Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-05-17
MTs GainsbOEOugh's Diamonds.
BY JULIAN HAWTHORNE.
Copyrighted by D. Appleton & Co, and
 published by special arrangement.

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 "bur we can have him imprisonaa then, you see" was her answer to my objection; "and for fear of that he would never dare to trouble me again. He would have been in prison long ago but for the papers"
 "It certainly seems a good plan" said, after confused attempt to turn the matter over in my mind. even ask your fathers opinion tomorrow"
 'oh, he must know nothing of ity' ment dissent. 'sHe would betray it. You don't know how-what a power that villain has over him. Slurk treats him like child when they are alone. No, Tom, we must do it all ourselves, or it will fail. Only when it is done will dear papa get back his courage"
 Iknew more about how MT. Birch more was treated by his. valet in private than Kate was aware; but made no Sllusion to this. The more reflected npon the enterprise, the more inclined was to assent to it. It was wild, fan tastic, unconventional, but it had inn portant practical merits nevertheless.
 Moreover, it possessed the powerful recommendation (as I deemed it) of al- lowing for fair man to man struggle betweek Slurk and myself. was to overpower him by main strength; and from what had observed of the fellow fancied he would be able to make just resistance enough to save my self re- spect. On the other hand, he might be able to do more than this; and if the worst came to the worst of course I might be compelled to main him with my revolver. But altogether the pros pect kindled my imagination; I was stimulated by the thought of distin- gushing myself by my personal prowess before my mistress eyes, in conflict with her dastardly oppressor. And as looked at her standing there before me, so love- ly and full of courageous fire, said to myself that no knight of yore ever did battle in the lists for worthier lady love.
 However, I realized that this was neither the place nor the hour to enter upon detailed discussion of our plans. Every moment that Kate remained with me increased her peril, especially if, as she seemed to think was the case, Slurk had dispatched her hither. As to his mo- tive in so doing had no difficulty in forming an opinion. There was little doubt that he meant to use her as an un- conscious cats paw to steal the dia- compromising her father. Had been asleep the device could hardly have failed of success. But as Kate seemed herself not to suspect the real nature of her involuntary errand I would not ad- ditionally distress her by alluding to it; it was enough that it furnished me with sufficient pretext, had others been wanting, for inflicting chastisement on the valet.
 Kate said in answer to my inquiry as to the proposed time of our starting on the picnic expedition the next day that it would probably be about eleven in the forenoon; we would, therefore, have ample time to settle the particulars of our scheme before the hour of action ar- rived. At parting she chung to me with peculiar tenderness; nor had ever loved her so we'll as at that moment, when I looked forward to hberating her forever from the evil spell that had been blight ing her young life.
 After she had gone had the curiosity to examine the bolt on the door. The explanation of it's mysterious opening proved simple enough. The screws whereby the socket of the bolt had been fastened to the door frame had been re- moved, and the holes so enlarged that they could be slipped in and out without difficulty. Socket and screws had then been replaced, so that the bolt could be shot as readily as before. But the securi- ty was only an illusion, for, the latch being turned, slight push would bring away the socket and screws attached to the bolt, and thus the supposed means of safety be ingeniously used to disguise the real absence thereof.