The Progress., 1892-08-06

The scorniul and severe tone in which
| spoke evidently startled her; oul she
still affected not to understand.
1T was for Herr Gainsborough's own
sake she began, but interrupted her.
do Won remember what | said yester-
day?-that | went armed: well. am
armed today, and whoever tries to teach
me how to take care of my diamonds
NAV happen to get bullet instead so
let him beware. If Herr Rudolph Is
anxious about me, you can tell INN that!
Herr Gainsborough will be sorry to
have spoken so" s;.id Christina. colorlnS
deeply, and with tremulous lip
IL am sorry to have to say 1t, Chris
tina But can you tell me how the Dolt
of this door came to be in this condl-
tom" and pulled ont the loose socket
ns smoke and the screws fell to the floor.
Indeed i did not know this. exclaimed
she; but the dismay and confusion which
were but too plainly visible on her face
belied her words.
lyon will understand, however, that
q house whose fastenings are so much
out of order would not be a proper place
to keep treasures i'll. Well. goodby. Chris
tina | am going to Kohlstein, and
probably sha'n't spend another night
here. When yOu write to your brother
in Paris you may tell him that the dia-
monds are quite safe, though they may
have been III danger"
will Herr Gainsborough let me say
one word"
Its too late-I have no time" re-
turned |, with an emphasis all the more
coldly contemptuous because of the Sc
cret inclination | felt-in view of her
youth and prettiness-to be compassion
ate and forgiving; and perhaps | was
half sorry that she attempted no further
self vindication, but, obeyinS my gcs-
ture of dismissal. passed out of the door
and down the passage, with her bare
feet, and her blue eyes downcast and no
packard glance. When she was gone !
shut the door in no enviable mood and
walked to and fro about my room like Il
surly bull in a pound. For the first
though not for the last time | heartily
cursed the diamonds; they seemed to
raise the devil wherever carried them
In the midst of my anathemas Mr.. Birch
more knocked at the door ana tod me
that everything was ready down stairs
for the start.
And, by the by. Gainsborough." he
added, with one of his point blank, icy
glances, Il have arranged that our lug
gage shall be removed today, and if you
leave yours here advise you TO seal it
up in my presence. found the lock Of
my door in rather Il strange condition
this morning. have my own opinion
of What our landlord may be-"
"Who recommended you to this place,
Mr.. Dirchlnore" demanded curtly. for
| was getting to feel something like con
tempt for nay intended father law
1t is not easy to respect Il man who
under whatever stress of circumstances
allows another man TO make Il slave o.
him.
ut was that fellow Slurk. and he de
serves good horsewhipping for it, re-
piled Birchmore. thrusting his hands
resolutely into his pockets.
IL think he deserves at least that"
rejoined. with significant laugh. land
NucutNtl YOU lt " OpCidlc vi.
him I'll stand by you."
Mr.. BirchlnOre said no more, AMI we
went down stairs in silence Kate WAS
already seated in the carriage SlurR
was on the box, with IA large basket con
taining our provisions for the day be-
side him. Mr.. Birchnore and took our
places-One of us. mt least. with heavy
heart The landlord stood at the door
and nodded us IL surly farewell.
Where is christina" | asked him.
"She has gone to the town to sell eggs
did the Herr want anything
Il should liked to have sent for a
screwdriver. but probably can get one
on our way back" WIS my answer, and |
with that we drove away.
In about half an hour, proceeding by
unfrequented roads, we came in sight oi |
Kohlstoin. 1t was a vast four sided |
mass of gray rock, scanned with deer
clefts and assures running horlznntall, |
and vertically, SO that it appeared tJ
have bapn hnilt of ,riornpfi,. hln,.i-- a.,