Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-05-26
THE GREAT HESPER.
TALE OF A BIG DIAMOND.
How an Immense Gem Was Lost,
Recovered, and Lost Again.
CHAPTER X-Continued.

been disappointed in not finding the
diamond beneath my pillow, hut he
yet might not have relinqulshei the
hope OF getting it.
He might not have LETT the room.
Hemieht be hidden there at that Very
moment.
What was more easy, being in the
room, than to conceal himself in it?
The curtain that moved the orel, the
great chest, the settle, the press, were
all suggestive OF that course. The iel-
low might be under the very bed Twas
lying upon.
The movement I had seen in the
curtain, the sound similarto tie draw
ing OF 4 blade from its shea ti-which
might we'll be caused by the move
ment OF the heavy valance OF the bed,
strengthened the suspicion. Was he
lying there waiting for the sound OF
my heavy breathing to assure him
that slept?
There was scarcely the necessity to
wait for that: for what resistance could
l, lying upon my back there. make
against foe springins out OF the dark
upon me?
thought OF the clasp-kniie Van
Hoccl; had given me, and, stretching
out my hand, felt for it where had
stuck it,-between the mattress and
the bedstead. | could not find it.
Pushing the curtain so that the light
from the lampiell upon the edge OF the
bedstead, assured myself that it was
not where had lett it. 1t must have
Slipped throush-or been drawn out.
The latter supposition explained
the sound and movement had heard
and seen. Yet it might have made
that sound in slipping through,-its
fall Ipon the floor deadened by the
carpet. or its point sticking in the
boards: but | fancied the horn handle
was too wide to allow OF its slipping
through.
TO satisfy myself at once upon this
point. leaped out OF bed, resolved to
strike match and look under the
valance. ! stood for moment stu
peiiel: the box ofvestas was goneirOm
the table, where l was certain had
laid them.
They must have l,een taken whilst
l lay screened by the bed curtains.
] glanced over my shoulder.
The folds of the curtain against the
bed were not the same as when push
ed then, buck to the WALL one fold
stood out at an angle: and as, slowly
turning around, looked more closely,
I saw against the dark oak panel OF
the wall about the mid-heisht OF
man, and protruding but an inch Or
+ ta ~ bn ,a
bright point OF a knife, blade.
Now, indeed, there was no longer
any doubt. The man who had come
to rob was there to murder me. Had
| stopped but another moment on the
bed, he might have knitted me.
What WAS | to do? | had him,
standing there behind the curtain, at
a certain advantage.
Should l spring upon him and
strange him against the wall in the
folds OF the curtain?
it was not a sure victory for me,
and partial one might, in the end,
be fatal. The thick stuff would pre-
vent my getting a firm grip OF him,
and his right hand, the one that held
the knife. was free. My chance was
too small, the danger too great, to
Justify that attack, though the
muscles Of my arms and fingers were
strung up to make the tempting effort.
Keeping my eye upon the curtain,
drew back to the foot OF the bed. To
get to the door, l must cross the
room, and inevitably be seen by the
murderous rascal as he stood there on
the inner side OF the bed curtain and
arrived at the door, must turn the key
twice, and the handle as well, before
he overlook NE. On the other hand,
to disengage himself from the folds OF
the curtain, and recover the start
had OF him.
The chances were pretty equal, and
| determined to save myself by flight
rather than risk the fatal result OF
the unequal encounter.
made my way nolselessly, in q
straight line down the room until l
got opposite the door; then | made a
rush for it, across the open space.
got to the door, and, with furious
haste, CROPPED about for the key. 1t
was gone.
| grasped the handle, in the hopethat
l might be able to tear the lock off;
the screw had been taken out, and
the knob slid off the spindle in my
hand. was loss.
1t astonishes me, now, to think
with what celebrity and adroitness
these precautions against my escape
had been made.
The man had not rushed after me;
there was no desperate pursuit of
that kind; he knew l was trapped.
Only, as l turned my eyes back to the
place where he stood, perceived that
the light was dying out.
There was but q narrow rim OF blue
fame above the wick; it faded away,
and all was dark.
There are degrees of darkness; this
seemed TO me the last degree. | felt
as if was sunk in lake OF pitch.
If l called for help. it was not GER
tain that the heavy-sleepiEg Judge
would hear me. Possibly Sir Edmund
was yet awake, but Thought Of Edith;
and besides, I knew that before as
sistance could come, before the door