The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-05-05
CHAPTER XXTv.-(COntlnued.l


The great conspiracy was at an end
and Sarah Eastbell had baffled the con
spirators. All that had been planned BY
Captain Peterson, and that Sarah's alb
sence from Sedge Hill had rendered nu.
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 rs far removed from prosperity as
be had ever been.
"I--I never meant" he began, then
he burst forth with--"Oh, / am 80 glad
that you've come back, Sally--so glad
that you amt deadl"
Were you waiting for the news Of my
death, thenT asked Sarah with indlgna-
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 assist--you begrudged Inc my
property and my life. Now 20"
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.
don, gave information to the police
where the Peterson gang we're 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
tnk al 80 he In fop IA
departed with Reuben Culwick's best hat
rammed over his eyebrows, Sarah turned
again to Reuben, her watchful protector,
who would keep her for ever in his sight
now, and as the door closed she linked her
hands upon his arm.
take me In, please--I am tired out,
Reuben. / have fought hard to get
homer
"Tell me how It happened--how II was
that you disappeared from all Of us so
suddenly" said Reuben impatlently,
He did not regard Lucy Jennings--he
drew his chair to his cousins side, took
her hand In mis-, and gazed eagerly into
her face. She might fade away again
from his life, Il he did not make sure of
her.
Eyes, yes" said Sarah, In answer to his
questions: 'but grandmother--tell me,
first, Is she not very anxious about meT'
"Your grandmother is not anxious,
Sarah" said Lucy in low tone.
"Is she ill?"
mo She Is not III now"
'Ia she-ahl you are keeping some
thing backl Tell me, please" she said
In great excitement, where Ii 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 dead wom-
an. Reuben. a man wholly uncharlta.
ble--as men viii be In stages Of excite
ment which strike home to them, and rob
them Of their ssession--turned up
on the poor preacher, who had done her
best at least.
There, you have killed herl Are you
satisfied nowf" he shouted at Lucy Jen
ningS.
Il am not satisfied with this world, OF
with you," was the cold answer, as shs
bent over Sarah, and loosened the fast
enlnga 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 this
other.
1t was not In Reuben's power to brenl
the news to her after all, and he left /
to the woman whom his impatlence hat
wounded.
"Tell her, Lucy. 1t Is beyond me-" h,
said.
The tragedy Of Sedge Hill was over
and he could not dwell upon Its details