The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-06-24

Ill
she; but the dismay and confusion which
were but too plainly visible on her face
belied her words.
"You will understand, however, that
a house whose fastenings are so much
out of order would not be a proper place
to keep treasures in. Well, goodby, Chris
tina. l am going to Kohlstein, and
probably l 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 in danger"
will Herr Gainsborough let me say
one wordY'
'sIt's too late-I have no time" re-
turned l, 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 l was
half sorry that she attempted no further
self vindication, but, obeying my ges-
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 i
shut the door in no enviable mood and
walked to and fro about my room like
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 and told me
that everything was ready down stairs
for the start.
"And, by the by, Gainsborough," he
~ nj hl1nE
chances, Il have arranged that our lug
gage shall be removed today, and If you
leave yours here advise you to seal 1t
up in my presence. | found the lock OF
my door in rather strange condition
this morning. / have my own opinion
of what our landlord may be-"
"Who recommended you to this place,
Mr.. BirchmoreY' demanded CURLY. for
| was getting to feel something like con
tempt for my intended father in law
1t is not easy to respect man who
under whatever stress of circumstances,
allows another man to make slave OF
him.
ut was that fellow Slurk. and he de
serves a good horsewhipping for itP re
| piled Birchmore, thrusting his hands
resolutely into his pockets.
81 think he deserves at least that"
rejoined, with a significant laugh. and
whenever you're inclined to operate on
| him I'll stand by you"
MIR. Birchmore said no more and we
went down stairs in silence. Kate was
| already seated in the carriage Slurk
was on the box, with large basket con
! tanning our provisions for the day be
| side him. Mr.. BirchmoTe and | took our
places-one of us, at least, with a heavy
heart. The landlord stood at the door
and nodded us surly farewell
Where is ChristinaY' | asked him
"She has gone to the town to sell eggs
did the Herr want anythingp
IL should liked to have sent for 6
screwdriver, but probably | can get one
on our way back" was my answer. and
with that we drove away.
| In about half an hour, proceeding By
unfrequented roads, we came in sight OF
Kohlstein. 1t was a vast four sided
mass of gray rock. scanned with deep
clefts and assures running horizontally
and vertically, so that it appeared to
have been built of gigantic blocks OF
stone. 1t was considerably over one
| hundred feet in sheer height, and ii
stood upon a rising ground Of shifting
sand. Slender trees grew here and there
out of the crevices of its headlong sides
| and struggled markedly along its level
summit, outlined against the sky Ii
was an ideal place for robber strong
| hold; impregnable, certainly. to any at
! tack save that of the heaviest modern
artillery.
'Wemust get out and walk from here
remarked Mr. Birchmore. There's only
one way of getting to the top, and that's
| on the other side. | have got u touch
of my rheumatics today and hardly
think | shall be able to do the climbing
However, that needn't interfere witt
you young people, of course"
/ exchanged covert look with Kate
as l helped her to descend from the car
rage, and she pressed my hand anC
smiled. | admired her courage as Inuct
as | lamented the apparent lack Of it II
| her father. The horse having been IN
harnessed and tethered where some COO
grass grew beside a stream, we struch
off across the sandy upland; Slurk car
rying the big basket, Mr.. BirchInort
walking with rather feeble step neal
him, and Kate and in front. 1t VII
|
the tramp was a wearisome one by
the time we arrived at the foot of th'
Stein, we were quite ready to rest few
minutes in the shadow of the rock. fol
GOODNESS and breath.
mo, | can't do itr' said Mr. Birch
more, wiping his forehead and CHANGING
hopelessly up at the narrow white foo
path that seemed to mount almos
straight upward to the distant summit
Just leave me here, with Il few sand
witches and bottle Of hook, and | shall
do very comfortably till you come back.
1t was certainly very arduous wOri
clambering up that ladderlike path
and doubt whether Rates determine
ton and mind would have held out hat
the motive which urged us been merely
one of curiosity. But the top was gained
at last, and we threw ourselves down OF
the dry grass to rest and to be fanneC
by the welcome breeze that blew there
| Slurk placed the basket in little hol
low where some bushes kept off the iii
rect rays of the sun and stretched him
self at full length beside it.
Now let us walk about" suggested
Kate, at length, in an undertone; "w'
must see what there is to be seen"
We had already arranged all the step
by which we were to proceed to tn
achievement of our purpose and we fel
that the sooner it was ended now tn
better The surface on which w
stood, though preserving general level
was full of irregularities and uneven
ness; it was overgrown with low bushe
and parched grass, with perhaps half
dozen starved and meager trees Her
and there the naked rock Jutted fortl
from the thin soil. crumbling snC
weather worn, its surface stained il
places with dry lichens. The entir
table was scarcely tVTo-thirds Of an acr
in area; and q more forlorn and uncon
genial spot it would be hard to find. ever
in the midst of summer. The cave II
which the robbers lived was somewher
lower down; we had passed its entrance
on our way up; but it was here ploba
bly,, that an outlook was kept over tn
country, to spy out the approach Of vic
tins or of enemies. 1t struck me that j
was hardly worth while to be bandit
if one must put up with such bleak ant
unattractive quarters in which to carr
l H.,