The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-04-16
CHAPTER XVII.

the great picture gallery. The old lady
had left word that she wished TO see
Sarah directly that she was disengaged,
and our heroine had proceeded upstairs
upon receiving the message, and found
Mrs. Eastbell in bed, lying there rigid
and snlow. as in the old almshous,. days.
The maid in attendance upon Mrs. Fast
| bell quilted the room as Sarah entered
softly, but not SO softly IN to escape the
quick ears of the grandmother.
"Sally-what a dreadful time You have
bccn!' said Mrs. Eastbel.
Il have been talking to Tom"
You will have years to talk to hinl-
| may be only with you few more days.
It's awfully firing. this up and down
stairs business. Not half as comfortable
as Mt st. Oswald'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
now!'
Rest in this house. Sally 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 as if we were in prison. Somebody
came into my room last night, blunder-
ing. but | could not find out who it was."
Into your room?'' asked Sarah, very
anxiously now. where was Hartley
II packed her off two days ago. She
snorted in her sleep like horse. [ want
rest. child, not the noise Of a steam en-
CINE in my ears"
"YOu are too old to rest alone--you
cannot lock your door even" said Sarah.
II must come back AZ in the old lays.
grandmamma, If 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
Oswald'sT
you're mighty anxious about me-
said Mrs. Eastbell fretfully. "and vet
you have tounced yourself off for three
days, and without rhyme or reason"
Il was anxious about Reuben Culwick
i could not rest longer without seeing
him. He is very poor. grandmother"
said Sarah: che has been very unlLcky
in life | found him in 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
Nuo was outt our Nucu We
poor and low--who saved me when had
not power to help myself. This is the
man forever foremost in my thoughts.
Why should | hide it from myself or
your
She buried her head in the bedclothes.
and the shriveled hand stole forth and
rested on the flowing mass of raven hair
there.
Don't go on so, Sally won't forget
him. / promised long ago that | would
never forget Reuben Culwick, didn't L?
III keep my word. AS soon as ever
am strong enough the will we talked
about shall be prepared"
Sarah passed from the room. and stood
rejecting on the sheep's-skn 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
IA 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 l return, and see that no
one disturbs my grandmother by passing
nosily along the corridor"
Sarah left Miss Hartley to marvel n
little at the Instructions which she had
received. and went thoughtfully down
stnirs, 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 the 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 her
further progress They were coming
/ slowly toward her-and she shrank at
once into the shadow of the trees. with
the instinct to be unperceived and watch
full. Trouble had come thickly in her
way. and she must fight against IL MS best
she might.
| There were two persons advancing In
her direction-who could they be. Mt that
hour of the night. but Thomas Eastbell
and Peterson. plotting together against
/ the peace of Sedge HIP They were soon
close upon her; they could have heard
her loud breathing had they listened. but
they were deep in conversation. and I'M
mindful of watcher The path was
broad and white, and their figures were
easily distinguishable, striking at Sarah
Eastbel's heart with a new surprise and
an awful sense of treachery. They were
those of Captain Peterson and Mary
Holland!-the former talking in low
and energetic manner: the other listening
with her gaze directed to the ground, and
with her hands clasped on the bosom of