Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1904-03-24

quick ears OF the grandmother.
''Sally--what a dreadful time you have
been" said Mrs. Eastbeli.
II have been talking TO Tom"
"You will have years TO talk to him
! may be only with you few more days.
It's awfnlly firing. this up and down
stairs business. Not half as comfortable
as at st. 0swald's after all. / wish that
had never left the place"
"You are tired tonight, and despon-
dent, that's all. VIII you try and rest
nowf
REST In this house, SalIyw cried the
old lady ironically, there isn't much
chance Of that, with people tearing up
and down stairs at all hours. and the
servants banging shutters and locking
doors 40 II we were In prison. Somebody
came into my room last night, blunder-
Ing. but could not find out who II WAS"
Into your roomT" asked Sarah, very
anxiously now, "where was Hartleyr
II packed her of two days ago. She
snorted In her sleep like horse. want
rest, child, not the noise Of steam en-
glne In my ears"
"YOu are too old to rest alone-you
cannot lock your door even," said Sarah.
II must come back an In the old days,
grandmamma, II you send Hartley away.
Why shouldn't have my little crib In one
corner Of this great room, as when you
and were sharing life together in st.
0swald'sT
you're mighty anxious about me-"
said Mrs. Eastbell fretfully, "and yet
you have founced yourself off for three
days, and without rhyme or reason"
Il was anxious about Reuben Culwick
Il could not rest longer wiehout seeing
him. He lis very poor, grandmother."
said Sarah: 'he has been very unlucky
in life. found him in a back room in
Drury I.ane-a half-starved, haggard-
looking man, borne down by the disap-
pointments Of his life. This was Reu-
ben Culwick-in whose house we are
who was once our friend when we were
poor and low--who saved me when had
not power to help myself. This is the
man forever foremost In my thoughts.
Why should l hide it from myself or
your
She buried her head In the bedclothes.
and the shriyeled hand stole forth and
rested on the flowing mass Of raven hair
there.
"Don't go on so, Sally--I won't forget
bin. promised long ago that would
never forget Reuben Culwick. didn't 1?
Ill keep my word. AS soon as ever !
am strong enough the viii we talked
about shall be prepared"
Sarah passed from the room, and stood
rejecting on the sheep's-skin mat out
side the door. A woman passing in the
distance attracted her attention, and
seemed to shape her motives, for she
beckoned to her cautiously, and even went
few steps toward her
"You should not have left your mistress
whilst was away" Sarah said reproach-
fully; "she Is too old to be left. Watch
this room till return, and see that no
one disturbs my grandmother by passing
noisily along the corridor"
Sarah left Miss Hartley to marvel n
little at the instructions which she had
received, and went thoughtfully down
stairs, pausing now and then to consider
the new position of affairs. She passed
into the garden. She was hot and fever
ish, and the night was close. In tue cool
fresh air she might be able to shape out
better, clearer course, If the current Of
events should turn against her and her
project for Toms departure from Sedge
Hill. She had grown very much afraid
of him, of late days; she had lost every
atom of confidence; and the man whom
he had brought into the house had been
well-known character IN Potter's Court
for whom the police had made inquiries
during her short stay there.
She had left the house some hundred
yards when footsteps on the gravel path
arrested her attention, and checked heI
further progress. They were coming
slowly toward her-and she shrank al
once into the shadow of the trees, with
the instinct to be unperceived and watch
full. Trouble had come thickly in hel
way, and she must fight against 1t as best
she might.
There were two persons advancing il
her direction-who could they be, at that
hour of the night, but Thomas Eastbel
and Peterson, plotting together against
the peace of Sedge Hill? They were soor
close upon her; they could have hearC
her loud breathing had they listened; but
they were deep in conversation, and un
mindful Of a watcher The path was
broad and white, and their figures wer,
easily distinguishable, striking at Saral
Eastbelps heart with new surprise ant
an awful sense of treachery. They wer,
those of Captain Peterson and Mary
Holland!--the former talking in a low
and energetic manner; the other listenin;
with her gaze directed to the ground, an(
with her hands clasped on the bosom O
her dress, There was light gauze scar
on Mary Hollands head, and the end
| futtered in the night breeze as she pass
ed by. There was not a word whicl
Sarah could catch Att was a new phas,
of mystery for which she was not pre-
pared, which seemed to place her yer,
much alone in the world after the dis
covery.
When they were in advance of her
Sarah stole from her hiding place ant
proceeded in their direction, keeping t
the shadow Of the trees. She pause,
before entering upon the broad and opel
space Of ground in front of the hous
where they were standing, and wher
Captain Peterson was still debating witt
the silent woman still looking on tn
ground. She watched them separat
without a glance toward each other, tn
man entering the picture gallery through
the bay-window, and Mary Holland pro
ceeding to the French window Of tn
drawing room,
Sarah followed her, still clinging to tn
shadow. She reached the drawing roou
to find the blinds drawn before the win
dows, and the windows closed. AS sh
paused to consider her next step, tn
shadow of Mary Holland was thrown up
on the blind-a strange appealing phan
tom, with its hands appraised ais If in sur
plication.
Sarah's hand shook the window frame
There was another pause, and then tb