Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-01-08

left hand, which was also bruised and
strained, l was able to feel that the
leather belt was still about me, but the
pocket, in which the stone was, was
under my wounded arm. In the con-
dition I was in, 1t was impossible for
me to get at it, turn and twist as I
might,
The doctor must have heard my
restless movements, for he came and
looked down at me inquiringly. He
had shrewd, kindly faee, which / felt
I could trust, and I explained my
trouble to him. spoke in a low tone,
and as briefly as possible. 1t was a
strange story-although 1 made no
mention of the Indian-and my listener
might have thought it the rawlings of
delirium, but on slipping his hand
under me, as I directed, he felt the
pocket in the belt and assured me that
the stone was there.
"But you are hardly in a fit state to
guard your treasure" he said; "shall
/ take charge of it until you can re-
/ sumo your Journey.
I thanked him warmly, but declared
it was impossible that I could part
with it for q moment. 1 know / was
very excited when I said it, for I felt
my temples throbbing. and my tongue
seemed ha, dly able to form the words.
The doctor watched me critically for
moment, and then, as he laid his
hand upon my pulse, said soothingly:
'tNever mind, do not distress your
self. Perhaps, after all, it is better
as it is. For who knows of the stones
existence? So put your fears aside
and try TO get WE'LL"
He poured something into glass
and gave it to me, and very soon I for
got all my troubles in long dream
less sleep.
1t was in the cold darkness of early
dawn that ] awoke once more and
gazed about me. I felt far more my
self than I had done before I slept,
and able to take an interest in the
things about me. I noticed, now,
that there were three beds in the
room. The one on my left was empty;
doubtless the poor creature it had
contained had died and been removed
while I slept. The room was only
lighted by one feeble night light, 80
that at first it was not easy for me to
distinguish the different objects. But
after a while. as my eyes became ac-
customed to the dimness, I turned to
get better view of the bed on my
| right, and see who my companion in
afaiction might be. And there on the
white pillow I saw the black head of
my treacherous enemy!
My first impulse was to cry out for
assistance, but I reflected that there
would only be the nurses about, and
they would be certain to think me de-
lirious. Then, again, it was evident
that the black man had not recog-
nized me. So I summoned up the
little courage I had left, and resolved
TO remain perfectly still, keeping my
head turned away so that those crafty,
cruel eyes should not see me. Idon't
know how much time passed, 1 only
know that as I lay there my heart beat
like sledge hammer, and the bed
clothes rose and fell with each labor
ing breath I drew.
At last nurse stole softly into the
room, and seeing l was awake gave me.
some medicine. / whispered an en-
treaty that she would not leave me.
She smiled assent, and took chair by
my side. There must have been some
narcotic in the mixture, for I had
scarcely swallowed it than ] fell asleep
again. and then suppose the nurse
departed to look after some patient IN
an adjoining room.
1t was feeling stealthy hands NOV.
lde the bed clothes about me that at
9Th brought me back to conscious
LJss, and, looking up, | saw that dark,
evil face bending over me. Before I
had time to utter sound q heavy
hand was laid upon my mouth, and the
leather belt, which had evidently just
been cut through, was dragged from
me, and the next instant the Indian
was stealing towards the window.
Then I shouted as loudly as I could
Tfor help, but even IS I did 50. the
black man was through the window
and had disappeared in the darkness.
I had tried to struggle up to go in
pursuit, but my MANNED limbs re-
fused to bear me, and I fell fainting
across the bed as the nurse and doctor
hurried into the room. As soon as
came to myself I cried out wildly, pas
sionately, that I had been robbed, that
WAS ruined, that my position in life
was lost.
The doctor looked at me with @
smile.
"Don't make too sure of that" he
said. And taking something from his
waistcoat pocket. he placed it on the
palm of his hand and held it towards
me.
1t was the Raiah's diamondl For
the first few moments rapture and re.
lief left room for no other thoughts.
But, then, I asked, in bewilderment,
how it had happened; for I had been
80 certain that the diamond was on
me. After the doctor has assured me
Of it's safety, I had managed more than
once to press my wounded arm against
my side, and had then felt, distinctly,
the small, hard substance that was
worth 80 much.
The doctor laughed.
"Tkat was substitute" he said;
and then he explained that, seeing 1
1 was in such weak, excited state, he
had not thought it prudent to leave
the diamond with me. At the same
time, seeing I should fret myself into
a fever at parting with it, he had COM
promised matters by taking the dia-
mond from me while I slept, and pat.
ting something in its place to make
me quiet.
"I intended to put small pebble"
he said. "but in the hurry of the mo-
ment could not find one of the right
size, SO made use, instead, of bit of