The Dickinson press., 1892-07-02
1t. laid it down.that the Kid

had not took the diamond for mere
mischief. She knew, in her own greas-
way, that the thing had a power in
it to bring happiness to the owner,-
like a charm. She see that it clothed
us decent and lodged us comfortable,
and that, while it separated you and
her, it brought you and squirrels
daughter together. And we laid it
mutual that the Kid he'd too much
gumption to pitch the thing away,
but would hide it somewhere where
she could fetch it bimeby. Now, hef
we'd done otherways, what would
have happened? Van Hoeck nd have
declared it was all a lie, and wildhorses
wouldn't err dragged the secret outer the
Kid. The only hope of gettin' backthe
Hesper was ter let her play her game
and watch her Close"
A copy OF this statement l sent to
Sir Edmund, and l added:
"Either Van Hoeck is possessed Of
supernatural clairvoyance, or he
must have been in completely with the
man who took the diamond from me"
"Can that man have been the Fur
nival' who obtained the address of
Brace and myself from you?"
For my own part, doubted Van
Hoeck's innocence. Perhaps 1 may
have been biased in forming an opin-
ion Of him by my jealous dis.
like of the relation he had formed
with Edith. She was the only living
creature Van Hoeck had spoken we'll
of in my hearing; and l fancied he was
playing a hypocritical part to obtain
the pleasure of her society and friend
ship.
By the return mail, Sir Edmund
wrote:
"I felt it right to read that part OF
your letter referring to the robbery to
Van Hoeck, who for the last week has
been an accepted visitor here. and, ]
may add, the object OF Edith sympa-
INSTRUMENTATION. He declared up
on his oath that there had been no
struggle between himselfan Brace, and
that no statement had been cxtorted
from him by the violent means indi-
Gated; that when you left, lie felt his
his way to the road, and waited there.
Brace came and undertooktolee '.-
home. lie remembers stopping on the
way while Brace asked him if he
thought you had really been robbed
| ofthe diamond. He knewnothing ofthe
leather case, which Brace might have
concealed in the manner you describe,
without his perception. After this
explanation, he said that lie must
once more relinquish III friendship
until all doubt is cleared up. But lie
added emphatically, as he was about
to leave us, If only q part OF this
story is true,-if the girlg got possession
OF the diamond, hid it, and should
restore it to Brace and Thorne, they
will make away with it and you will
never see any one of them again.
off Van Hoeck is not the very old
un himself said the Judge, when
showed him this letter, "he's hand il
hand with him."
We asked Lola if she had recognized
the man who dropped from the orie
window.
no." she replied, "the Tight wal
too thick; but he was about the sizt
Of the man l saw the night before
going from one window to the othel
in the left hand side of the house."
One morning Brace said to me:
"Ive had my suspicious on it fol
some time; but now Pm sure on it,
We're being watched"
asked him what reason he had fol
this belief.
"My reason is this" he replied,
1.-THE o%ne-legged niger as comes here
for scraps give one OF the households
harf-a.dollar this morning. II
looked like he'd been buying UP
your silver spoons, SO l jest
had the rascal searched; but
there warn't NARY thing on him but
varmin. Lay your life. sir, that
niger didn't give half-a-dollar fol
nothing. We've got to keep IL eyes
openl"
"You think he is a spy, paying thu
helps for information with respect tt
our movements?" l said.
81 do,mjest that"
"Why?" echoed Brace, drawing
long breath, "because it is jest thre
weeks since Van Hoeck learnt tina
We are going to get back the Grea
Hesper, and he found an excuse 10
quittin' the locality of Monke'
Abbey"
TO BE CONT1NUED)