The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-03-25
CHAPTER XVI.-(ContinuedJ

that l expected; but quiet smile OF
malignant satisfaction stole over his
face. He merely remarked. Then the
Rev. Mr.. Porter will have a visitor next
sunday that he little expects. Let me
see" unused the Professor. Bury st.
ECdmUnd's | can take the early train
q Sunday morning, and get back at
light I shall have plenty OF time TO
do my business, and his, too"
What do you mean to dor asked
Josiah.
Never you mind will tell you all
about it when | get back
"Oh. what a jolly revenge it will he,
for all he made us suffer, to bowl the
old hypocrite out so clean!' cried Josiah,
geefuly. you can give mine and
Silas' compliments-'
mo. no; for heavens sake. do not
mention my name in any way. L ex-
claimed excitedly.
"Why not?" asked Mr.. Montgomery,
turning sharply round and casting upon
me one Of his old scrutinizing glances.
"Because-because- | could not
give reason. "Oh. please to promise
that you will not speak of me-" l plead
ed.
He did promise. But, somehow. / put
very little faith in his keeping his word.
When | was at old Browns, the
printers" said Josiah, II heard a good
many things about our reverend pastor,
who was not in very good odor, except
among his own sect, in spite of his sane
timoniousness When he first came into
the town, he was an open air preacher,
with no chapel or congregation; but he
managed to ingratiate himself into the
good graces Of a bevy of old women;
and upon the death of the minister of
Little Bethlehem, which happened about
the same time, the elders or deacons, or
whatever they call themselves. of the
chapel got him appointed. SO he set
himself up as converted cobbler; and,
as converted reprobates Of all kinds were
the rage just then, he dropped into tidy
thing
While we were yet talking, old Mr..
Jennings came downstairs to go to his
mornings work. We had sat up the
whole night. 1t was just 8 o'clock.
Spite Of my new anxieties. | fell asleep
the moment my head touched the pillow,
and woke about FIVE hours afterwards.
Martha had good laugh at my misera-
bic looks when l went in to breakfast.
Neither Mr.. Montgomery nor Josiah ap-
peared until much later. They took a
newspaper between them and discussed
1t over their breakfast. While "the Pro-
lessor" was languidly scanning the ad-
vertisement sheet, he suddenly uttered
an exclamation of surprise, and read
something with keen attention.
lust cast your eye over that" he
said, handing me the sheet, and pointing
with his finger to particular advertise
ment. With the utmost dismay, l read
the following:
"Absconded, from Tabernacle House,
near Bury ST. Edmund, a young man,
nineteen years of age, about five feet
nine in height, slightly built. long, dark
hair and dark eyes, small features, very
pale complexion. Whoever will send in
formation that will lead to the appre-
tension Of the same to the Rev. Mr..
Porter shall be handsomely rewarded.
n B.-Should this meet his eye, no fur
Their proceedings will be taken against
him if he at once returns: but should
he be apprehended, he will be proceeded
against on a grave charge. The police
are Oh his track"
The newspaper dropped from my hand
and l thought | should have tainted.
Martha was obliged to battle my fHce
with cold water to recover me. This
little scene was not lost to the sharp
eyes Of Mr.. Montgomery. l saw him
quietly noting it. but he made no re-
mark. Josiah began to hector, and beast
what he would do if he were in my
place.
was to see Clara in the afternoon
and, for the first time, l felt 10th to
meet her. That advertisement reused up
a train of painful thoughts. What was
l doing feeding a mad love for one
woman, while another could claim me
as her husband! How could it all end,
but in misery? If Clara should learn
to love me, and then discover all, what
a monster she would think me.
In the face of such impending dan
ger. but one course was open to me: to
see her for the last time bid her adieu.
and then fly from her forever Yes: I
would do it, if my heart broke in the eff
fort. l called in at Martha's as passed
by for something l had left there. Mr..
Montgomery proposed to bear me COM
pany as far as our roads lay together.
Don't you make yourself uneasy
about that advertisement" he said, as
we walked along. 1T is half gas: es-
peciaDy that part about the police. He
must set some value upon you to make
this fuss. There's something more in
this than you know of. or choose to tell. /"
he added, with a sharp look. 81 know
Bill Stokes so well; he wouldn't take all
this trouble without some very good
reason. But, as l said before. don't
brighten yourself. 1t is more than like
ly. before this day week. that he may be
advertised for as 'absconded.'"
Had l looked through the newspaner
that morning, | should have seen two
other advertisements that concerned me
equally with the one l did read. One
ran thus:
If the young man named
c., who left T House. nea,
B st. E., on the 31st of August
last. will communicate with Messrs. Fo.
gle 4 Quick. solicitors. Gray's Inn. he
will hear something to his advantage. !"
This advertisement. which had been
inserted for three consecutive DAYS nra.
viously, was observed by Mr.. Montsom.
cry for the first time that morning. and
no nniutod mt IN