The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-05-28
CHAPTER XxIv.-tContinued.l

! and Sarah Eastbell had baffied the con-
! spirators. All that had been planned 10y
! CAPTAIN Peterson. and that Sarah's alb
sence from Sedge Hill had rendered hu-
gatory, all the new scheming to which
! that absence had given rise, and which
/ was set in action with Sarah's return,
had collapsed at the eleventh hour. Sarah
was neither dead nor a captive, and Tom
was as far removed from prosperity as
he had ever been.
| II never meant" he began, then
| he burst forth with-"Oh, ] am so glad
that you've come back. Sally--sO glad
| that you amt dead"
| Were you waiting for the news If my
death. them asked Sarah with indigna-
ton. There is your world, Tom she
said, pointing to the door. beyond this
house. and any love Of mine, from this
/ day. You could not trust me-you set a
snare for me. and called in rogues and
villains to assst-you begrudged ne my
property and my life. Now go"
! Lucy Jennings hard voice cut short his
defense, and he backed from the woman
! TO the grounds beyond the house with
every word she hurled at him.
| tom Eastbell, some hours ago. In Lon
| dou, | gave information to the police
/ where the Peterson gang were likely TO
be found-where you were, and in what
way you were connected with them. You
! have not any time to lose"
! He lost no time accordingly. He van
ished away, thief to the last-for I've
departed with Reuben Culwick's best hat
rammed over his eyebrows Sarah turned
again to Reuben, her watchful protector,
/ al. tar 70 In, hiu SIGHT
now and as the door closed she linked her
hands upon his arm.
| ''Take me in. please--I am tired ont,
Reuben. | have fought hard to get
| homer
| Tell me how it happened--how It was
! that you disappeared from all of us SO
/ suddenly" said Reuben impatently.
! He did not regard Lucy Jennings he
drew his chair to his cousins side, took
, her hand in his, and gazed eagerly into
her face She might fade away again
from his life, if he did not make sure of
| her.
Yes, yes" said Sarah In answer TO his
questions; "but grandmother-tell me,
first, Is she not very anxious about meY"
Your grandmother is not anxious.
! Sarah said Lucy in low tone.
ls sue Hi
| mo. She Is not i'll now
"Is she--ah! you are keeping some
thing back! Tell me, please" she said
/ in great excitement, where is she. She
! is not dead-oh! she has not died without
word from meT'
"She is In Gods hands.-and God keep
YOU strong to bear the loss of her." said
! Lucy Jennings.
Sarah Eastbell closed her eyes, and
| sank back In the chair like q dead wom-
I'm. Reuben, man wholly umcharita-
! ble-as men will be In stages Of excite
ment which strike home to them, and rob
| them of their self possession-turned up
on the poor preacher. who had done her
best at least.
! There, you have killed her! Are lou
satisfied nowT he shouted at Lucy Jen-
nings.
! IL am not satisfied with this world. or
| with you" was the cold answer, as she
bent over Sarah. and loosened the fast
enings at her throat. But Sarah East
bell had not tainted: she was only stunned
| by the truth. and she sat up the instant
afterward, eager for the whole story.
and looking piteously from one to the
other.
! 1t was not in Rcuben's power to break
the news to her after ALL and he left Il
to the woman whom his impatienca had
wounded
Tell her. Lucy. It Is beyond me-" he
said.
The tragedy of Sedge Hill was over.
and he could not dwell upon It's details,
CHAPTER XIV.
Lucy Jennings was writing busily In
her room when Sarah came in softly. The
woman preacher had gone to her apart
ment away from the society of two young
folks who thought of little save each 9TH
er, and whose courtship did not interest
her. 1t was one month after the death
of Mrs. Eastbell.
"Oh. Lucy. what do you think he has
been sayingT Sarah cried In excitement.
who has been saying?" asked Lucy,
without looking In her direction.
Reuben, to be sure"
Always Reuben! l had forgotten there
was no other man upon the earth but
Reuben Culwick," she said bitterly.
He says l may ask your opinion II l
willard you will think how right he
Is"
1T will be about the first time In my
life that / have thought him In the
right" she muttered. then she added In
her sharpest and jerkiest manner: "Well,
what Is itr'
II have been telling him Of your going
away to-morrow-of the necessity Of his
going. too. as you suggested, and he says
oh. Lucy! what do You think he has got
into his dear old head2" she cried. clap
ping her hands together.
"I can't guass-what Ia tho nhiacf of
guessing when II Is easy for you to ex-
plain" was the ungracious rejoinder
Sarah Eastbell did not notice the chilli