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

will come" Van Hoeck had said to me, and
these words coming back to my mind.
asked myself II the repeated attacks upon
Edith might not be part OF II complicated
scheme to obtain the diamond,
p. Sucha, plot was the moro possible be-
cause IL seemed impossible. An act of
leEerdCmain succeeds or not. according to
the skill with which the conjurcr fixes our
attention on II false train of operations while
he works out the actual feat. AS made
these reflections, l took the Great Hcspcr
from !hc pouch on my waist strap. and
hucklcd il in its case upon my left wrist; then
doubly locked the door, saw that there
% was oil in in the lamp; put a box Of wax
opened the long -bladed knife Van Hoeck
had given me. and stuck it between the
mattress and the side of the bodstead:
The room was thickly carpcted and
oak panclcd. The furniture-with the cx-
ccption OF the toilet arrangements and a low
saddle backed chair--was antique and of
oak. The bedstcad was particularly wide
with four carved pillars, carrying u balda-
quin and heavy curtains OF some thick bro
caded stuff. locped at the foot. but hanging
loose ut the head; IL faced the oriel.
Between theriSht side OF tho bed and the
wall was square tabe-on which stood
the lamr--with the saddle back chair be side
It,. On the left hand side of tho bed was u
with IL sculpturcd mante and an open
hearth. faced the door. A screen shut Off
the washstand. which stood to tho left Of
the orieL A broad settle with II valance.
hangings 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 n
deep. wide. and long chest. and above il u
large mirror. An cscrctoire. Somc high
backed chairs. and ii second table completed
Ahe furniture. There was no door but the
- opening upon the corridor. and no
window save the Oricl.
In the early part of the night had de-
scribcd these particulars to Van Hoeck at
his request. and he had made me examine
the press, the old chest, the hangings of the
beG and settles; everything. in fact. VIII ich
might afford u hiding place to Lola or an
other.
had even gone down upon my knees and
looked und ef the bed. to appcasc his anx-
iety. And yet now vague uuvasIncsS pos
,ossd me nona as raised the Lamp shade and
wainscot. the somber hangings. tho painted
ceiling overhead, absorbed the light: there
WAS a black void on the opposite side of the
bed, where the light from the lamp was in
terceptcd by the curtains: could not sec
even the outline OF the great press.
readJustcd the shade, turned the wick
higher, and. half ndresscd. throw myself
upon the bed. | WAS not afraid--in strength
was match for any natural foe, and L did
not believe in tn" existence OF any other
yet fclt myself infected with Van Hocck's
presentimcnt Of impending calamity.
Van Hocck theory of I,ola'S completely
in plot to steal the diamond ha been up
set by tho Gact that | was Watching her
asleep at my door at the very time Edith be-
lieved she saw the girl looking through the
blinds: but this had in nowisc shaken his
conviction that the mysterious appearance
was connected with the scheme to rob u.s.
Are man s convictions to bc limited by
his senses he asked. You are convinced
that cloud is rising in the horizon because
you see 1t. but am to deny its existence
because have no sight? Arc You Justified
then. in declaring that we are not mcnaccd
:. by this disaster which is To ovrrwhelm lis
pee! the PrcsentIncft'u of "ebpht1t tn,, q pre=
10 cnttl", tell me that nv convjrtion ~
nolhinE. Ii Is only by conyIctinn thn, , 10
iiVc' what saves us from dnstrmc,in,' wv. we
INC conviction that. by stcpninc nc o,' a,'
ABYSS, wc must fall? / tell vo,s ,n I'm al,
Moout you; we are on the edge Gr nm ,hu
Ihero are signs TO strike the duIlost intSi,2
eehce' your turn will GOMEZ"
=. nad hung my watch i'm tho pockot u,o,,
~ 'hh'lsihg al The head of the bed: its I;ynI,
iHIhg ~ HIhg sounded strangely out of tonni,'N
WIN tho gloom and stiffness of tbn r,s r,
Iouhdings. Tho shaded LIGHT INV, ~ nur-
'eaI aspect 10 the bed hanrinos. H., iunc-
ti tJ,, oEor % my head might have been n "nt"-
nni i"e i3r the dead. ] wonder ed how n,,,',,
h oiI hHu ended their days on this bcL ainnS
: nose nang,ngs had been put up. WnnII
n an noecks pr"scntimcnt be fulWI,nui11
mould = be found there i'm th, ",i,lGuI ,,,'u.Oi
hwAsSs suited for murder, that no,