San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-05-17

Slllrk had thrOtcn himself totcdrd me.
1t occurred to me the next morning
that, considering the nature of the work
that was cut out for me, it might be pru-
dent to depart from my usual custom by
leaving the diamonds at home in Chris
tina's charge, as she had herself sug-
gested, and took the earliest opportu-
nifty of mentioning this proposal to Kate.
10 my surprise she at once expressed
decided dissent from the arrangement
and indeed seemed 50 much perturbed
ny 1t that | at once relinquished the
idea. But begged her to tell me the
reasons of her objection.
Not now" she said hastily; 81 hear
papa coming; wait till after breakfast
and then You shall know"
We were standing at the gate of the
courtyard, breathing the fresh morning
air. She left me and returned to the
house.. whence Mr.. Birchmore almost
Immediately issued and saluted me with
more than his usual cordiality. Won
dered what his behavior would have
been had he known of the transactions
of the past night or of what was in store
for US during the day. He began to talk
about Kohlstein, and related several
anecdotes of the bandits by whom it was
said formerly to have been inhabited.
81 have been up there more than
once" he remarked, land the traces of
their occupation are still visible. | re-
member one feature that particularly
impressed me-a narrow cleft or chasm
of considerable depth, into which the
old fellows are said to have thrown their
prisoners when they became refractory.
would the fall kill them?'
81 should say not; the bottom seemed
full of chopped brushwood and other
such rubbish. But no human being
could have got out unaided, and proba.
bly, day or twos lonely sojourn there
would bring the most resolute malcon-
tent to terms. 1t would be a CHASTITY
fate to fall in there nowadays, and have
ones skeleton fshed out again the fol-
lowing year perhaps, and a sensational
paragraph in the newspapers. You
young folks must pick your steps care
fully today"
"Forewarned is fore2rmed" rejoined
l, with short laugh. Further CONVEX
sation was cut short by summons to
breakfast. On this occasion Slurk wait
ed at table. and | observed him with
more than usual attention and tolera-
ton, as one with whom was soon to
try desperate conclusions. He was Ger.
n oil 81, n,.ta,
but he appeared to be, for reasons best
known to himself, in excellent spirits
this morning-a circumstance which
stirred up an unwilling kind of compass
sion within me, rejecting what speedy
and final end was going to be put to all
his possibilities of enjoyment. Vile
though his life had been. it was the
only one he had.
Kate likewise had the semblance oil
unusual gayety, but | could see that il
was either feigned or the result of nerv
Gus excitement. And my Judgment wa:
justified when after reakfast she over
took me as | was on the way up stairs Il
my room to make my final preparations
and said, in voice unsteady with emo
ton:
tom, dear, you asked me why yo1
might not leave your diamonds will
Christina You do not know wha
danger you were in last night! On m,
way back to my room heard two PEG
pie talking together, and they mentionet
your name, SO stopped and listened
One said, The bolt is all right; ha
better go in and risk it: he'll be certai