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

Lucy, calmly; "let her be a while"
"Why, Tots, it's Uncle Roo" he cried.
'old Uncle RoO-you know"
The child still chung to Lucy's skirts,
and would have none of his affection. He
gave up. and walked away to the win
dow.
You see how this kind of love lasts. /"
said lucy bitterly. land yet you value
it so highly"
Because it set high value upon me, "
he answered quickly.
"It Is dead"
1T will live again-it will come back. "
And IL not" Lucy answered. there
Is your second cousin to console you"
The opening Of the door cut short the
clash Of arms, and Thomas Eastbell adj
vanced into the room with a forced and
staggering air. Tots chung still to the
skirts Of Lucy Jennings, with her face
hidden In the folds.
"Oh! you're back" he said to Reuben;
"of course you know what has happened
since you've been away? I've been look
ing for you everywhere-I'veb been run
ming after the doctors-if we had a
plague In the house, think people would
stop in it more than they do" said Tom
EaStDeli. w nos tnlSg
MY name is Jennings" said Lucy.
"Oh! you're Jennings. / have heard
of you, but don't know that we have
ever met before May l ask what you
want, marin, now you are hereT asked
Thomas. you'll excuse me, but since
my grandmother's death and Sally's dis
appearance-and until Sally returns
/ consider / am the head Of this estab-
lishment."
II am compelled to answer your Ques-
ton IL this Is a true statement" said
Lucy.
"Yes, should think you were. True
indeed-thats a good one! Why, you
don't know that my poor grandmother
killed herself thinking about me-" he said.
''She was worried--she wanted to leave
me all her money-and she died of dis
appointment because she hadn't time to
finish her new will"
He addressed Lucy Jennings, but he
was watching the effect Of this announce
ment upon Reuben Culwick from the COR
ner Of his eyes.
1T is heavens mercy that your grand
mother died then" replied Lucy to him.
Il have been making inquiries concern
ing you to-day, and l have heard Of moth
ing to your advantage. You and one Ed
ward Peterson were in this house, from
which your sister has disappeared" said
Lucy. Among my congregation there
were two or three who remembered the
Petersons, and thought they they could
be traced. We are searching for them
now under the name of Jackson"
Thomas Eastbell put one hand to his
shirt collar; his throat had begun to swell
suddenly, and he felt uncomfortable.
oh" he said, "if that's 1t you're on a
wrong"
Tots had looked round at the sound Of
his voice some moments since, but he had
not noticed her till then, and then his
voice utterly deserted him, and his eyes
protruded in amazement. He did not ask
any further questions of Miss Jennings
The child belonged to Edward Peterson
He and his wife had the charge Of her
once, and grown tired of her. and lost her
in Camberwell back street, where Reu-
ben had found her: and Edward Peterson
had discovered her year or so after
ward, and taken her from the Jenningses;
but he could not stop to explain that
now. A few days ago that child was
at JacksOn's button factory, and she
must have come to Sedge Hill with the
news. He was caught In trap again
He knew 1t had not been safe to return
but that fool Peterson had persuaded
him. They knew all, and were getting
him into a line by degrees: everything
might have been discovered, for what he
knew to the contrary. He must "cut it,"
at any risk.
He went into the passage and closed
the door behind him. He took down a
hat from the tree In the hall and put it
on. 1t was Reuben's hat, and went over
his eyes, and was altogether bad fit: but
the sooner he was off the better, and
where he had put his own hat he could
not recollect in the present confusion of
his faculties.
He went on tiptoe to the front door,
big lock. He opened the door and let
in the wind and rain-and Sarah East
bell
Yes. II was his sister. with a shawl
over her hair, and her face, white and
wild. peering from it. She had ,ome
back-she knew all--he was done for!
TON. you villain she shrieked forth,
at first sight of him.
Thomas Eastbell went down on his
knees at the same moment as Reuben
came from the drawing room.
"Oh. Reubenl take care Of me-" Sarah
murmured, as she went fearlessly to the
friendly shelter of his arms; 81 have no
one else"
"She could never take care of herself"
muttered the infiexible Lucy. as she fol-
lowed Reuben Culwick into the hall.
1t was as Mary Holland had said. and
Sarah Eastbell was back In her own
house.
Ito be continued.)
His Explanation.
Why 70 paopla who huv 0nId h,.tcL- q