Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-05-12

1t was striking five when we quilted
the house. The Judge left me to look
about the garden and its vicinity for Van
Hoeck; he himself struck out at nee for
the wood, taking Lola with him. The
girl would have stayed with me, but her
father had her hand in his, and there
was no getting away from that grip.
After exploring the garden, | o the
path that led to the lodge, rs being one
that Van Hneck frequently walked in
when alone. The lodGe-kecper was not
up, but, passing through the open wicket
into the road, l came upon a laborer,
trudglng along to his work with a pick
upon his shoulder, and a tin flask in his
hand.
1t then was half past five, or perhaps a
little later.
Have you passed a blind gentleman
on the road?' | asked.
Il amt passed i'm" he answered; "but
as l come by the crossroads | see some
'un, as looked gentleman-like, kind 'er
fumbling his way along the road down
by Harley bottom"
| knew the crossroads; they were
nearly two miles distant. 1t was incom-
~prehensible to me how Van. Hoeck had
.strayed SO far from the abbey; but the
laborer's description left little room for
doubt that it was Van Hoeck he had
seen, and | started ut once in the direc-
ton indicated.
| could not see Van Hoeck from the
crossroads, but on turning the angle Of
the lane at the foot Of the hill, | perceiv-
cd him feeling the way with painful
slowness, and on the side of the hedge
row a hundred yards in advance. Hear
inc m " gfny. ln ,,r,,nl o,I r,a.Dr;.Ax.
it, came 20 meet me. He seemed to for
get the danger of making a false step,
and advanced with eager quickness-his
whole body partaking the expression of
anxiety imprinted Oh his features.
SIS it you, Thorne?" he called.
eyes" | replied.
"What has happened?'
/ waited until | got up to him, then
putting my hand on his shoulder, | said:
81 ave bad newsfOr you, Van HoeCk."
He trembled violently under my hand,
and opened his lips to speak, but 10 sound
came; his condition was pitiable. and to
keep him no longer in suspense, | SAID:
Il have lost it. 1t has been taken from
me-"
''NVho has taken it," he asked, in a
thick, husky voice.
Il cannot say. | could not see the
man who robbed me-"
He was silent for a time, and then his
feelings found expression, at first in exc
Grafton then in i~ncoherent sentences.
broken up with words Of Dutch where
the English tongue failed to give suifi-
Gent force to his anger and mortiiica-
ton. He assailed me with every kind
of invective, accused me of c~owardice, of
completely i'll robbing him, of / know
not what baseness and heartlessnesS-in-
deed, it seemed rs though the blow had
deprived him Of reason for a moment.
AT length, when his passion was some
what exhausted, he said:
And what is your Defence"
| took his arm, and as [ led him up
the hill toward the crossroads, | went
over the Story onc more. When l was
telling him how Lola had come to my
rescue, he stopped me.
That is a lie!' he said; ''for she has
been with me-
'Impossible!" l exclaimed.
impossible, according to your story,
but it is the truth for all that. | got off
the path, and could not find my way
back. She led me to a road-God knows
where!-and left me-"
"When!"
Chow can l tell? The night has been
IN age"
Granting she led you for an hour
and you would scarcely suffer her to
lead you longer-that would allow her
TO return to the abbey, and come to my
rescue at the time | speak Of.
Have it as you will; it makes no diff
ference now She got me out of the
way, and that was her object in being
there. Go on"
| came to the end Of my narrative, and
then suggested that the theft might be
traced to II OF the servants.
Anything to shield Brace" he said,
bitterly: n then, stamping his foot, he
added, "You EnOW he took it,
1t was useless reasoning with him in
his present condition.
''You stand convicted by your own
statement" he continued; .what ordin-
airy thief would be fool enough, having
obtained the diamond, to wait there,
risking discovery and jeopardize his own
life-for the sake Of butchering you? If
Brace was the thief, such a thing is pos
sible; for he must kill both you and me
to profit by the possession of the diamond.
Where is he nowg'
"With Lola, in the woods looking for
you"
"What? already!" he exclaimed. in
alarm. He is losing no time. Where
are the woods"
I'VE are III them now" | replied, for
we had passed the crossroads.
He stopped short. Shaking off my
hand, he muttered, in n tone of dread:
Are you three hunting together
"Be reasonable. Van Hoeck,' | said.
II am" he replied; leave me here"
made no reply; and we stood therein
the middle of the road, he quaking with
fear and turning his head from side to
side to catch the sound that might con
firm his fears. He looked like a hunted
beast, that knows not which way to es-
cape the hounds.
Whats that?' he asked, under his
breath quickly. There's someone on
the road. It's his step. If you have any
mercy, save me from him."
While | was turning to look up the
road, TO see If his fears were justified. he
CROPPED about until he caught hold of my
arm.
had heard no sound, but his finer
sense was not at fault. On the brow Of
the hill-which we were now descending
stood the gaunt figure of Brace. The
light Of the rising sun shone upon him.
but we stood in the shadow of the wood.
where the mist still hung over the sodden
earth