Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1894-04-20
The Great Hesper.
by FRANK BARRETT.
CHAPTER TX.


taking, the diamond, the scoundrel
intended having my llfe-to re-
move the possibility. if possibility
existed, of being identified as the
thief by me.
He set about his work with devil
ish circumspection. l heard tho
metal rings clink as he took up the
fallen curtain from the floor and
folded it, and the bed crealed as he
got upon it. AS he approached from
behind, he steadied himself by set
ting one hand upon my shoulder,
then he laid the folded curtain over
my other shoulder, and his bony
knuckes touched my chest as he ar
ranged the stuff over my breast. l
knew what that meant; it was to
prevent the betraying blood from
squirting up his arm.
In the pause that followed, fan
cied he must be turning up his
sleeve, as a butcher does who has a
beast to slaughter.
A thousand thoughts whirled In
sly mind in that brief space; but
great awe came upon me as / felt his
hand firmly grasp my left shoulder,
for then | realized that l was on the
very brink of eternity.
A feeling of regret for the i'll use
had made of many days-for the
loss of Edith. and the world which
she had filed with JOY and hope; a
deep and tender wish for her happi-
ness, and tho welfare of the compan-
ions who had toiled with me to win
the Hesper, took the place of terror,
and it was with something like resig
nation that / awaited death.
As he grasped my left shoulder, l
felG him lean over my right, and tho
next moment he stabbed me.
He had not used sufficient force,
for the knife point stuck in one of
the ribs under my left breast and
went no further.
He pulled the knife out and tried
again, but this time the blade scarce
ly punctured my skin.
Then seeing that the thickness OF
the doubled curtain was too great an
impairment, no unfolded and rear.
ranged it, passing his hand over my
breast and pressing his fingers here
and there to ascertain whether he
had got it right for his purpose. II
was then that, my nature revolving
against this barbarous refinement OF
cruelty, / prayed like Samson for
strength, and made one more effort
to break my bonds.
The twisted sheets and firm knots
withstood the strain, but the effort
saved my life. The calculating vii.
lain knew that l must exhaust my
strength in a few minutes, and would
not risk breaking his knife or get
ting smeared with my blood as
writhed
And presently my force gave out,
and all hope leaving me / ceased &c
struggle, and was callous to his
touch, when he once moro touched
my shoulder.
But in that moment OF dread 81
lence, when his knife must have
been raised TO strike the final blow
the door-hGndle turned, and telt
his grasp relax--nay, his fngert
trembled as they lay on my shoulder
There was an interval of minute
and the door-handle turned again
then a voice that / recognized as
Lola's spoke in low tone outside.
"Are you there-you?" A mo
ment's pause, and she added, "Yor
amt sick, are your"
She had come to my door anc
heard me writhing against the post
What would the rascal do now
His hand still trembled. 1t gave me
courage, for it showed that he
feared discovery, and l knew that hc
would not risk his own neck for the
mere pleasure OF killing me- Iput
out my strength again, making the
bed-post snap under my strain.
''Shall sing out?n Lola asked, q
little louder and with an accent oil
alarm.
The hand slipped from my shoulder
and down my arm as the villain
stepped from the bed. His position
was getting more perilous. II Lola
'sung out" there would be little
ehance of his making of with the
diamond.
| had loosened the towel tina
bound my head and gagged me.
wriggled about furlously, worked the
fold out Of my mouth, and got ny
chin above it, breathing freely FOL
the first time since had been tiet
up. At the same moment l heard
the key turn in the door. and knew
that the murderer intended to lie
Lola In and silence her.
Take care, take carer shouted
as loudly as the towel that still GOV
cred my face would permit.
Another wriggle, and felt tina
the upper part OF my face was un
covered. Moreover, / distinguished
long gray patch before me. The
curtain Of the oriel had been drawn
back; the light had sensibly increased
during the time occupied by the
events have narrated.
almost fancied i saw the sill
bouette OF mans figure against th,