Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-06-02
THE GREAT RESPER.
TALE OF A BIG DIAMOND.
How an Immense Gem Was Lost,
Recovered, and Lost Again.
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XI.
That sound warned me that the end
was near. Not content with taking
the diamond, the scoundrel intended
to have my life,-to remove the pos
sibiity, If possibility existed, OF being
identified as the thief by me.
He set about his work with devilisll
circumspection. l heard the
metal rings cink as he
took up the fallen curtain from the
aoor, and folded it, and the bed creak
as he got upon it. AS he approached
from behind. he steadied himself by
setting one hand upon my shoulder.
Then he laid the folded curtain over
my other shoulder. and his bony
knucl:les touched my chest as ne ar
ranged the stuff over my breast l
knew what that meant; it was to pre-
vent the betray;ng blood from squirt.
ing upon his arm.
In the pause that followed, l fan.
cied he must be turning up his sleeve,
as butcher does who has beast to
slaughter.
a thousand thoughts vhirled
through my mind in that brief space;
but great awe came upon me as Ifelt
his hand firmly grasp my left
shoulder. for then | realized that l
was or the very brink OF eternity.
A feeling OF regret for the i'll use
had made OF many days,-ior the loss
OF Edith, and the world which she had
filled with Joy and hope; deep and
tender wish for her happiness, and the
welfare OF the companions who had
toi!ed whine to win the Hesper, took
the place OF terror. and it was with
something like resignation that l
awaited death.
AS he erasped my left shoulder. I
felt him lean over my right, and the
next moment he stabbed me.
He had not used sufficient force, for
the knife point stuck in one OF theribs
under my lett breast, ard went no
farther.
He pulled the knife out, and tried
again; but this time the blade scarce.
ly punctured my skin.
Then, seeing that the thickness OF
the doubled curtain was too great an
impairment, he uniolded and rear
ranged it, passing his hand over my
breast, and pressing his fingers here
and there to ascertain whether he
had got it right for mis- purpose. It.
was then that, my nature revolving
against this barbarous refinement of
cruelty. l prayed. like Samson, for
strength; and made one more effort C
break my bonds.
The twisted sheets and firm knots
withstood the strain; bu. the effort
saved my life. The calculating william
knew that must exhaust
my strength in u few min
utes, and would not risk
breaking his knife or getting smearec
with my blood as writhed.
And presently my force gave out,
and, all hope leaving me, ceased tc
struggle, and was callous to his touch,
when he once more touched my shout.
der
But in that moment OF dread
silence, when his knife must have beer
raised to strike the final blow. uh.
door handle turned, and ! felt his
grasp relax, may, his fingers tremble,
asthey lay on my shoulder.
There was an interval OF a minute,
and the door handle turned again then
voice, that l recognized as Lola's
spoke in a low tone outside.
care you there, -you?" A moments
pause and she added, -"You amt sick,
are you?"
She had come to my door and heard
me writing against the post.
What would the rascal do now? his
hand still trembled 1t gave me cour-
age, for it showed that he feared dis
corery, and I knew he would not
risk his own neck for the mere pleasure
OF killing me. put out my Strength
again. making the bed-post snap under
my strain.
"Shall sing out?" Lola asked, a
little louder, and with an accent OF
alarm.
The hand slipped from my shoulder
and down my arm, as the villain
stepped from the bed. His position
was getting more perilous. If Lola
Sang OUT there would be little
chance Of his making off with the
diamond
had loosened thetowel that bound
my head and gagged ME. l wriggled |
about furiously, worked the fold out |
Of my mouth, and got my chin above
It, breathing freely for the first time
since l had been tied up. At the same
moment heard the key turn in the
door, and | knew that the murderer
intended to let Lola in and silence
l'er.
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