The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-06-08

these xpeditions-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
got possession of the diamond, as we sup
poser"
In postscript he added:
Mr.. Furnival. dating from Haxel's Hotel,
London, wrote asking me for your address.
| replied that you were at San Diego. Cali
fornia."
The news with regard to Van Hoeck did
not add greatly to the mystery In which this
strange man was already involved; but the
postscript was new source OF perpleXIty to
me. | knew no one OF the name OF Furni.
val; / could not recolleet having spoken to
any one of Sir Edmund while was In Lon
don.
How, then, could this Mr.. Furnival have
known where TO apply for my address? l
expected 3 letter from him to clear up this
matter, but no letter came.
A few DAYS later | received a letter adj
dressed to me at Monken Abbey. and re-
addressed in Sir Edmuni'S hand. Turning
to the signature. found it was from Brace.
1t was dated Oct. 10, Petersvi!lc. Nevada
County. The Judge was then IN California,
within q days journey Of me. l was not
surprised at this. knowing his Partially for
the State; but it was irreconcilatle with the
supposition that he and Van Hoeck had the
diamond. He wrote thus:
Il Iito these lines fur to show where l am
lokated, and likewise that have not slinked
off like thief in the night to hide my lites
under a bushel. II 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,
1T 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
| did not reply to this letter. 1 heard
again from Sir Edmund at the end of No
vember. His letter was dated the 10th. Ho
felicitated me heartily upon the purchase 1
had made, and added the warmest wishes
for my success.
He continued:
Thank you for Braces letter. The tone
of it would lead one to imagine not only
that he knows where the diamond is but
has II strong belief In his power to recover
it. One cannot possibly believe tina ii was
he who robbed and attempted TO murder
you. But whom are we to suspect, II not
him2 II he were not guilty, why should he
try to conceal the leather case which might
lead to its recovery? There is a fascination
in this subject which overcomes my wish
TO drop it. II 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 rea-
son. His appearance, when | caught sight
of him the other day, justifes the suspicion.
i have to confess to an indiscretion
which may have no serious result. but
which | regret all the same. Yesterday |
received a telegram from Furniyal, dated
Haxers Hotel.
We have important clew. Send address
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 reflection | sent
Braces address, having your letter under
my hand. | became uneasy as soon as the
messenger was out of sight, and sent Will
son over to southampton with two tele-
grams, one for Turnival and the other for
the head of the detective department, ask
ing for further particulars. | have received
no reply whatever from Furnival, and the
detectives replied by letter that they en-
plOyed no one named Furnival. and that all
Inquiries were made through the head Office
Who on earth can this Fu'n.val be. and
what can be the object of his inquiries?
The mystery was sufficiently Incompetent
sible without this addition"
Inccmprehensible indeed, and the more
closely one examined the mystery, the more
inscrutable it appeared.
i inclose," he wrote in conclusion, "a let
ter which came to hand this morning."
1t was IA second letter from Brace This
| is the copy;
SACRAMENTO CITY, Nov S.
| Gentleman Thorne
SIR dint cXpec you to answer my let
! ter, but the Kid have took it to heart moren
natral. | told you she was kinder frettin.
and 70 ple1Sn her | raada believe | had sent
the message she asst me TO rite. Which get
tin no answer TO said message she sOrtcr
felt you'd turned your back on her for ever.
| don't think she's goin to make old bones.
/ Seems TO me like as if she meant knocking
off early. Ses she don't feel like gatherin
any moro wild flowers.
/ The doctor considers that sickness she
! got out Africa has settled into her, and she
/ cant corT it off.
The rains hes set in early up Petersville,
! and they amt no good for IA poor little sick
| Kid. We come down here day fore yester-
/ day.
"Shes pinin. pardner. that's what's the
| matter with her, witch is why rite her mes
sage.
she says she wants to be good: thems
! her words. | never knew her say such a
/ thing, and | cant hardly expec you to be-
/ leve 1t, knowing what she was, put if you
| could only see her as she is you'd believe it.
! Shes that altered; no tantrums, no oppo-
/ sishun, no obStinacy-nO nothin.
Seem this, you may be moved, sir, bein
! kinder ptitul by natur, to rite her a few
words jest to say you've got her message,
and hope she'll stick to her promise. With
a little bit of encouragement like that, |
| don't think shed go away without telling
us what she's done with the Great Hesp.r.
! Yours respectfully, Jos BRACE"
/ | started for Sacramento without a mo-
| mCnt's delay.
tTo BE Continued