Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-05-17

could have got out unaided, and proba- bly, day or two's lonely sojourn there would bring the most resolute malcon- tent to terms. It would be ghastly fate to fall in there nowadays, and have one's skeleton fished out again the fok- lowing year perhaps, and a sensational paragraph in the newspapers. You young folks must pick your steps care fully today"
 ssForeWarned is forearmedr rejoined | I, with short laugh. Further conver- sation was cut short by summons to breakfast. On this occasion Slurk wait ed at table, and observed him with more than usual attention and tolera- tion, as one with whom I was soon to try desperate conclusions. He was cer- tainly a villainous looking character; but he appeared to be, for reasons best known to himself, in excellent spirits this mornings circumstance which stirred up an unwilling kind of compas- sion within me, refecting what 8 speedy and final end was going to be put to all his possibilities of enjoyment Vile though his life had been, it was the only one he had.
 Kate likewise had the semblance of unusual gayety, but could see that it was either feigned or the result of nerv- ous excitement. And my judgment was | justified when after breakfast she over took me as was on the way up stairs to my room to make my final preparations, and said, in voice unsteady with emo tion:
 "Tom, dear, you asked me why you might not leave your diamonds with Christina. You do not know what danger you were in last nighti On my way back to my room heard two peo- | pie talking together, and they mentioned your name, so stopped and listened. i One said, The bolt is all right; had better go in and risk it; he'll be certain to be asleep by this ti1Aer And then the other said: He has his revolver, leave it to me; he believes he can trust me. To- morrow, when he goes out, I'll get him to leave them with me for safetyF and then they both laughed. My darling, this house is den of thievesr "Were the persons you heard-who were they2"
 Christina and that creature she calls her father. Hush! There .she comes. She must not see us together" and in a moment Kate had glided away. went on up the stairs with heavy heart. I would almost rather not have heard this last revelation. My confidence in my penetration had received a humiliating shock. To think that Christmas inno- cent face and modest, maidenly air con- cealed the heart of thief, or, worse still, of a decoy duck, was blow to my vanity as well as to my faith in human nature. How artful she had been when fancied her most ingenious and Hndi | And then it all at ence flashed upon me-what if Heinrich Rudolph himself were in the plot2 What if he had written them to be on the outlook for me, and what if Slurk, being secretly in league with him, had contrived to get the Brchmores and me along with them into this house, intending to divide the spoil with Herr Rudolph and Christinai | Many signs seemed to point to this as a true deduction from the circumstances, and even as was rather grimly consid- ering the matter, new confirmation of Kate's discovery awaited me. Christina was standing at my room door, and as came up she courtesied and said:
 "I was wishing to speak moment to Herr Gainsborough, if he would per init me-
 "What do you wantg' I asked some what roughly.
 "Does the honored Herr remember what said yesterday"
 "That you wished me to give you my diamonds for safe keeping? Yes; and have to answer that am not quite SC trustful as you seem to thinkr
 The scornful and severe tone in which I spoke evidently startled her; but she still affected not to understand.
 "It was for Herr Gainsborough's owr sake''- she began, but interrupted her
 ''Do you remember what said yester. day?-that went armed; well, am armed today, and whoever tries to teacI me how to take care of my diamonds may happen to get bullet instead; & let him beware. If Herr Rudolph fl anxious about me, you can tell him thatr
 "Herr Gainsborough will be sorry tC have spoken so," said Christina, colorine deeply, and with tremulous lip.
 'I am sorry to have to say it, Chris tina. But can you tell me how the bolt of this door came to be in this condi tion?" and pulled out the loose sockeT as II spoke and the screws fell to the floor
 "Indeed, I did not know thisr' r'exclaimeG she; but the dismay and confusion whicl were but too plainly visible on her fac' belied her words.
 'sYou will understand, however, tha a house whose fastenings are so mucl out of order would not be proper plac, to keep treasures in. Well, goodby, Chris tina. I am going to Kohlstein, ant probably sha'n't spend another nigh here. When you write to your brothe in Paris you may tell him that the dia monds are quite safe, though they ma, have been in danger"
 "Will Herr Gainsborough let me sa. one wordP'
 ''It's too late-I have no time," re turned I, with an emphasis all the nor coldly contemptuous because of the SC |, crat inclination I felt-in view of he