The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-05-09
CHAPTER XIII.

savage In the red pett1coat In the High
Street as started to come here.
CHAPTER XIII. .s,
Il advise you, sir" said the officer, ito
Mr.. Wray."
told him: without reserve. all that had hap
pened. showing him the leather case had
taken from the hole where Brace had placed
1t.
"A couple OF cunning scoundrels!- he ex-
claimed; their pretended suspicion Of each
to their completely. while each. by impli-
himself
7 was never in my life SO completely de-
-sssSssnascwass q psssnpSiSnSexyo sAS fss when
Hound him nnlaithful. and a thief
He is worse than that. Mr.. Thorne; he Is
doubt 1t was he who attempted your lite: IL
was a sheer impossibilty for the other man
to do it. We have heard the story Of the
robbery from Sir Edmund. The intelligenc,
that planned the attack was doubtless Van
Hoeck's. He looks like man of subtle in
tellect 1 do not see what other part he
could have played in this affair.
Sir Edmund told me. sir" said the on
Ger, that on your return from the LETT wing.
you heard snoring In Braces ROOM"
Il certainly did,"
That could very well have been Van
Hoeck. who had taken Braces place while
he slipped of into your room--ano other proof
that the two were acting together.
Precisely" said Mr.. Wray. And then.
with an air Of business. We'll, now. what Is
to be done2 that is the first question. The
the men even with being concerned In the
robbery. The leather case proves nothing.
They might declare they found 1t empty.
and have concealed it through fear of accu-
.tvl,N
statement to be false. and absolutely accuse
you Of being yourself the thief. And until
we can substantiate the charge by positive
proof, we must be careful to conceal our
are likely 30 be brought to justice. they will
quit the country by the first steamer that
leaves Southampton-and We can not stop
them. The thing that must be done at onco
affair" he said. addressing the officer; "un-
doubtedly they have placed 1t somewhere in
southampton. In readiness to take II flight
becomes necessary"
morning.
THAT Is part OF your business. OF course.
At the aame time. would suggest that II
Is OF far more importance to watch the men
themselves. Van Hoeck would not trust
the diamond to the keeping Of ordinary
thieves receivers: it would be safer merely
laid under plant In the gardens down by
the dock. You may be sure he has the in
genuity to suggest safe place for It's keep
ing"
"Ill have some plain clothes men on the
first thing tomorrow morning, and I'd
better go and telegraph to Scotland Yard ut
once"
."As soon as possible. But, not to alarm
the men. you had better make a prctense OF
continuing your Investigations. and avail
yourself OF some plausible pretext for re-
turning to Southampton. Everything at
this moment depends upon keeping Van
nd prno In ifrnn <Nf
pioion. And with that view." he added.
turning to me. Il counsel you. Mr.. Thorne.
TO conceal your own feelings. Not one of
these three ought to see any change in your
demeanor toward them.
This was sound advice. and recognized
tho Importance OF conforming with II: but
i am the worst actor In the world whero
my feelings are concerned. and my very
ted together to take my life from the mere
insensate greed OF gain. / felt more bit
terly toward Brace than toward his accom-
plice. not because thought Van Hoeck less
guilty, but because i had felt more kindly
toward the Judge. to whom seemed linked
by the brotherhood Of labor.
Kept out OF his way when we returned to
the library. and avoided looking mt him, lost
ne should perceive that was no longer his
friend. But know he had his keen eyes
upon me. and was reading tho signs OF my
newly born aversion. and this made my act
ing worse. ~
- Wn6n tne Ouc0r nau competed his fnvf4-
ugation he said sagaciousiy. as he clos ID
his notebook:
II have sufficient information for my
present purpose. ! may not be able to dis
cover the perpetrators of this Outrage Inn
medintely, but think shall be In a posi-
tion to tell you something about the lost
diamond within twenty-four hours"
Sir Edmund accompanied him to the door.
When he returned and took the seat he had
occupied at the head OF the long table,
Brace rOae and nlaefn0 him aalf at tha ~ :
posite end. inclined his head first to tfie
baronet then to the right and to the left.
Squire and en'lemen Of this committee, !"
he said. Il don't want to speak disrespec'f 'ful
OF the police. but the intelligent oficer who
has jest left US. as II he,d got hold of tho tail
end OF q rocket. and meant foilerin' IL right
mp. and holdin' tight on till IL bnst. amt
goin to DO any good for hisset or any one
else In this business. Tho big dieniond's
lost. and he ain't goin' TO find IL In twenty
four hours, nor In twenty-four years. III IL
was q haystack. I don't say but what. WITH
the help OF Proyidence-and good lot q