The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1892-05-12
THE GREAT HESPER.
TALE OF A BIG DIAMOND.
How an Immense Gem Was Lost.
Recovered. and Lost Again.
CHAPTER XII.-CoNTINuED.

crossroads, but, on turning the angle
OF the laneat the foot of the hill, i per.
ceived him feeling the way with pain
full slowness, and on the side OF the
hedgerow, q hundred yards in adj
vance. Hearing my step he
turned, and, recognizing it,
came to meet me. He seemed to for
get the danger of making false step,
and advanced with eager quick
ness,-his whole body partaking
the expression of anxiety i'm
printed on his features.
els it you, Thorne?" he called.
eyes," replied.
"What has happened"
/ waited until got up to him, then
putting my hand on his shoulder, !
Il have bad news for you, Van
Hoeck."
He trembled violently under my
hand, and opened his lips to speak,
but no sound came; his condition
was pitiable, and to keep him no
longer in suspense, / said,-
81 have lost it. 1t has been taken
from me"
"Who has taken it?" he asked, in a
thick, husky voice.
Il can not say. / could not see the
man who robbed me.n
He was silent for q time, and then
his feelings found expression at first
in execration, then in incoherent SEN
fences, broken up with words ofDutch
where the English tongue failed to give
I1ff ~ HI nd
LITIGATION. He assailed me with every
kind of invective, accused me of COW
afdice, of completely in robbing him,
of know not what baseness and
heartlessness, indeed, it seemed as
though the blow had deprived him of
reason for the moment. At length,
when his passion was somewhat ex-
hausted, he said,-
"And what is your defense?"
took his arm, and, as | led him up
the hill toward the crossroads, Invent
over the story once more. When /
was telling him how Lola had come
to my rescue, he stopped me.
'"That is lie!'' he said; for she has
been with me.
Impossible" I exclaimed.
Impossible according to your
story, but it is the truth for all
that. l got off the path, and could
not find my way back. She led me to
a road-God knows where!-and left
me-"
"When?"
elbow can I tell2 The night has
been an age"
Granting she led you for an hour
and you would scarcely suf-
fer her to lead you longer
that would allow her to return to the
Abbey, and come to my rescue at the
time l speak Of"
"Have it as you will; it makes no
difference now. She got me out of the
way, and that was her object in being
there. Go on"
1 came to the end of my narrative,
and then suggested that the theft
might be traced to one OF the SER
wants.
"Anythingto shield Brace" he said
| bitterly; and then, stamping his foot,
he added, "You know he took it!'
1t was useless reasoning with him in
his present condition.
"You stand convicted by your
own statement" he continued
"what ordinary thief would be
fool enough, having obtained the
diamond, to wait there, risking dis,
covery, and jeopardizo his own life
for the sake of butchering you? II
Brace was the theft, such a thing is
possible; for he must kill both you
and me to profit by the possession OIL
the diamond. Where is he now!"
"With Lola, in the woods looking
for you'll"
"What already" he exclaimed, in
alarm, "He is losing no time. Where
are the woods?"
eve are in them now," I replied
for we had passed the crossroads.
He stopped short. Shaking off my
hand, he muttered, in a tone o.
dread
care you three hunting togeth
er.
"Be reasonable, Van Hoeck,"
said.
81 am," he replied; '1eave ms
here"
l made no reply; and westood there
in the middle Of the road, he quakins
with fear, andturning his head from side
to side to catch thesound that might
confirm his fears. He looked like 6
hunted beast, that knows not which
way to escape the hounds.
"What's that?" he asked under his
breath quickly. "There's some on
on the road. It's his step. If you
have any mercy, save me from him.
While l was turning to look up thu
road, to see if his fears were justified
he CROPPED about until he caught holt
of my arm.
| / had heard no sound, bu
his finer sense was not at fault
On the brow of the hill-whicl
we were now descending-stood tn
quaint figure of Brace. The light O
the rising sun shone upon him; but W
stood in the shadow of the wood
where the mist still hung over tn
trodden earth. .. ..-.
81 do not hear him; where is h
now?" Van Hoeck whispered.
"He is standing on the hill, coupl
OF hundred yards behind us. He doe
not see U.S."
eff we could but get to the Abbey
Forget what | said, Thorne, Hav
pity on me-" he murmured.
"What do you want me to do?"
LEAD me back to the Abbey. Ii
escape from that man now, ma
protect myself after"
I saw no possiblel reason for refus
ing compliance with this request, and
taking his arm, / led him along tina
side OF the road where the shade wa
deeper: But before we had gone
dozen yards, shrill whoop ran
through the echoing woods to on
right, and Van Hoeck again stopped
Hooked in vain over the brake TO
Lola, whose cry l recognized; but
glancing up the road, perceived tina
Che Judge had heard the signal, an
was coming after us. At the sam
moment Van Hoeck, starting forwar
cried:
uOnick aIlicki-ha sees us-ha