The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-04-18
CHAPTER X.

wiiiscome.n Van Hoeck had said to me, and
tQesea words coming back to my mind.
Edith might dot be part Of u complicated
scheme to obtain the diamond.
Snchsasplot was the moro possible be-
cause II seemed impossible. An act Of
legerdcmain succeeds or not. according to
the skill with which the conjurcr hxes our
attention on Il false train Of operations while
he works out the actual feat. AS made
these reflections. took the Great Hesper
from the pouch on my waist strap. and
buckled 1t In Its case upon m y left wrist; then
doubly locked the door. saw that there
was Oil In tho lamp. put a box Of wax
opened the long -biaded knife Van Hoeck
had given me. and stuck 1t between the
msstress ~ and the side Of the bodstead:
Ino ooasoa rSS% was was thisky carPstsd and
coption OF thetQilet arrangements and low.
Baddle- backed dcha}t--was antique and of
oak. The bedstead was particularly wide.
With four carved pillars. carrying a baida-,
quin and heavy curtains OF some thick bro
scaded stun. looped Mt the foot, but hanging
loose &C the head; 4 Gqced The orieL :.
the lnmp-with the saddle back chair beside
~. Onthe left hand side OF the bed was
tall carved black press. A large chimney.
hearth. faced the door. screen shut of
the washstand. which stood to tho left Of
the oriel. broad settle with a valance.
and covered with "a stuff similar to the
ehangings OF the bed, ran round the three
sided recess formed by the window-cur-
: tains OF the same kind shut of 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 a
deep. wide. and long chest. and above 1t
large mirror. An escretoire. some high
Dacked chairs. and second table completed
The furniture. There was no door but the
Sd.e opening upon the corridor. and no
window save the orieh
In the early part of the night I had de-
scribed these particulars to Van Hoeck at
his request. and he had made me examine
bed and settles; everything. In fact, VIII ich
other.
=, had even gone down upon my knees and
Locked under the bed t. aPpease his anx:
sessed me as rsised the lamp shade, and
looked round tho room. The dark oak
), w9inscot, the somber hangings, tho painted
itceiling overhead. absorbed the light: there
was black void on tho 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.
read djusted the shade, turned the wick
higher. and, halt undressed. threw myself
upon the bed. WAS not afraid--in strength
i 'was Q match for any natural foe. and Ldid
not belieye In the existence OF any other
yet felt myself infected with Van Hoeck's
presentIment OF impending calamity.
Van Hoeck's theory of Lola's compllcity
in plot to steal the diamond hal been up
set by the fact that l was watching her
heved she saw the girl looking through the
blinds: but this had in nowise shaken his
conviction that the mysterious appearance
was connected with the scheme to rob u.s.
Are u mans convictions to bc limited by
his senses?" he asked. -You arc convinced
that cloud Is rising ip the horizon because
you see it. but am 1 to deny its existence
E.x.x II l.Ax s--I.A