The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-08-25

nightmare. or had he gone mad? He
pinched his flesh and rubbed his eyes
: violently. The figure under the larch-
tree did not vanish. Swift realization
, of the truth dawned on the drowsy
scholar He was alone, at distance
J from the now silent hotel, and he had
in his pocket bag which belonged to
the other. What il this unknown had
found him still on the bench? What if
he emerged now, accosted the stranger
and gave him the bag?
g should be murdered as surely as
there is Heaven above us, shuddered
the man of letters. with aconviction for
which he could give no reason.
\ At this juncture the wind freshcned,
and the rain fell in torrents, while the
lightning became less frequent. Prof.
Horton quilted the larch-tree, reached
the hotel with surprising agility, found
a window of the recent ball room I'M
fastened, CROPPED his way through that
deserted apartment. and gained his own
chamber. The bag ,Cas gone. He had
lost it from the wide pocket, probably
in his flight. His watch marked two
O'Clock. The Professor extinguished
his candle, opened the shutters of the
window, and seated himself with his
eyes fixed ON the eastern horizon. He
was prey to the most exciting emo
tons.
Prof. Horton was the first votary OF
the Silver Spring abroad next morning.
If he was feverish and haggard, with
stealthy, even furtiye aspect, the boy
at the fountain did not notice the cir
cumstance. Always. an early riser, the
Professor slipped a glass of the sparkling
water, and then walked along the up
per paths of the grounds. Cautiously
he skirted the rustic seat beneath the
larch-tree. and approached the larch.
A short, dry laugh of triumph escaped
the lips of the usually undemonstrative
student. A leather bag, half pouch,
lay, concealed by the long grass, be-
meath the spreading boughs. The larch-
tree had kept its secret we'll. The bag
remained where it had fallen from the
Professors wide pocket. He clutched
it, returned to his room, and proceeded
to investigate the contents. The little
bag held the Delaunay diamonds.
Necklace, bracelet, butterfly ornament
nothing was lacking in this precious
heap swept hastily from cumbersome
case and casket.
Five minutes later the rosy landlord |
was seized by the collar, dragged into |
his private Office, and confronted by |
Prof. Horton, whose agitation verged |
on sheer lunacy. The latter took from |
his pocket little bag, and poured out |
the Delaunay diamonds, telling wild |
and incoherent tale meanwhile about q |
larch-tree and midnight rambles.
Nobody would believe it, you know
said the Colonel, coolly. The hotel |
proprietor is never surprised in this
world.
''Take the trinkets and restore them |
in your own way. Do not mention me
in the transaction" retorted the Pro-
lessor, He stopped and plunged his
fingers once more into the rainbow of
precious stones with q sort of intoxica-
ton; the starry rays Of rose and blue
dazzled, blinded him. Beautiful and
fatal gift to MANI he murmured, with
parched lips.
The Colonel closed one eye, with the
aspect of a sagacious bird.
Prof. Horton sought his bed and slept
heavily until four o'clock in the AFTER
noon. He was awakened by voices and
peered through the shutters of his win
dow. A carriage waited to take the
Delaunay party to the steamboat on the
lake. Mr.. and Mrs. Delaunay were
already seated, while Alice, the maid,
had paused to reply to the head-waiter,
after which she re-entered the hotel.
At this moment Prof. Horton door was
opened, and the Colonel entered with
the bouncing swiftness OF movement
peculiar to. fat men in haste. II the
conduct of the Professor had been ex-
in the morning when he had
restored the jewels. that of the Colonel
was not less so in the afternoon. He
locked the door, made warning gest-
IRE to the Professor and stole on tiptoe
10 second door at the extremity of
The large room, where he lay down on
tbe floor and applied eye and ear to the
crack. Voices became audible in the
chamber.
II was there at one o'clock and gave
{ you, said woman.
"A lie! l waited sll night and you
lid not come" said man.
II gave it TO person under the tree,
Ind he took it" gasped the woman.
'Fool! Then the game is up. Get
Yourself dismissed at Newport and cut (
o New York. If i believed YOU were
ricky, my girl, Il would be the worse
or you.
There was sound of footsteps, and
afterward the Delaunay
'arriage rolled away.
The Colonel rose to his feet, chuckling
It the success of his stratagem.
''Set thief-ahem!-I mean woman I
0 catch a woman. My wife thought $
t having the English maid sent back
= search of a missing bag, in order to 9
i've her . chance to communicate with 1
er accomplice in the hotel, if she had I
ne. The bag was dropped in the b
mpty room next to you, for the pur- :
ose, and aman joined her there. Your