Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-05-26

dressed to me at MOnken Abbey. and re
addressed in Sir Edmund's hand. Turn
ing to the signature | found il was from
Brace. 1t was dated October 10Th, Pet
e~rsville. Nevada county. The then
was in California, within aday's journey
of me. | was not surprised at this, know.
ing his partiality for the state: but it was
~irreconcilable with the supposition that
he and Van Hoeck had the diamond. He
wrote thus:
II rite these lines fur to show where !
am lokated. and likewise that / have not
slinked off like q thief in the night to
hide my lights under abushel. If things
amt no forarder than they was in the
direction of clearin up what's become OF
the Great Hesper, they amt anyways no
backarder.
lit Amt no Use promisin without you
are got it right inter yer to perform, but
/ will allow that ] amt goin to chuck up
the cards before I've made you shake my
hand and acknowledge I've played square.
The Kid is frettin and things in GENIAL is
not lively with your pardner,
"Jos. BRACE"
l did not reply to this letter. / heard
again from Sir Edmund at the end of No
vember. His letter was dated the Goth.
He felicitated me heartily upon the pur-
chase | had made, and added the warm
est wishes for my success.
He continued.
THANK you for Braces letter. The
zone Of it would lead one to imagine not
only that he knows where the diamond
is. but has a strong belief in his power tc
recover it! One cannot possibly believe
that it was he who robbed and attempted
to murder YOU. But whom are we to
suspect, if not him? If he were not
guilty, why should he try to conceal the
leather case which might lead to its re.
covery? There is a fascination in this
subject which overcOmes my wish to
drop it. 1t is like the fifteen puzzle that
drove half the world mad some years ago.
Van Hoeck still wanders about the
woods through the night. More than
once he has been seen standing outside
the room in which Edith and ] pass the
evening, listening.
His suspicious have perhaps fallen
upon us. The poor wretch may have
lost his reason. His appearance, when |
caught sight of him the other day, JUST
ties the suspicion.
II have to confess to an indiscretion
which may have no serious result, but
which ! regret all the same. Yesterday
] received a telegram from Furnival,
dated Haxel's Hotel.
Il ran thus:
"'We have important clew. Send ad.
dress of Joseph Brace at once, or place
where he is likely to be found
THE we led me To suppose that he
was an agent of the detectives employed
in this case, and without further reflec-
ton | sent Braces address, having your
letter under my hand. | became uneasy
as o. rs the messenger was out of sight
and sent Wilson over to Southampton
with two kilograms, II for Furnival and
the other for the head of the detective
department, asking for further particu-
lars. | have received no reply whatever
from Furnival, and the detectives replied
by letter that they employed no one
named Furnival, and that all inquiries
were made through the head Office.
"Who on earth can this Furnival be,
and what can be the object Of his in
quiricS! The mystery was sufficiently
incomprehensible without this addition
Incomprehensible indeed, and the more
closely one examined the mystery, the
more inscrutable it appeared.
81 enclose" he wrote, III conclusion,
II IPlttT WHICH, tlllle 70 MANU- lDlS llbtIl
ing"
1t was n second letter from Brace,
This is the copy:
'TIBDAL's GOLDEN STATE HOTEL,
SACRAMENTO CITY, Nov. &.
"GENTLEMAN THORNE, SIR: Idint eXpeC
you TO answer my letter, but the Kid have
took it TO heart moren natral. | told you
she was kinder ~frettin, and 10 please her
made believe | had sent the message she
asst me to rite. Which gettin no anser ia
said message she sOrter felt you'd turned
your back or her for ever. l don't think
shes goin to make old bones. Seems 10 me
like as If she meant knocking oil early
Ses she don't feel like gatherin any more
wild flowers.
'N1'ha docto~ ~ons;dare .not e'obnAas sh1
got out Africa has settled into her, and sht
cant corff it oft.
"The rains hes set in early up Peters
Vile, and they amt no good FOR a poor httl'
sick Kid. We come down here day for
yesterday.
"Shes pinin, pardner, that's whats The
matter with her, witch is why 1 rite he
message.
She says she wants to be good; them
her words. never knew her say sucnl
thing, and I cant hardly eXpec you To be
lieve ii, KNOWN what she was, but II yo'
could only see her as she is YOU'D belleV'
it. Shes that altered; no tantrums, no CT
pOsishun, no obStinacy-no nothln,
"Seein this. you may be moved, sir, beli
kinder pitiful by natar. to rite her n few
words, Jest to say you've got her message
and hope shell stick to her promise. Wit
a little bit Of encouragement like that,
don't think shed go way without tellln
us what shes done with the Great Hespei
Yours Respectfully.
Jos. BRACE"
started for Sacramento without amC
ment's delay.