The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-24

And FL go to the Cedars." cried Colonel
Cover eagerly, "He may have left the box
at our house since we left there. L, too, ieel
unwilling to believe that John Hessel has
really taken the lewels-appropriated them
stolen them, in fact
/ sped away to the Windsor Hotel, hoping
Miss Cover would remain with John Seat0n
until my return-hopiDg, also, that the fret
fulinvalid mother might not appear on the
scene to preclpitate my confession with her
jeremiads. As / expected, they had not seen
Mr. Hessel at the Windsor since the early
forenoon, and he had paid his bill, as he did
punctually every week, the evening before.
l went back with this news to the Bank
House. Miss Cover was still there;
and within q few minutes Of my return her
father came in, triumphantly brandishing
letter. This came for You. Eleanor. by the
evening post have no doubt MI HesSei
explains all satisfactorily"
Eleanor took the letter with some eager
ness and read aloud:
Dear Miss Gower: have at last attained The
object 10 which have devoted mouths OF patient
by right, not yours tor L an John Haseldine.
am sorry TO deprive you OF them, but they are
certainly mine. JOHN HASELDINB.
The others turned bewildered looks on
each others; but /, with the knowledge of
that leather jewel case safe in my wardrobe
upstairs, pictured the cool seoundi els col
lapse on opening and searching the iron box,
ana laughed aloud. John Seaton looked
Yard detectives on the trail, connection
among the Rawlln magnates IN the city,
possible reprimands and seventies were
evidently passing before his mind.
Colonel Cover was intensely angry, and
no wonder. at the cool manner Ia which We
had all been hoodwinked.
"What will he deserve at your hands,
Colonel Cover" / asked, who Will restore
all the jewels, without one a-missing9
Would you let him name his own reward?"
IN nElA al nd NJ ia 4rAs
under his shaggy eyebrows. "Yes; would
let him name il" he replied with emphasis.
AND If he named that which was prom
fsed to Sehiller's Diver?" persisted boldly.
though my face had grown very hot
lie looked at me still more grimly, but
with twinkle in his eye which l Interpreted
favorably. Miss Cover ana John Seaton
were talking together and had not heard u.s.
81 should say" he answered deliberately,
shat he had better ask the Princess her.
self"
$50 he WILL" l said. gladly. Listen,
then, 10 my small story, Mr. Seaton. Sit
here, Miss Cover; l have something TO tell
you. We all know how John Hessel be-
lieyed in himself as mesmeriSt His power
was real, but his mistake was In being so
sure that he could influence all and sundry
l knew he could not hypnotic me, but he
was so eager to try, so determined TO sue
coed, that, for fun, l feigned the coma.
and made him think l was wholly over
Covers jewels. He had hoped to get them
directly from me, and when he found how
strongly they were guarded he was angry.
L acted so well that he never found me out;
and, MIR. SeatOn, the day sou went to Har-
per HENCE last week / took the leather case
out of the iron box. filled up the box with
one or two paper-weights and bundles of
Old balance sheets and receipts. Your
jewels are quite SAFE Miss Cover. in a box
in the bottom of my wardrobe upstairs.
Take my keys, Mr.. Seaton, and see for
yourself"
In a moment John Seaton and Colonel
Cover were bounding up, three steps at
time. / stayed Miss Cover when she would
have followed. Miss Gower-Eeanor, l
am quite content to owe your fathers con-
sent to his gratitude. but-what do you owe
me? Not gratitude, l hope. Love is worth
love"
l will not record her answer; it was salts
factory
The lock of the leather case had to be
forced, but the jewels were intact; not one
was misplaced.
We have neither seen nor heard of John
Haseldlne since then; but Eleanor and |
often say we should like to have seen his
face when he examined the contents of the
iron box so long and carefully kept in safe
2n-Carroi King in Chambers Journal