The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-07-23
CHAPTER TX.

Cf1Af I'm Ia.
In about an hour a servant maid en-
tered. to say that the room was in readi-
ness. Taking up her bonnet and wraps,
the young girl passed through the front
hall into the room adjoining, which she
found exceedingly beautiful 1t had evil
IDENTITY always been exclusively guest
chamber, and so richly was it furnished,
that she guessed at once why Lady Con-
stance had objected TO it's daily use.
As soon as the maid had withdrawn,
Ethel commenced an examination OF the
implements Sir Reginald had mentioned.
The bookcase he had spoken of she knew
had been carried thither from the library
for her use since her arrival The draw
err to which he had given her key OF
peculiar shape was secret one, found,
as he had whispered, behind the books.
and remem berng his directions, she pro-
ceeded to open it, after carefully locking
her door.
There lay the three singularly shaped.
large knives, with long, sharp-pointed
blades. there, also was a china candle
stick, with three or four dozen wax can
dies. Matches were in large tin box.
ready for constant and instant use.
ing the books, the young girl proceeded
to the wardrobe on the opposite side of
the room, and unlocking it, she saw at
the back door bolted on her side, which
gave her an immediate feeling of se-
curity.
SOFTLY dra wing the bolt she looked out
into a small passage that led merely from
her own room to a similar door inside
a wardrobe she had seen in the barOnet's.
These two rooms communicated with
this little passageway from the inhab-
tied part Of the house, and these alone.
Directly opposite her door was a smaller
one. which she at once knew must lead
to the Haunted Tower, and deserted
rooms. belonging to this singular old
mansion.
Retreating to her own apartment
through the wardrobe. Ethel bathed her
face and hands. snoothed her hair. and
once more turned towards the room of
the invalid.
Al the threshold. however, she met old
Mrs. FREEDOM, the nurse. who had been in
the family for years, who whispered that
the baronet mad fallen asleep, therefore.
she might walk around the grounds if
she chose.
Feeling that the fresh air would revive
her shrinking spirit. Ethel tripped down
the broad staircase and stepped upon
the piazza. As she did so. she almost
| ran against a gentleman just entering.
Raising her eyes to apologize. she
found herself face to face with Or. Ellen
stein. the kind friend that she had part
ed with few weeks before. He was as
A. 4 a
her unexpected appearance.
lis it possible that this can be Miss
Nevergail?'
III is. indeed: but l can scarcely be-
| ieve this my friend. DIR. Elfenstein. How
| is il we meet in this unexpected place
and Manner
Il was about calling on my patient,
| Sir Reginald Glendenning, when. instead
of being received by a servant, Miss New
| ergail comes flying towards me- How is
| it you are here? / see by your black
| robes that your aunt must have passed
away! But come out upon the piazza,
as you were about to do, and tell me of
yourself"
Passing from the door to the shadow Of
rhe trained vines, followed by the ply
sician, the young girl related the occur
rences Of the last few weeks
Did l understand that you were to ~
main here some timer
Yes! l am to be Sir Reginald's score
tary, amanuensis and reader. For this.
and helping to amuse him, am to re-
ceive a good salary, and will have home
for the summer"
CTe be continuedl