The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-05-21
XXIII.-(Continued.,

sat down Ov the Ute 10 TeHtct upoh i''o
next step. He had been rejecting on that
all day, without seeing his way too clear
~ to the results on which he had set his
heart-a large sum Of money, and a new
life abroad to enjoy II In
He would not go upstairs yet awhile
smother hour would be of advantage ia
him, and he must wait The bank Mt
Worcester was shut, and there would be
no getting money till tomorrow morning
before that time came she would sign
the check. and remain prisoner In
Jackson's button factory until tine had
been allowed for him to cash 1t. Tint
was the end of the brilliant scheme which
he had planned out like an artist.
Suddenly there was a violent knocking
Of tn door, and Peterson sprang up. with
his hand shaking on the back OF the chair.
He reached his hand toward the candle
and extnguished the flame, rs his first
resource against an unseen enemy. Then
hs crept on tiptoe toward the door.
who's there
Let me in"
Tom Eastbelll'' CALCULATED Peterson.
He opened the door, and dragged the
applicant for admittauce into the house
ed TO the skin by heavy rain.
you muddlerr' shouted Peterson
why couldn't you stop at Sedge Hill
How dare you come intermeddling
Didn't you leave it all to meT'
"Here--let go my throat-let a fellow
speak. What are you doing In the dark
Where are they all? Is Sarah here
has she signed the check? p
Peterson released his hold and locked
the front door again. Tom followed him
into the room, aud sat down shivering
by the fire. His companion and adviser
relighted the candle. and held Ii to his
face.
why did you Gomez"
For safety. Oh. Ned. shall be hang
cdr Tom cried. The old woman IL
dead, and everybody thinks | have done
1t Here's a blessed go for an innersent
man! | never touched her. upon my soul
she died right off. bang, In the picture
gallery, and II was nothing to do with
me. | wouldn't have thought of such
q thing"
Dead? The old woman deadf" said
Peterson, surprised again at this avowal.
"Oh!-ugh!-yes, he said. shudder1ng
den; Ned, and she was off shall never
forget ii. And then the beast of wOm-
an, Hartley. came in when | screamed,
and said that had murdered her. | was
talking her over to make Il will. whea
she died-that's all. Oh! let's go to Lon
DON"
Tom" said Peterson with excitement,
''you must go back. You must not leave
everything to that Culwick. The old
woman has died naturally-the doctor
will prove that--aud you have nothing to
fear"
"Oh! haven't II That's all you know
about it."
You accursed idiot. dor't you see that
you arc rich THAT Sarah Eastbell was
only between you and colossal fortune ?
and Sarah Eastbell is dead. too"
Sarah dead, tool screamed Tom
Eastbell Jun his new excitement; ''ch,
don't say that. 1t can't be-"
Hush! Keep 1t quiet; 1t Is an eterna
secret between you and me: but she
sprang out of the boat suddenly last
night they tell me. and was drowned.
In n day or two they will find her In the
Severn. and you will be heir-at-law."
They'll say | killed the couple Of
them"
Sarah ran away from home--every.
body knows that-and came to harm ty
accident. There Is nothing more natural. "
Poor Sally! She was good sort
said Tom; "and she--she's dead then
Thank goodness it was quite an accident
for nobody meant to kill her.
Get back In haste--at any cost Say
you were distracted. aud did not know
what you were doing-that you have been
Ia search OF Culwick-or doctor Get
back"
Suppose they take me up for killing
my grandmother: that's what I'm afraid
of"
Get back; you are safe. Get sack
fool to all that wealth"
Edward Peterson's excitement was
greater than Thomas Eastbelrs now. He
thru him from The house; he locked
the door after him: he tottered back Il
the room.
Tom Eastbell would he rich-immense
ly rich-if his sister Sarah were removed
from all the troubles Of this world Tom
Eastbell In his power-at his mercy fol
many past offenses--s weak fool whom
he could rule implicitly. and get none,
quickly by.
Then. with the light in hls hand. hi
proceeded with wonderful steadiness OF
step up the stairs. A strange specimen
If villain thls-for he went into hi.
daughters room first, aud said. Poor
Bess--you have gone for good then" and
walked out again, and up the remaining
flight, with very sorrowful countenance
He drew the key from his pocket, unlock
ed the door. strobe In, and then stopped
suddenly-a man struck. as II were. int,
stone by his amazement
The room was empty!
CHAPTER XXIV.
Reuben Culwick did not reach Sedc,
Hill till a late hour, when the blind,
were hnMn hnfnra n,nru ...i.A-.... q u