The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1888-04-27
This was not Van Hoeck's opinion, nor

II Will not say the KID mas done IT,,
he said; there's no sayiH' what greaser
blood will not do. For the sake of argy.
ment, we will say she did, but l onder-
take she shall not play the same bower
twice, if her fathers persr u .on counts
for anythin';" and he went off at once to
search for Lola in the wood.
"Ask Sir Edmund: he will tell you, as
he-told me, that Brace was in the woods
Yesterday while you Were philandering
with Miss Lascelles. What was he there
for but to find his daughter and employ
her in working out this plot!"
Good ~lIeavens!" | exclaimed, losing
my te1npsr; what notion have you got
hold of now? Last night you suspected
Sir Elmund-
II would suspect anyone who has the
opportunity to possess himself of such a
treasure as you hold. Do you blame the
man who protects himself when his life
is in danger! That diamond is life to
me. What could do if it wer"
You hold that diamond so4.
your keeping. Y"" ,-mE tns-in
every prer.soa Nv, rs safe safets W s Yon
n'ss 80 riS.,t IS despise nv warning be.
csusaH Goes not agree with your reck-
hss trust in humanity"
Take the diamond into your keeping,
if you think it is not safein mine,"I said.
"You maket that offer because you know
am powerics. to accept it in my blind
and helpless condition. How can l KEEP
it against a man like Brace?"
III You have more faith in my newer
to keep the diamond, why dc you accuse
me of neglecting i.s aafaty?'
Because yoh blind yourself to the
danger that exists. God!" he exclaimed,
protruding his sightless eyes tothe light,
and clincliing his hands in frenzy, "to
think that those who can see will not
see!!'
what possible connection can there
be-" | asked. "between the safety of our
diamond and the event of last n:ght?"
"a palpable connection. The evcnt OF
last night was an abortive attempt IS OBJ
tain the iiamond,"
AS l heard this, and looked at Van
Hoeck, I almost doubted if he were in
ais right mind.
"The plot failed" he continued, "be
cause the girl mistook The room!'
An i~ncredulous exclo nation ESCAPED
me.
you shah heat nie,h he muttered,
stretching IFS arm 70 the right and left
until he encountered mine with his hand
and then clutching it tightly: "you shall
.ee-with my eyes, if not with your own
You have urged that the Girleould know
nothing of the disposition or the rooms
but she might receive instructions from
Ter father. He went into the wood IL
give her thosc Instructions yesterday
Look at your plan"-he handed me tn,
Ingram had drawn at his request
Brace, having his room, ct the back OF
he right block, would naturally tell he
hat when she got to the top of the stair
she was not to pass through the picture
gallery, but to go straight to the landing
over the stairs she had assembled, opel
the window in the bay, which woul,
then be on her left hand, and make he,
way to the oriel facing her. That, nc
cording to his calculation, would hrint
her to your window"
Certainly"
"But he did not take account of th,
fact that the door by which the girl en-
ters the house is at the back of tho RICH
block, and that the stairs by which sh,
would ascend to the first floor bring he
to the landing between Sir Edmund
room and Miss Lasceiiesi. Thus, though
carrying cut her fathers instructions t.
the letter, she must inevitably make he
attempt upon Miss Lascelles' room IN,
not upon yours. Look at your plan"
81 follow you perfectly WELL" l said
astonished by the ingenuity of his ex
PLANTATION, which had made q perfect
Incredible supposition possible-nay, 70
the moment, probable.
Are you convinced" he asked, tri
u%mphantly'
"You have yet to exp,ain how Brac.
thought to obtain the diamond by tn
means he employed. He would scarcel
expect that l should faint with terror
"Who said hewould? Brace calculate
upon dealing with a heavy sleeper, not
nervous girl. The tapping is describe,
as soft and regular; it was intended t
test whether you were asleep or not
The moment a light appeared the SCUM,
ceased-the girl had gone back to the bay
From the landing she could see whel
the light was put out, and It was safe I
recommence the attack. The candl
was lit with some difficulty the secon
time-Miss Lascelles possibly stood wit
her back to the window as she held tn
yesta. Lola may have detected the frs
glimmer, and uncertain or not whethe
it was safe to continue, turned the bin
and looked through. At that momer
the wick burned up, and Miss Lascelles
turning, saw the girls eyes between tn
laths. The knocking was not repeated
for a simple reason-Lola had discovere
beg mistake, aud rstreated. Do 20
ioubt now tie pnfposo win vi.;cn brac
has gone to seek the girl today"
i, was forced to admit that this expla
!, nation was feasible, yet l could not b
icre that Lola, who seemed sincerely a
tacncd to me-, would consent to aid j
my ruin merely at tho ihstigation of he
father, whose authority she habituall
; ~iisregarded. l said this to Van Hoeck.
1T is because she is attached to you
, because she loves you," he replied, wit
, emphasis. that she would readily entt
INTO :,er fathers project to rob you of IL
r diamond. The diamond is her enemy
, It has separated you from her, and place
YOU side by side with Miss L.ascelles. fl
whom she has manifested a ieulol
hatred from the very first. What cod
be more gratifying to her savage disp
sition than to take away the diamor
that has created this difference betwet
! you and her, and to reduce o on
more to her level. 1t is the only no,
she can have of getting you away fro
, Miss Lascelles. and restoring the form
: condition of equality upon which 70,
companionship with her rested"
l Again | was compelled to admit II
force of Van Hoeck's argument.
"Bnt why" 1 asked, should Bra,
trust such a perilous undertaking to h
\ Jaughter::'
: "For an obvious reason" lie .replie,
t "1f you caught her in the act OF robbin
t you would not raise your hand a.ainl
> her; if yon caught him, you would bio
his brains out. For ner you would fir
l excuse; for him none"
a In this there was truth also.
9 Talking of that" he continued, "wh
arms do you keep abouty you for defense
"None," l replied.
II thought so. Take this,p he sal
q drawing o long clasp-knife from /
breast pocket.
: He showed the spring with which Il
narrow blade opened, and the catt
. which locked it at the back of the no
I handle, and made me promise to use
4 for my defense, no matter who attackt
me. | also promised to close my wi
dow, which l habitually kept open
I night, and to secure the fastening
that, as well as the door. before going
bed. Finally, he exacted that l shou
once more enclose the Hesper in Il
leather case, and strap it to my wrist t
! I 49,