Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1894-04-20


"That is a h,,w he exclaimed; 'for
she has been with. me-
"Impossible!" l G. yelaimeo.
impossible, accorA ing to Your
story, but it Is the truth for all that
/ got off the path and coulI not lind
my way back. She led me to road
God knows where!-and left me.
"Whenp"
"How can I tellP The night has
been an age"
"Granting she lead you for an
hour-and you would scarcely suffer
her to lead you longer-that would
allow her to return to the Abbey, and
come to my rescue at the time l
speak of.
"Have it as you will; 1t makes no
difference now. She got mo out of
the way, and that was her object in
being there. Go on"
l came to the end OF my narrative
and then suggested that the theft
might be traced TO one of tie SER
wants.
Anything to shield Brace" he
said bitterly; and then, stamping
his foot. he added, "You know he
took it,"
1t was useless reasoning with him
ia his present condition.
you stand convicted by your own
statement" he continued; what or
binary thief would DO fool enough,
having obtained the diamond, to wait
there, risking discovery and leopard
izing his own life-for the sake of
butchering you? If Brace was tho
thief, such a thing is possible; for he
must kill both you and me to profit
by the possession of the diamond,
Where is he now?"
with Lola, in the woods looking
for YOU"
"Are you three hunting togetherP"
"Be reasonable, Van Hoeck,"
said.
II am" he replied; "leave me
here"
made no reply; and we stood
there in the middle OF the road, ne
quaking with fear and turning his
head from side to side TO catch tho
sound that might confirm his fears.
He looked like q hunted beast, that
knows not which way to escape tho
hounds
whats that?" he asked under his
breath quickly. There's some one
on the road. It's his step. If you
have any mercy save me from HIM. a"
While | was turning to look up tho
road, to see if his fears were justified
he CROPPED about until he caught hold
of my arm.
had heard no sound, but his
finer sense was not at fault On the
brow Of the hill, which we were now
! descending, stood the gaunt figure
of Brace. The light of the rising
sun shone upon him, but we stood in
the shadow of the wood, where the
mist still hung over the sodden earth.
IL do not hear him; where Is he
nowen Van Hoeck whispered.
He is standing on the hill, cou-
pie OF hundred yards behind US. He
does not SEQ us.
"If we could but get to the Abbey
Forget what said, Thorne Have
pity on me-" he nurmured.
/ saw no possible reason for re-
fusing compliance with this request
and, taking his arm, led him along
that side OF tho road where the shade
was deeper.
But before we had gone q dozen
yards, a shrill whoop rang through
the echoing woods to our right, and
Van Hoeck again stopped. / looked
in vain over tho brake for Lola
whose cry l recognized; but, glanc.
ing up the road, / perceived that the
Judge had heard the signal, and wa:
coming after us. At the same mo-
ment Van Hoeck, starting forward,
cried:
"Quick. quick-he sees us-he IL
coming down upon u.s." and then
after another dozen yards, ''do yoJ
want him to overtake US that yot
stick to this cursed roadP"
Il am looking for path; We cal
not push through the brake" i re
piled.