastbell was back in her own
house.
(To be continued)