Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-05-12
carried about and made known to

hundreds; and was there none
amongst them whose cupidity
might take practical form? It
was quite possible that under this
very roof there was one with the in
genuity and daring to plan and exc
cute the robbery. A servant intim-
ately acquainted with the arrange
ment of the rooms and the peculiari-
ties of the building, would probably
know of the external means OF COM
munication between the bay and oriel
windows. Without this knowledge,
no one, it seemed to me, would dare
to attempt that hazardous passage
at night and in the dark: but with
that knowledge, and possibly some
previous practice, the feat was suffi-
GENTLY practicable. In that case,
Edith might actually have heard and
seen what she had since attributed to
imagination.
But what end could be served by
these repeated attacks upon her sensi-
bility?
\ cause is sometimes discovered by
examining the effect. Now, what eff
feet had been produced by these at
taclls: The first had frightened Edith
excessively; the second had made a
sliahter imnression.-thus far the eff
iect had been confined to ner; but the
thim-for only to Il third fright could
| attribute her scream OF terror-had
brought her father and myself from
our rooms. Instantly, somethinglike
the truth flashed upon my mind
TO bring me from my room was the
very object with which the attack up
on Edith had been made.
Unriddling the mystery with this
kes,I assumed that the thief had
watched me close the door upon Van
Hoeck and return to my room; that,
after allowing me sufficient time to get
into bed, but not to fall into sound
sleep, he had made the attack upon
Edith, opelsns her door beforehand to
provide aspeedy means OF escape, and
to allow her cry to be more distinctly
heard; that, having succeeded in terri
flying her, he had sped down the stairs
in the left block, passed through the
library and dining-room, and ascend
ed by the stairs in the right block
about the same time that | might be
supposed to have reached Edith's
room, and that, reckoning upon my
keeping the Great Hesper under my
pillow, and leaving it there in my
alarm upon Edith's account, he had
expected to have possessed himself OF
our treasure. Ii what | thus assum-
ed was the fact, then indeed this plan
might have succeeded but for
Van Hoeck's prudent insistance upon
MY strapping the diamond to my
wrist.
AS thus explained what had hap
pened, more startling reflection oc-
Cured to my mind. The thief had
been disappointed in not finding the
diamond beneath my pillow, but he
yet might not have relinquished the
hope OF getting it.
He might not have left the room.
Hemight be hidden there at that Very
moment.
What was more easy, being in the
room, than to conceal himself in it,?
The curtain that moved the oriel, the
great chest, the settle, the press, were
all suggestive OF that course. The fel
low might be under the very bed was
lying upon.
The movement I had seen in the
curtain, the sound similar to tie draw
ing OF a blade from it's shea th-which
might we'll be caused by the move
ment Of the heavy valance OF the bed,
strengthened the suspicion. Was he
lying there waiting for the sound OF
my heavy breathing to assure him
that l slept?
There was scarcely the necessity to
wait for that for what resistance could
|, lying upon my back there, make
against a foe springing out OF the dark
upon me?
1 thought OF the clasp-knife Van
Hoeck had given me, and, stretching
out my hand, felt for it where had
stuck it,-between the mattress and
the bedstead. | could not find it.
Pushing the curtain SO that the light
from the lanlpfe upon the edge OF the
! bedstead, I assured myself that it was
not where had left it. 1t must have
slipped Throughout been drawn out.
The latter supposition explained
the sound and movement had heard
and seen. Yet it might have made
that sound in slipping through, its
fall upon the floor deadened by the
carpet, or it's point sticking in the
boards: but I fancied the horn handle
was too wide to allow OF its slipping
through.
TO satisfy myself at once upon this
point, leaped out OF bed, resolved to
strike q match and look under the
valance. / stood for q moment stu
pelied; the box ofvestas was gonefrom
the table, where | was certain | had
laid them.
They must have l>een taken whilst
lay screened by the bed curtains.
I glanced over my shoulder.
The folds of the curtain against the
bed were not the same as when push
ed them lock to the wall; one fold
stood out at an angle: and as, slowly
turning around, l looked more closely
| saw against the dark oak panel OF
the wall about the midnight OF a
man, and protruding but an inch or
SO from the edge Of the curtain, the
bright point OF a knife, blade.
Now ip6aa6 tbara wac No 1opoor