Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-05-07
7 he Firm Of
CiTd|eStOne.
A. CONAN DOYLE
NS-[G|--SS~
a. CONAN DOYLE
CHAPTER NIII.-(Continued.)


Il am sorry to be late, mother" the lac
down at the docks all day, and have beer
busy and worried"
Mrs DimSdale was sitting in her chair
beside the irc knitting when her son came
in At the sound of his voice she glanced
arxiously up at his face, with all her
nootherly instincts on the alert,
What is it, my boy?" she said. You
don't look yourself Something has gone
wrong with you. Surely you're not keep
ing anything secret from your old moth
err
Don't be so foolish az that, my boy"
said the doctor earnestly. "lf you have
anything on your mind, out with it.
There's nothing so far wrong but that it
can be set right, I'll be bound"
Thus pressed. their son told them all
that had happened, the rumor which he
had heard from Won Baumser at the Cock
and Cowslip. and the subsequent visit to
Eccieston square. II can hardly realize
IL all yet" he said in conclusion. My
head seems to be in a whirl. and | cant
reason about it,"
The old couple listened very attentively
TO his narrative. and were silent some lit
tie time after he had finished. His mother
first broke the silence. IL was always
sure she said, That we were wrong to
stop our correspondence at the request of
Mr.. Girdlestone."
Its easy enough to say that now,"
said Tom ruefully. AT the time it seem
ed as if we had no alternative"
''Thpra'c M usa ory;pp ovar spilt y,,i1l>
remarked the old physician, who had been
very grave during his sons narrative.
I'VE must set to work and get things
right again. There is one thing very GER
tain. Tom, and that is ihat Kate Harston
Is a girl who never did or could do a
dishonorable thing. If she said that she
would wait for you, my boy, you may feel
perfectly safe; and If you doubt her for
one moment you ought to be deuced well
ashamed of yourself"
well said. governor !" cried Tom. with
beeming face. Now that is exactly my
own feeling, but there is so much to be
explained. Why have they left London,
and where have they gone tor
mo doubt that old scoundrel Girdle-
stone thought that your patience would
of you by carrying the girl off into the
country"
And if he has done this, what can /
dol"
Nothing. 1t is entirely within his
right to do it,"
And have her slowed away in some
little cottage in the country, with that
rII H.,
all the time. 1t is the thought of that
that drives me wild"
''You trust in her, my boy" said the
old doctor. We'll try our best in the
meantime to find out where she has gone
TO. If she is unhappy or needs friend
you may be sure that she will write to
your mother"
YES there is always that hope" ex-
claimed Tom, in a more cheerful voice.
Tomorrow I may learn something at the
Office"
Don't make the mistake of quarreing
with the Girdlestones. After all they are
within their rights in doing what they
appear to have done"
They may be within their legal rights
Tom cried Indignantly, but the old man
made a deliberate compact with me. which
he has broken"
Never mind. Don't give them an ad-
vantage by losing your temper" The doc
tor chatted away over the matter for
some time, and his words, together with
those of his mother, cheered the young
fellows heart. Nevertheless. after they
had retired to their rooms. DIR. Dmsdale
continued to be very thoughtful and very
grave. 81 don't like it, he said, more
than once. II don't like the idea of the
poor girl being left entirely in the hands
of that pair OF beauties"