Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1894-03-30


tion to the stairs, the bay, and the
picture gallery.
] complied with his request. mark
ing the several parts with figures,
which / explained to him"
+ w CHAPTER VII
But ! was still incredulous. How
was the girl hiding in the woods all
day to know OF the existence of the
ledgee 1t was true she had access
70 the house at night, but / doubted
if it were possible for her to see the
ledge in the dark even from the bay
window. But admitting the posi-
bility. would she risk her life for no
purpose but to alarm Miss Lascellesp
There was too much strength in
Lola's character for such senseless
and feeble device to be acceptable to
her. 1t was not the act of rational
being. but of mischievous or
malevolent idiot.
| was inclined TO believe that the
explanation Miss Lascelles had Of
fered was a just one, and that what
she had seen. was purely inagina-
tive and the result o. fear, inspired
by those mysterious sounds which
might yet be. explained
This was not Van Hoecl's opinion,
no. was il Braces.
IL will not say the Kid has done
ii" he said; there's no sayin' what
greaser blood will not do. For the
sake of argument, we will say she
did but | undertake she shall not
PLAY the same bower twice, If her
fathers persuasion counts for any
thin';" and he went of at once to
search for Lola in the wood.
When we were alone, Van Hoeck
said: ASK Sir Edmund; he will tell
you. as he told me, that Brace was
in the woods yesterday while you
were philandering with Misc
Lascelles. What was he there for
but to find his daughter and employ
her in working out this plotP
Good heayens" / exclaimed,
losing my temper; what notion
have you go: hold of now? Last
night you suspected Sir Edmund"
II would suspect any one who hns
the opportunity to possess himself
of such n treasure as you hold Do
you blame the man who protects
himself when his life is in danger?
That diamond is life to me! What
could do if it were lost? You hold
that diamond my life - in your
keeping. You are bound to take
every precadtion for its safety. You
have no right to despise my warning
because it does not agree with your
reckless trust in humanity"
What possible connectiCS can
there be?" l asked, between the
safety Of our diamond and the event
of last night?'
"a palpabe connection. The event
Of last night was an abortive at
! tempo to obtain the diamond.
As | heard this. and looked at Van
HoccIs, almost doubted if he were
in his right mind.
1.-The plot failed. " he continued.
"because the girl mistook the room"
An incredulous exclamation es-
capped me.
You shall hear me, =" he muttered.
+ str etching his arm 10 the right and
/ left until he encountered mine with
| his hand, and then cl itching it
tightly; you shall see-with my
eyes, if not with your own. You
have urged that the girl could know
nothing of the disposition Of the
rooms; but she might receive in
stractions from her father. He went
into the wood TO give her those in
structions yesterday. Look at your
! plan"Ahe handed me the diagram
had drawn at his request. Brace.
having his room at the back Of
the right block. would naturally
tell her that when she got to the
top OF the stairs she was not to pass
through the picture-gallery, but to
go straight TO the landing over the
stairs she had assembled, open the
window in the bay, which would
then be on her left hand, and make
her way to the oriel facing her.
That. according TO his calculation,
would bring her TO your window"
Certainly"
fro BE CONTINUED.