San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-02-08

the door, saw tnat there was OIL III lhe
lamp, put box Of wax matches beside
il on the table, and finally opened the
long -bladed knife Van Hoeck had given
me, and stuck il between the mattress
and the side of the bedstead.
The room was thickly carpeted and
oak-panelled. The furniture-with the
exception of the toilet arrangements and
a low, saddle-back chair-was antique
and of oak. The bedstead was particu-
larly wide, with four carved pillars car
rying baldaquin and heavy curtain of
some thick brocaded stuff, looped at the
foot, but hanging loose at the head, il
faced the oriel.
Between the right side of the bed and
the wall was square table-on which
stood the lamp-with the saddle-back
chair beside it. On the left-hand side Of
the bed was tall carved black press. A
large chimney, with a sculptured mantel
and an open hearth, faced the door. A
screen shut off the wash-stand, which
stood to the left of the orIel. A broad
settle with a valance, and covered with
a stuff similar to the hangings Of the
bed, ran round the three-sided recess
formed by the window-curtains of the
same kind shut off this recess. A corner
cabinet, with folding doors in the lower
part, fitted the angle of the walls to the
right; between this and the door was
deep, wide, and long chest, and above it
large mirror. An escritoire, some
high-backed chairs. and a second table,
completed the furniture. There was no
door but the one opening upon the cor
rider, and no window save the DRIED.
In the early part of the night had de-
scribed these particulars to Van Hoeck,
at his request, and he had made me ex-
anime the press, the old chest, the hang
ings of the bed and settles; everything,
in fact, which might afford a hiding-place
to Lola or another.
/ had even gone down upon my knees,
and looked under the bed, to appease his
anxiety. And yet now a vague uneasi-
ness possessed me as l raised the lamp
shade, and looked round the room. The
dark oak wainscot, the sombre hangings,
the painted ceiling overhead, absorbed
the light; there was black void on the
opposite side of the bed, where the light
from the lamp was intercepted by the
curtains; could not see even the outline
of the great press.
l read justed the shade. turned the
wick higher, and, half-undressed, threw
myself upon the bed. | was not afraid
in strength | was a match for any natur-
al foe, and did not believe in the exist
ence of any Other-yet | felt myself in
fected with Van HOeck's presentiment of
impending calamity.
Van Hoeck's theory of Lola's compiled
ty in plot to steal the diamond, had
been upset by the fact that was watch
ing her asleep at my door at the very
time Edith believed she saw the girl
looking through the blinds; but this had
in nowise shaken his conviction that the
mysterious appearance was connected
with the scheme to rob us.
"Are mans convictions to be limited
by his senses he asked you are con-
WINGED that cloud is rising in the hori-
ION because you see it, but am | to deny
its existence because | have no sight?
Are you justified, then, in declaring that
we are not menacel by this disaster
which is to overwhelm us because you
have not my faculty of provision! You
who cannot deny prescicnce to bee, the
presentiment OF coming storm to cattle,
tell me that my conviction is nothing.
1t is only by conviction that we live.
What saves us from destruction but the
conviction that, by stepping into an
abyss, we must fall? | tell you to look
about you; we are on the edge of an
abyss There are signs to strike the
dullest intelligence. Your turn will
Gomez
| had hung my watch in the pocket
upon the hanging at the head of the bed;
its lively ticking sounded strangely out
of keeping with the gloom and stiffness
,Nf ln oh ltnh
gave funereal aspect to the bed-hang-
ings; the baldaqum over my head might
have been a catafalque for the dead.
wondered how many men had ended
their days on this bed since those hang
ings had been put up. Would Van
Hoeck's presentiment be fulfilled! Should
| be found there i'll the morning dead!
1t was well suited for a murder that
bed, with its pall-like hangings to con-
ceal the lurking murderer.
Tic-tac, tic-tac, tic-tac, tic-tac, tic-tac.
My ear had become so familiar to the
brisk movement of my watch that the
slightest sound was audible above it.
And sound, slight indeed, heard.
To my mind, dwelling then upon as
sassins, it sounded like the drawing of o
dagger from its sheath.
Turning my head toward the side from
which the sound seemed to proceed, j
fancied saw the heavy curtain move; it
was between me and the lamp. The
movement was as slight as the sound. II
it was fact that heard one, it was
fact that l saw the other.
drew myself up gradually, and, lean.
ing forward, suddenly flung back the
curtain with my left hand. There was
no resistance to my hand; nothing to be
seen beyond but the lamp burning stead.
lily ON the table, the saddle-back chair,
and the dim outline of the big chimney
piece.
l got upon my knees, and pushed the
curtain flat against the wall, to be sure
that there could by no possibility be any
one concealed in the heavy fOlds-to as
sure myself that my suspicion was ut.
terly without foundation.
This end of the room was comparative
~ light, and the saddle-back chair was so
placed as to preclude the possibility of
any one hiding beyond it.
If the curtain had indeed moved, it
must have been by hand from under
the bed. 1t was easier to believe that
had been mistaken in seeing the slight
movement than to suppose that l had
overlooked concealed thief when
looked under the bed to satisfy Van
Hoeck; so | let the curtain fall, and lay
down again.
My thoughts still dwelt upon the idea
of assassination. Setting aside the idea
of an intrigue in which Lola was con-
cerned, there was yet nothing preposter.
GUS in Van Hoeck's presentiment. There
were eight or ten servants in the house,
and undoubtedly every one of them knew
of the marvellous treasure in my keep
ing. They would tell their friends in the
adjacent village, the keepers, the trades
people-in a few days the story would be
carried about and made known to hun.