The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1892-05-26

festooned the terrace fronting the
facade; t>ey hung from the windows;
they EDGED the paths; they even
twined from bough to bough of the
great cedar that lent shade to the
lawn.
"This is a house worthy of Edith, /"
| thought. ooh that it may be mine to
offer her."
1t would be time wasted to enter
into my business transactions with
Colonel Kinks. Suffice it to say that
my ardent wish was realized, and that,
in less than n month from my arriving
in San Diego, | entered into possession
ofthe beautiful property. Doubtless it
was hazardous undertaking for one
who knew nothing whatever of the
business; but what hazard
is too great for a man
whose object is to win the woman he
loves? That the money invested was
not my own, did not lessen the risk l
ran, but increased it; for, unless l
could show reasonable probability
of repaying Sir Edmund's loan, l
could not demand Edith's hand.
However, had every reason to be-
lieve that Colonel Kinks was q gentle
man, and an honest,and conscientious
business man; added to this, | had
confidence in my own perseverance,
energy and strength, and that buoy
ant feeling OF hope with which near
ly every one who breathes the healthful
air of this delightful continent seems
to be ins pired.
Early in November, | received a let
ter from Sir Edmund. Amongst other
things, he wrote:
THE robbery is still q
mystery. - to me it is a
greater mystery than ever. Van
Hoeck has taken lodgings in the
village. have met him twice in the
woods, q wild, deplorable object, and,
indeed, pitiable, ii one may doubt his
completely in the robbery. Once he
was upon his hands and knees, crop
ing amongst the ferns, as if he ex-
pected to find there the lost diamond;
but he chooses the night for these ex-
peditions,-probably because he is then
less open to observation. The keepers
tell me that he passes the whole night,
and every night, in this hopeless
search. Why on earth should he do
this, if he and Brace got possession
of the diamond, as we SUPPOSE"
In O. postscript, he added, "Mr
Furnival, dating from HaxePs
Hotel, London, wrote, asking
me for your address. replied that
you were at San Diego, California"
The news with regard to Van Hoeck
did not add greatly to the mystery in
which this strange man was involved;
but the postscript was new source
of perplexity to me. knew no one Of
the name of Furnival; could not re-
collect having spoken to any one Of
Sir Edmund while | was in London.
How, then, could this Mr.. Furnival
have known where to apply for my
address? expected q letter from him
to clear up this matter; hut no letter
came.
A few days later, 1 received @ letter
addressed to me at Monkey Abbey,
and re-addressed in Sir Edmund's
hand. Turning to the signature,
found it was from Brace. 1t was
dated October 18th, Petersville, Ne
vada County. The Judge, then, was
in California, within a days journey
of me. was not surprised at this,
knowing his partially for the State;
but it was irreconcilable with the sup
position that he and Van Hoeck had
the diamond. He wrote thus:
u rite these lines fur to show where
I am lokated, and likewise that Ihave
not slinked off like g. thief in the night
to hide my lites under a bushel. If
things amt no forarder than they
was in the direction of clearin' up
what's become of the Great Hesper,
they amt anyways no backarder.
at amt no use promisin' without
you are got it light inter yer to
perform, but I will allow that
l amt goin' to chuck up the cards be-
fore Tve made you shake my hand
and acknowledge I've played square.
The Kid is frettin', and things in
genial is not lively with your pardner,
"Jos BRACE"
did not reply to this letter.
heard again from Sir Edmund at the
end of November. He felicitated me
heartily upon the purchase | had
made, and added the Warmest wishes
for my success.
He continued;
"Thank you for Braces letter. The
tone of it would lead one to imagine
not only that he knows where the dia-
mond is, but has a strong belief in his
power to recover it! One can not
possibly believe that it was he who
robbed and attempted to murder
you. But whom are we to suspect, if
not him? II he were not guilty, why
should he try to conceal the leather
case which might lead to it's recovery?
THERE'S fascination in this subject
which overcomes my wish to drop it.
It is like the fifteen puzzle that drove
half the world mad some years ago.
Ivan Hoeck still wanders about the
woods through the night. More than
once he has been seen standing out
side theroom in which Edith and I
pass the evening, listening.
"His suspicious have perhaps fallen
upon us. The poor wretch may have
lost his reason. His appearance when
caught sight of him the other day
justities the suspicion.
II nave to confess to an indiscre=
ton which may have no serious re-
suit, but which l regret all the same.
Yesterday ] received q telegram from
Fnrniyal, dated Haxel's Hotel.
sit ran thus;
"'We have important clew.
Send address Of Joseph Brace at once,
or place where he is likely to be
found
"The we led me to suppose that he
was an agent OF the detectives employ
ed in this case, and, without further
reflection, sent Braces address, hay
ing your letter under my hand. | be-
came uneasy as soon as the messenger
was out of sight, and sent Wilson over
to Southampton with two kilograms,
one for Furnival, and the other for the
head of the detective department,
asking for further particulars. l have
received no rel ly whatever from Fur
nival, and the detectives replied by
letter that they employed no one
named Furnival, and that all in
quires were made through the head
Office
"Who on earth can this Furnival