San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-02-04
THE GREAT HESPER.
BY FRANK BARRETT.


through thick and thin, through the
measliest streak of luck mortal man ever
struck.
''Israel was the first to funk it. My
calculations are wrong; it's hopeless
venture let us chuck it, he says; to
which Gentleman Thorne replies-'No,'
he saws, well stick to our colors and
fight it out says he; end he did his level
best to cheer us on. You should have
heered him there a-whistlin' like black
bud singin' songs, drawin' us out of our
selves, and maxim pleasant joke out of
our bad lick. Asst the Kid down there
who was her best friend in that trouble.
She'll tell you it was Gentleman Thorne,
not her father. She had bit of fever
it was him made up bed for her, built
a screen to keep the sun Off walked tif-
teen mile in the night to get things from
the store, set up night after night to give
her water. end used for to sing out about
the sleeping beauty and Cinerella, while
he was peggin' away at the burned
stones I will allow, miss, | were
ashamed to let him see / was losin' heart,
and when / felt like blasphemin' at
things In gen'ral, fused to take . short
walk and let of all my swearin' where
he couldn't hear me. Well, it did look
fish-kettle. Then Israel funked it a Sec
ond time. we hev still few pounds
left he says to Gentleman Thorne, let's
throw up the cards. which they might
hev done without going from our writ
ten word, they two formin' a majority.
But Gentleman Thorne wouldn't agree
to it. 1t wouldn't be fair to the Judge,
he said, and then he promised that if we
failed in the end he'd stick by Israel, and
keep him like his own flesh and blood
until he found the means of keeping his
self, which was more than I'd hev prom
Used him, l will allow. Well, we played
on till the last cent was spent in stores,
and the stores had got down to half a tin
of beef, and a screw of shag, and then l
lighted on two-carat stone. The very
next day Gentleman Thorne found the
Great Hesper. We couldn't allow it was
real, yet we sorter thought it was. Any
how, we didn't sleep till we got to Natal
and had it tested. We sold the hitler
stone, and scraped enough together to
pay our passage to Southampton by the
next boat In committee we agreed to
go to bank and raise money on the dia-
mond as soon's we landed, but no one
wouldn't take us on, end eff the police
hadn't put us on this track I'm burned if
l know what particular ole we should
hev been stickin' in at the present mo-
ment"
During this recital, which l have alb
breviated considerably, Van Hoeck, who
despised the Judge and abominated all
he said, sat with his eyes closely shut,
his nostrils pinched, and his black brows
creased together, so that they almost
met. Miss Lascelles listened with in
mt her tfxyI itrcf arta
and I thought she looked more kindly
upon me for the glowing eulogium-of
which have omitted great part-paid
to me by Brace.
The Kid changed her position, seeming
to catch some of her fathers enthusiasm,
and, sitting upon her heels with her
hands clasped before her, turned her
flashing eyes sometimes upon me, but
more often upon Miss Lascelles, as if to
catch the effect of this narrative.
'.One thing is obvious" said Sir Ed
mund cheerfully; 'you won't want to
leave me tonight"
"Neery one on us, you bet! replied
the Judge, while Van Hoeck and l ex-
pressed the same sentiments in other
words
The baronet spoke in a low tone to his
daughter, who rose and left the room.
"The next thing to consider is" he
then said, show can | be of service to
you in this affair. To purchase your
treasure is of course altogether out of the
question. But j should like to buy a
small-a very, very small-share in it,
paying down a certain sum for your
present convenience, and taking il back
when the diamond is ultimately disposed
of, with reasonable percentage upon
the outlay. / make this suggestion as a
matter of business, that you may feel
yourselves free from any restraint in ac-
cepting my offer"
It took us but few moments to agree
to this proposal.
"In that case, he proceeded, 81 should
wish to have a voice in the management
of this business, and the first suggestion
i should make is, that the finest artist in
work of this kind be engaged to cut the
diamond under this roof, and that during
the operation you should take up your
residence here. This precautiou is ne
cessary for the safe keeping of the treas
ure, and for our own common security"
This arrangement was too obviously
advantageous to us to require argument;
we consulted together, and quickly agreed
to accept the condition.
Sir Edmund read the agreement through
again, and then said:
"We must consult lawyer with re-
gard to legal form of agreement. Here
there is kind of tontlne arrangement by
which one would receive an enormous
advantage by the death of his partners.
1t is an uncomfortable clause, and l do
not see the necessity for its existence,
now that the circumstances which called
for its being made are changed. A law
yer may provide for our security with
out exposing us to ugly possibilities.
That, however, can all be settled later
on. There is no hurry. 1t will be time
enough to make the legal arrangement
when we have ascertained tho value of
the property to be arranged, and that we
cannot know before the stone is cut. We
will question the best firms in London
with regard to a lapidary, and take our
time. Meanwhile, l will supply you
with what money you want upon your
10 U, and the diamond shall remain in
your keeping. Talk it over among your
selves at your leisure, and any mOdifica-
ton you may think advisable have no
doubt ! shall be able TO accept"