Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1894-04-06
The Great Hesper.
Ely FRANK BARRETT.
CHAPTER VII-CoNT1NuED.

the fact that the door by which the
girl enters che house Is at the back
of the right block, and that the
stairs by which she would ascend to
the first floor bring her to the
landing between Sir Edmund's room
and Miss Lascelle's. Thus, though
carrying out her fathers instruc-
tions to the letter, she must inevi-
tably make her attempt upon Miss
Lascelle's room and not upon yours.
Look at your plan"
Il follow you perfectly WE'LL" /
said, astonished by the ingenuity Of
his explanation, which had made a
perfectly incredible supposition pos
sible-nay, for the moment, probable.
i was forced TO admit that this
explanation was feasible, yet l could
not believe that Lola, who seemed
sincerely attached to me, would con-
sent to aid in my ruin merely at the
instigation of her father, whose au-
thority she habitually disregarded.
l said this to Van Hoeck.
at is because she is attached to
you-because she loves you" he re-
piled, with emphasis, that she
would readily enter into her fathers
project to rob you of tho diamond.
The diamond is her enemy-it has
separated you from her, and placed
you side by side with Miss Lascelles,
for whom she has manifested a
Jealous hatred from the very first.
What could be more gratifying TO
her savage disposition than TO take
away the diamond that has created
this difference between you and her,
and reduce you once more to her
level. 1t is the only hope she can
have of getting you away from Miss
Iascelles, and restoring the former
condition Of equality upon which
your companionship with her rested. "
Again | was compelled to admit
the force of Van Hoeck's argument.
but why" l asked, "should
Brace trust such a perilous under
taking to his daughter?"
"'For an obvious reason he re-
piled. IF you caughS her in the
act of robbing, you would not raise
your hand against her; il you caught
him, you would blow his brains out
For her you would find excuse; for
him none"
In this there was truth also.
Talking of that" he continued,
"what arms do you keep about you
for defense?
"None," replied.
81 thought so. Take this" he
said. drawing a long clasp-knile from
his breast-pocket.
He showed the spring with which
the narrow blade opened, and the
catch which locked it at the back oil
the horn handle, and made me prom
Use to use it for my defense, no mat
ter who attacked me. / also prom
ised to close my window, which
habitually kept open at night, and &c
secure the fastening of that, as well
as the door, before going to bed.
Finally he exacted that / should
once more inclose the Hespcr in the
leather case, and strap it to my
wrist the last thing at night.
The Judge did not return unit
dusk. He was fatigued, and hi:
general appearance indicated a pur.
suit through rough and thorny ways.
II hev seen the Kid" he said
"but she would not listen to reason
and not bein' Altered of spiling her
clothes, she naturally got the best oil
the argument, and played it low
down on her father.
He advocated starving her into
better behavior, and would have had
the door closed to cut Of her com
munication with the dairy, but Mis-:
Lascelles would not listen to this
she would not yield TO fear, and de
clined to change her room or alte
her ordinary habitudes.
When night came Van Hoeck sale
to me, after we had separated from
the rest
This is no time for sleep. Thorne
we must watch through the night
whether you like it or not, IL 1t il
only for Miss Lascelle's sake"
l readily agreed to this and for al
hour we walked on q part of thu
lawn from which could see Edith
window. Then the rain which hat
been drizzling for some time, fel
heavily and forced us to go in.
might have been occupied witt
speculation for half an hour or NOR
when heard scream Of terror tina
could not doubt came from tn
wing in which Edith lay. In an in
slant / opened the door and RAJ
through the corridor. The doors Il
the picture gallery were open. AS
drew aside the curtains which close,
in the staircase corridor of the lei
wing, / saw Sir Edmund come fror
his room with a lamp. The door G
Eiiths room exactly faced his;
was wide open; all was dark within