Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1894-05-04
The Great Hesper
by FRANK BARRETT
CHAPTER XI-CoNTINUED.

CHATTER Al-CONTINUED.
al can't stop you, Brace, even II
wished to- replied Sir Edmund, who,
be it observed, knew nothing of the
suspicion against the Judge. 81 am
inclined to think that you will be
happier in seeking a new fortune
than lingering about with the faint
hope of recovering the old. II the
diamond is found yor will hear of it
wherever you may be. Are you
going to look for another diamondP"
mo, squire; I'm going to ind that,
please God Brace replied; then,
after a moments pause, he said:
There's matter OF business to
finish up before l go, sir; all the
money l have in my pocket belongs
to you.
1T is loan; keep it, Brace-keep
it until you are in position to pay
me; and | hope, for your sake, that
time may not be far hence.
You're grit, squire--real grit! ]
won't refuse your kindness. shall
need bit to start with. But I'll ask
you, sir, to hold this till claim il"
He went around to Sir Edmund
"What is il, Brace?" asked the
baronet, taking the paper Brace
drew from his pocket He found it
was the Judges copy Of agreement.
''Oh, do not need this, my good
fellow" he protested; 81 have your
o L, and that is as good now as
ever it was"
IF you won't keep it for your own
security, squire, I'll ask you TO
keep it for my own. It's a kinder
'tircate, and if any one hes
got anythin' to say agen me
when Pm not here to defend myself,
I'll ask you to let that up. Goodbye,
squire
He held out his hand, and said, as
Sir Edmund shook IL cordially
Thank you, sir, thank you! You
are grit"
He strobe down the room, brush
ing past Van Hoeck, who sat immov-
able and silent as though he were
carved in stone, and came to where
was standing. My face must have
told him that my heart was hard
ened. But he stretched out his hand
and said hoarsely-
"Say goodbye to us. pardner.
/ folded my arms and shook my
head. He dropped his hand BY his
side.
perhaps you're right" he said re-
morsefully, perhaps you're not.
Time will show that I've got a clean
conscience, if Heaven is just" He
paused, then in still lower tone,
and with an accent of reproach, he
added, "Say yer hope so, pardner,
say yer hope So"
al hope So" l said.
He shook his head ruefully.
faint your old voice. Gentleman
Thorne-.there's no heart in it. We've
roughed it together, and we've shared
our 'bacca ont there aud"-his chin
twitched convulsively, and turning
away he muttered. ait takes all the
pluck outer me TO part like this"
Lola was standing in corner of
the room by the door. with her eyes
/. fixed upon me. AS Brace was about
to pass through on his way out he
caught up her wrist savagely in his
hand. AS savagely she tore it away.
and in her turn came and stood
before me.
"I'm agoin'," she said.
"And a good radiance" l thought.
exasperatcd by TIE belief that she
knew where the diamond was, and
could reveal the whole mystery if
she chose.
"You amt goin' to let me go like
him. are yerw she asked; "you amt
goin' to let me go without sayin'
goodbyeP"
, There was deep pathos in her
3 voice. The friendless little savage
loved me. She had saved my life.
{ My heart smote me for forgetting
: that gave her my two hands; she
, drew them round her slight body and
E then Ringing her arms around my
e neck she whispered with tender i'm.
e pulsiveness-
, "Shall i be good? Shall / tell you
where it isp"
But Just at that moment her fine
ear caught the rustic of a woman &
dress, and catching sight OF Edith,
! who was entering from the dining
a room, she started back.
: Scowling over her shoulder al
. Edith. her eyes atlame with hate, she
said, in voice from which all ten
derness had gone
4 "For her sakeP No" and without
D looking again at me she went from
: the room and joined her father