The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-05-11
CHAPTER X.

VIII come, van HOeck nad sad TO me, anu
these words coming back to my mind,
asked myself if the repeated attacks upon
Edith might not be part of a complicated
scheme to obtain the diamond.
Such plot was the more possible be-
cause 1t seemed impossible. An act OF
legerdcmain succeeds or not. according TO
the skill with which the cOn iuFer fixes our
attention on afalse train of operatio Is while
he works out the actual feat. As | made
these reflections, | took the Great Hcsper
from the pouch on my waist strap. and
bucklcd it in its ease uponmy left wrist: then
/ doubly locked the door, saw that there
was oil in the lamp, put a box Of wax
matches beside it on the table. and finally
opened the long-baded knife Van Hoeck
had given me, and stuck it between the
mattress and the side OF the bedstead.
The room was thickly carpeted and
oak-paneled. The furniture-with the ex-
ception Of the toilet arrangements and IA low
saddle backed chair-was antique and of
oak. The bedstead was particularly wide,
with four carved pillars, carrying balda-
quin and heavy curtains Of some thick bro
caded stuff, lOoped at the foot but hanging
loose at the head; it faced the oriel.
Between the right side of the bed and the
wall was a square table-On which stood
the lamp-with the saddle-back chair beside
1t. On the ieft-hand side Of the bed was a
tall carved black press. A large chimney,
with Sculptured mantel and an open
hearth. faced the door. A screen shut off
the waShstand, which stood to the left Of
the OrieL broad settle with a valance,
and covered with stuff similar to the
hangings Of the bed, ran round the three
sided recess formed by the window-cur-
tains Of the same kind shut off this recess.
A corner cabinet, with folding doors in the
lower part, fitted the angle of the walls to
the right; between this and the door was d
deep, wide, and long chest AND above it a
large mirror. An esuret0irc. some high
gRlas 4 4 81, 10. I.,t.N
the furniture. There was no door but the
one opening upon the corridor, and no
window save the Oriel.
In the early part of the night had de-
scribed these particulars TO Van Hoeck at
his request and he had made me examine
the press. the old chest, the hangings of the
bed and settles: everything, in fact. which
might afford a hiding place to Lola or an
other.
had even gone down upon my knees and
looked under the bed, to appease his anX-
ietv, And yet now a vague uneaSineSS pos
sessed me as | raised the lamp shade. and
looked round the room. The dark oak
Wainscot, the Somber hangings, the painted
ceiling overhead, absorbed the light; there
was black void on the opposite side of the
bed, where the light from the lamp was in
tercepted by the curtains; / could not see
even the outline of the great press.
| readjusted the shade, turned the wick
higher, and, half undressed, threw myself
upon the bed. was not afraid-in strength
/ was match fer any natural foe, and did
not believe I'm the existence of any other
yet felt myself infected with Van Hoeck'S
presentment of impending calamity.
Van Hoeck's theory Of Lola's completely
in plot to steal the diamond had been up
set by the fact that | was watching her
asleep at my door at the very time Edith be-
ieved she saw the girl looking through the
binds; but this had in nOwiSe shaken his
conviction that the mysterious appearance
was connected with the scheme to rob us.
Are a mans convictions to be limited by
his senses" he asked. You are convinced
that a cloud is rising in the horizon because
you see it, but am | to deny its existence
because 1 have no sight? Are you justified
then, in declaring that we are not menaced
by this disaster which is to Overwhelm US
because YOU have not my faculty of pre-
NlSlunE You who can not deny preScience
TO a bee, the preSentiment Of coming storm
TO cattle, tell me that my conviction is
nothing. 1t is only by conviction that we
live. What saves Us from destruction but
the conviction that, by stepping into an
abyss, we must fail? | tell YOU to look
about you; we are on the edge Of an abyss.
There are signs 10 strike the dullest inteIli-
geHce. Your turn will comet
| had hung my watch in the pocket upon
the hanging at the head Of the bed; its lively
ticking sounded strangely ont of keeping
with the gloom and stiffness of the sur
ltullAlNL~. ne SHaieIi NZht gave a lllGt-
real aspect 10 the bed-hanginCS: the halIa
quin over my head might have been a cata-
talque for the dead. ] wondered how many
men had ended their days on this bed since
those hangings had been put up, Would
Van Hoeck's prcSentiment be fulfilled D.?
Should | be found there in the morning
dead?
1t was well suited for murder that bed.
with its pall-like hGngings to conceal the
lurking murderer
Iie-tac. tic-tac, tic-tac. tic-tac, tic-tac.
My ear had become so familiar TO the
brisk movement of my watch lhat the slight
est sound was audible above il. And Il
sound, slight indeed l heard.
To my mind, dwelling then upon assas-
sins, II sounded Ike the drawing of a dagger
from its sheath.
Turning my head toward the side frcm
which the sound seemed to proceed | fan
cied / saw the heavy curtain move; it was
between me and the lamp. The movement
was as slight as the sound. Ii il was a fact
that | heard one, il was a fact that | saw the
other.
l drew myself up gradually, and leaning
forward. 1 suddenly flung back the curtain
with nv left hand. There was no resist
yond but the lamp burning steadily on the
table, the saddle-back chair. and the dim
outline Of the big chimney piece.
| got upon my knees and pushed the eur
tain fiat against the wall, to be sure that
there could by no possibility be any one
concealed in the heavy folds-to assure my
self that my suspicion was utterly without
foundation.
This end Of the room was comparatively
light. and the saddle back chair was so
placed as TO preclude the possibility of any
one hiding beyond it.
Il the curtain had indeed moved il must
have been by hand from under the bed.
It was easier 70 believe that had been mis-
taken IN seeing the slight movement than
to suppose / had overlooked concealed
thief when | looked under the bed to satisfy
Van Hoeck; SO l let the curtain fall and Law
down again.
Ny thoughts stiH dwelt upon the idea of
assassination. Setling aside the idea of an