Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-05-26
CHAPTER XIV.

Fortune favored me; before l had been
twenUy-four hours in San Diego, l learned
that one Of the best fruit farms in the
state was to be sold. 1t lay in Elysium
Valley, about twelve miles back of San
Diego City, and was the property OF
Colonel Kinks, On hearing this, | hired
a horse at once and rode to the estate.
The road ran between irrigated planta-
tons Of lemons, citrons, oranges, and
ether fruits that perfumed the air; the
higher slopes were covered with vines.
In the distance before me- were the snow.
capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada, and
turning in my saddle as l assembled the
gentle rise on which the house stood, my
eyes were dazzled with the beauty OF
San Diego Bay.
The house was large and well-built in
the Italian style-a style not unsuited to
Mat unclouded sky, and the surrounding
scenery The view from the belvedere
was indescribably beautiful, and indeed
justified the ~high-sounding name given
TO the valley it overlooked.
There were flowers everywhere about
and around the house: they festooned the
terrace fronting the facade; they hung
from the windows: they edgedthe paths;
thew ever twined from bough to bough
of the great cedar that lent shade to tho
lawn.
This is a house worthy of Edith" l
thought "Oh, that it may be mine to
effer her."
1t would he time wasted to enter into
nv business transactions with Colonel
Kinks. Suffice it to say that my ardent
wish was realized, and that in less than
a month from my arriving in San Diego
l entered into possession of the beautiful
property. Doubtless, it was a hazardous
undertaking for one who knew nothing
whatever Of the business, but what haz-
ard is too great for a man whose object
is to win the woman he loves! That the
money l invested was not my own, did
not lessen the risk l ran, but increased
it; for, unless l could show n reasonable
probability Of ~repaying Sir Edmund'>
loan, I could not demand Edith's hand.
However, l had every reason to believe
that Colonel Kinks was a gentleman, and
an honest and conscientious man OF bus
mess; added to this, l had confidence in
strength. and that buoyant feeling of
hope with which nearly everyone who
breathes the healthful air of this delight
full continent seems to be inspired.
Early in November l received q letter
from Sir Hdmund Among other things
he wrete
THE robbery is still a mystery-to me
it is a greater mystery than ever. Van
Hoeck has taken lodgings in tho village
i have met him twice in tho woods, q
wild, deplorable object, apd, indeed, pit
liable, if enc ma doubt his completely IN
fl,e robbery. Once he was upon his
hands and knees, cropping among the
ferns, rs if he expected to find there the
lost diamond; but he chooses h night
for these expeditions-probabiy because
he is then less open to observation. The
keepers tell me that he passes the whole
night, and every night, lii this hopeless
search. Why sn earth should he do this
if ne and Brace got possession OF tho dia
mond, as we SUPPOSE" /.
In 4 postscript ne added-"Mr.. lrTlt
val. dating from HaXel's Hotel. London
wrote asking me for your address. re
piled that you were at San Diego, Cali
fornia."
The news with regard to Van Hoecl
did rot add greatly to the mystery II
Which this strange man wS already III
volved; but the postscript wS a ne"
source Of pcrplexity to me. Knew liz
n of tue mann Of Furnival; I could no
rpcolleet having spoken to anyone OF 81
Edmund while | was in London.
How, then, could this Mr.. Furniva
have known where TO apply for my adj
dress? / expected a letter from hinl t.
rl""'' urfiIiaAntter, sHs n" '~''"r ""-'"