San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-02-11
CHAPTER XIV.

Fortune favored me: before j had been
twenty-four hours in San Diego. | 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 o.
Colonel Kinks. On hearing this, hired
a horse at once, and rode to the estate.
The road ran between irrigated planta-
tions of lemons, citrons, oranges, and
other 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 | 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
that 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 festooDed the
terrace fronting the facade; they hung
from the windows; they edged the paths;
they even twined from bough to bough
of the great cedar that lent shade to the
lawn.
"This is house worthy of Edith" !
thought. 'Oh, that it may be mine to
offer her."
1t would be time wasted to enter into
my business transactions with Colonel
Kinks. Suffice it to say that my ardent
wish was realized, and that in less than
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 man whose object
is to win the woman he loves? That the
money invested was not my own, did
not lessen the risk ran, but increased
it; for, unless could show a reasonable
probability of repaying Sir Edmund's
loan, / could not demand Edith's hand.
However, / had every reason to believe
that Colonel Kinks was gentleman, and
an-honest and conscientious man of bus
mess; added to this, | had confidence in
my own perseverance, energy, and
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.
from Sir Edmund. Among other things
he wrote:
1.-The robbery is still mystery-to me
it is greater mystery than ever. Van
Hoeck has taken lodgings in the village.
/ have met him twice in the woods, q
wild, deplorable object, and, indeed, pit
liable, if one may doubt his completely in
the robbery. Once he was upon his
bandc on1 Graac rrrpninor annnO tho
ferns, as if he expected to find there the
lost diamond; but he chooses the night
for these expeditions-probably because
he is then less open to observation. The
keepers tell me that he passes the whole
night, and every night, in this hopeless
search. Why on earth should he do this,
if he and Brace got possession of the dia-
mond, as we SUPPOSE"
In postscript he added-"Mr. Furni-
val, dating from Haxel's Hotel, London,
wrote asking ME for your address. / re-
piled that you were at San Diego, Cali
forTIia."
The news with regard to Van Hoeck
did not add greatly to the mystery in
which this strange man was already in
yolved but the postscript was a new
source of perplexity to me. knew no
one of the name of Furnival; could not
recolleet having spoken to anyone of Sir
Edmund while / was in London.
How, then, could this Mr., Furnival
have known where to apply for my adj
| dress! / expected letter from him to
clear up this matter, but no letter came.
A few days later l received a letter adj
dressed to me at Monken Abbey, and re-
addressed in Sir Edmund's hand. Turn
ing 10 the signature found it was from
Brace. 1t was dated October 18th, Pet
] ersville, Nevada county. The Judge then