San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-02-07
THE GREAT HESPER.
BY FRANK BARRETT.

way 10 the orfel racing ner. mat, ac-
cording to his calculation, would bring
her to your window"
Certainly"
"But he did not take account of the
fact that the door by which the girl en-
tiers the house is at the back of the right
block, and that the stairs by which she
would ascend to the first floor bring her
to the landing between Sir Edmund's
room and Miss Lascelles'. Thus, though
carrying out her fathers instructions to
the letter, she must inevitably make her
attempt upon Miss Lascelles' room and
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 perfectly
Incredible superstition possible-nay, for
the moment, probable.
"Are you convinced" he asked, tri-
umphantly.
''You have yet to explain how Brace
thought to obtain the diamond by the
means he employed. He would scarcely
expect that should faint with terror"
"Who said he would? Brace calculated
upon dealing with heavy sleeper, not a
nervous girl. The tapping is described
as soft and regular; it was intended to
test whether you were asleep or not.
The moment light appeared the sound
ceased-the girl had gone back to the bay.
From the landing she could see when
the light was put out, and it was safe to
recommence the attack. The candle
was lit with some difficulty the second
time-Miss Lascelles possibly stood with
her back to the window as she held the
vesta. Lola may have detected the first
glimmer, and uncertain or not whether
it was safe to continue, turned the blind
and looked through. At that moment
the wick burned up, and Miss Lascelles,
turning, saw the girls eyes between the
laths. The knocking was not repeated,
for simple reason-Lola had discovered
her mistake, and retreated. Do you
doubt now the purpose with which Brace
has gone to seek the girl to-day?",
was forced to admit that this expla-
nation was feasible, yet l could not be-
lieve that Lola, who seemed sincerely at
tached to me, would consent to aid in
my ruin merely at the instigation of her
father, whose authority she habitually
disregarded. said this to Van Hoeck.
sit is because she is attached to you
because she loves you," he replied, with
emphasis, "that she would readily enter
into her fathers project to rob you of the
diamond. The diamond is her enemy
it has separated you from her, and placed
you side by side with Miss Lascelles, for
whom she has manifested jealous
hatred from the very first. What could
be more gratifying to her savage dispo-
sition than to take away the diamond
that has created this difference between
you and her, and to reduce you once
more to her level. 1t is the only hope
she can have of getting you away from
Miss Lascelles, and restoring the former
condition of equality upon which your
companionship with her rested"
Again was compelled to admit the
force of Van Hoeck's argument.
"But why" / asked, ''shOuld Brace
trust such perilous undertaking to his
daughter"
''For an obvious reason" he replied.
"H you caught her in the act of robbing,
you would not raise your hand against
her; if you caught him, you would blow
his brains out. For her you would find
excuse; for him none"
In this there was truth also.
Talking of that, he continued, 'what
arms do you keep about you for defense?"
.'None," replied.
81 thought So Take this" he said,
drawing a long clasp-knife from his
breast pocket.
He showed the spring with which the
narrow blade opened, and the catch
which locked it at the back of the horn
handle, and made me promise to use it
for my defense, no matter who attacked
me. l also promised to close my win
dow, which habitually kept open at
night, and to secure the fastening of
that, as well as the door, before going to
bed. Finally, he exacted that | should
once more enclose the Hesper in the
leather case, and strap it to my wrist the
last thing at night.
The Judge did not return until dusk.
He was fatigued, and his general APP
pearance indicated a pursuit through
rough and thorny ways.
II hev seen the Kic," he said; "but
she would not listen to reason; and not
bein' Altered of spiling her clothes, she
naturally got the best of the argument,
and played it low down on her father" =
He advocated starving her into better
behavior, and would have had the door
closed to cut off her communication with
the dairy, and Miss Lascelles would not
listen to this; she would not yield to fear,
and declined to change her room or alter
her ordinary habitudes.
We separated a little before eleven.
The night was close and stuffy. l had
no inclination togo to bed, especially as
l had given Van Hoeck my word to close
the window beforehand.
There was a reading-lamp in my room.
/ lit it, put out the candle, and seated
myself in a comfortable chair with a
book. Not a sound was to be heard after
the clock struck eleven. read on with
out moving from my chair until past
twelve, From time to time had taken
my eyes from the book and listened in
tently-not in anticipation of hearing the
mysterious tapping at my own window,
but in apprehension of its being repeated
upon Edith's-and as the last stroke of
midnight reverberated through the still
night l closed my book and listened again.
The silence without was so complete that
the burning of the oil in the lamp at my
side was distinctly audible,
At that moment heard a board break,
1t was so slight sound that, had my
attention been fixed upon the book, /
should not have noticed it. l could not
tell where it came from; / was not sure
that it was not from the floor undar my