Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-11-21

matter Of business, that you may feel
yourselves free from any restraint In 40
cepting my Offer"
It took us but few moments TO agree
TO this proposal.
"In that case, he proceeded, '1should
wish to have q voice in the management
of this business. and the first suggestion
should mako is, TINT the finest artist in
work of this kind be engaged to cut the
diamond under this roof, and that during
the operation you should take up your
residence here. This precaution is ne
cessary for the safe keeping Of the treas:
ure, and for our own common security.
This arrangement was too obviously
advantageous to us to require argument;
we consulted together, and quickly agreed
to accept the condition.
Sir Edmund read the agreement through
again, and then said:
ave must consult lawyer with re-
gard to legal form Of agreement. Here
there is kind Of tontlne arrangement by
which one would receive an enormous
advantage by the death of his partners-
It is IN uncomfortable clause, and l do
not see tho necessity for its existence.
now that tho circumstances which called
for its being made are changed. A law
yer may provide for our security with
out exposing US to ugly possibilities.
Tint, however, can all be settled later
on. There is no hurry. It will be time
enough to make the legal arrangement
when we have ascertained the value OF
the property to be arranged, and that we
cannot know before the stone Is cut. We
will question the best firms in London
with regard to lapidary, and take our
time. Meanwhile, / will supply you
with what money you want upon your
lou, and the diamond shall remain in
your keeping. Talk it over among your.
selves at your leisure, and any modifica-
ton you may think advisable I have no
doubt shall be able to accept"
Miss Lascelles returned to the room,
and spoke to her father. Then she went
to Lola, who had curled herself up on
the skin, and knelt down beside her.
The girl was not asleep; she started up
into sitting attitude as Miss Lascelles
approached, and flung off the hand that
was laid tenderly on her arm.
"You don't dislike me, Lola?" the young
lady asked, smiling.
Eyes, do" the girl replied, savagely.
"But want to be your friend"
"We shan't never be friends"
I lost Miss Lascelles' response, for o
servant entered the room, and Sir Ed
mund addressed US:
Your rooms are ready" he said;
johnson will show you TO them If you
feel you would like to turn in"
The prospect of sleeping once more in
O good bed brought us to our feet at once.
Miss Lascelles. undaunted by the first
rebuff. had got Lola's hand in hers, and
was talking in low, endearing tone to
her. The Kid snatched her hand away,
started to her feet, and came to my side,
seeing we were about to 60.
"A little cuss." said the Judge; "you
must excuse her, Miss. Her mother was
q greaser, and she's never had any kind
ness shown her, except by Gentleman
Thorne. A lick with the strap is what
she understands best. No. Miss, he add
ed, when Miss Lascelles offered to take
Lola to her room; ''leave her to me.
There amt nothing but disappointment
and vexation Of spirit to be got outer the
ungrateful little varmint."
The room given to the Kid was the
prettiest imaginable, with hangings Of
white lace over blue silk, and everywhere
the eve was pleased with some pretty
evidence of care and taste. The bed was
suggestive of coziness and fresh virgin
purity at the same time. might have
taxed my ingenuity in vain to have In
vented such room in the stories have
told to Lola. We left the Kid there,
leaning against the wall, her unfathom-
able eyes looking around her in sullen
curiosity.
In the morning the room was found
empty, the bed untouched, the floor COW
cred with shreds of the clothing Miss
Lascelles had laid out for Lola's use, and
which, undoubtedly, the little savage
had torn up.
Poor little Lola! She and 1 had al
ways been the best of friends, except
when question of cooking or washing
occurred to trouble us. She would yield
to my persuasion when nothing else
would bend her stubborn spirits. She
feared my silent reproach more than the
scathing sarcasm Van Hoeck treated her
with, or the heavy hand Of her father.
She respected no one but me, probably
because alone respected her feelings.
Had / foreseen that night the course
she wSs about to take, ! might, with a
little patient persuasion, have brought
her to reason. Ny spirit is weighed
down with regret when think how per-
haps dozen words from me at that time
would have turned aside the fearful con-
sequences of that act-an act so slight,
yet followed by terror upon terror, by
crime upon crime. =
CHAPTER ".
Trust summarize as briefly as possible
the events that took place the week fol-
lowing Lola's flight, not because I find
them lacking in interest-for indeed these
were the happiest days / had ever spent
but because the lengthy description
would unduly retard the progress of the
history have set myself to narrate.
On the morning of the 10Th, search
was made for Lola. She was not in the