Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-05-19
wished to-" replied Sir Edmund. who.

wished to-" replied Sir Edmund, who,
c it observed, knew nothing Of the sus-
picion against the Judge. Il am inclined
TO think that you will be happier in seek
ing a new fortune than in lingering about
with the faint hope Of recoyeringthc old.
II h diamond is found you will near of
IL wherever you may be. Are you going
to look for another diamond"
mo, squire. I'm going to find that,
please God" Brace replied. then, after a
moments pause. he said, There's a mat
ter of business to finish up before | go,
sir; all the money | have in my pocket
belongs to YOU"
1T is a loan; keep it, Brace-keep it
until you are in a position TO pay me: and
| hope, for your sake, that time may not
be far hence"
You're grit, squire-real grit! won't
refuse your Kindness. l shall need a bit
to start with. Bat III ask you, sir, to
hold this till claim it."
He went round to Sir Edmund.
"What is it. Brace" asked the baronet,
taking the paper Brace drew from his
pocket. He found it was the Judges
copy Of agreement. "Oh, / do not need
this, my good fellow" he protested; Il
have your Q u, and that is as good now
as ever it was"
Npt hNNp u - NOuI OWH
security, squire, III ask to keep it for
my own. It's a kinder ce'titicate, and if
anyone hes got anythin' to say agen me
when I'm not here to defend myself. I'll
ask YOU To let that up. Good-by, squire"
He held out his hand. and said, as Sir
Edmund shook it cordially-"Thank you,
sir. thank you. You are grit!'
He strobe down the room, brushing
past Van Hoeck, who sat immovable and
silent as though he We're carved in stone,
ANA came to where ! was standing. My
face must have told him that my heart
was hardened. But he stretched out his
hand and said hoarsely:
SAY gOod-by 10 us, pardner.'
! folded my arms and shook my head.
He dropped his hand by his side.
''Prehaps you'rc right" he said, re-
morscly, "prchaps you're right. Time
will show that Ivegota clean conscience,
If Heaven is just" He paused, then in
a still lower tone, and with IN accent of
r%el.roach, he added, Say yer hope SO,
pardncr, say Yer hope So
Il hope So" | said.
He shook his head r~uefully.
"Taint yer old voice, Gentleman
Thorne-thcre's no heart in il. We've
rOuglied it together. and we've shared
our 'bacca out there, end"-his chin
twitched convuloively, and turning away
hc muttered. lit takes all the pluck outer
me to part like this"
Lola was standing in q corner OF the
room by the door, with her eyes fixed
upon me. us Brace was about TO pass
through OF his way out he caught up her
writ ~savagelv in his hand. As s~avagely
she tore il away, and in her turn came
and stock before me.
TIN a-goin'," she said.
"And a good radiance" | thought. ex-
asperated by the belief that she knew
where the diamond was, and could reveal
the whole mystery if she chose.
You amt goin' to let me go like him,
are yer?' she asked; ''you amt goin' to
let me go without sayin' good-by:'
There was deep pathoS III her voice.
The ~friendless little savage loved me.
She had saved my life. My heart smote
me for forgetting that. l gave her my
two hands; she drew them round her
slight body, and then fiinging her arms
about my neck she whispered with ten
der impulsiveness:
shall | be good? Shall l tell you
where it ISL
But just at that moment her fine ear
caught the rustic of a woman's dress, and
catching sight of Edith, who was enter
ing from the dining-roOm, she started
back.
Scowling over her shoulder at Edith,
her eyes aflame with hate. she said, in a
voice from which all tenderness had gone:
For her sake? Mo-" and without look
ing again at me she went from the room
and Joined her father.