The Red Cloud chief., 1897-01-01
The Great Hesper.
BY FRANK

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 q new fortune
than lingering about with the faint
hope OF recovering the old. II the
diamond is found yor Will hear of 1t
wherever you may be. Are you
going to look for another diamond?"
"No. squire; I'm going to ind that.
please God Brace replied; then,
after a moments pause, he said:
"There's a matter OF business to
finish up before | go. sir; all the
money l have in my pocket belongs
to you"
at is q loan; keep it, Brace-keep
it until you are in a position to pay
me; and | hope, for your sake, that
time may not be far hence"
you're grit. ~squire-real grit! I
won't refuse your kindness. l shall
need a bit to start with. But I'll ask
you. sir, to hold this till / claim it,"
He went around to Sir Edmund.
''What is it. Brace" asked the
baronet. taking the paper Brace
drew from his pocket. He found it
was the Judges copy Of agreement.
''Oh. l do not need this. my good
fellow" he protested; al have your
10 U. and that is as good now as
ever 1t was"
"lf you won't keep it for your own
security, squire, I'll ask you to
keep it for my own. It's a kinder
c~e'tifcate, and If any one hes
got anythin' to say agen me
when I'm 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 it cordially
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."
l 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. II Heaven is just" He
paused. then in a still lower tone,
and with an accent OF %reproach, he
added. ''Say yer hope so. pardner,
say yer hope So"
81 hope So" l said.
He shook his head ruefully.
faint your old voice. Gentleman
Thorne-.there's no heart in 1t. We've
roughed it together, and we've shared
our 'bacca out there, and"-his chin
twitched convulsively, and turning
away he muttered, ait takes all the
pluck outer me to part like this"
Lola was standing in a 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 1t away,
and In her turn came and stood
before me.
'I'm agoin'," she said.
''And a good riddance." ! thought,
e%xasperated by the belief that she
knew where the diamond was, and
could reveal the whole mystery II
she chose.
..You amt goin' to let me go like
him, are yerw she asked; '.yOu amt
goin' to let me go without sayin'
good-byew
There was deep pathos in her
voice. The friendless little savage
loved me. She had saved my life.
NY heart smOte me for forgetting
that gave her my two hands; she
drew them round her slight body and
then hinging her arms around my
neck she whispered with tender i'm
pulsiveness-
"Shall i DO good? Shall tell you
where 1t isp"
But just at that moment her fine
a caught the rustic OF a woman's
dress, and catching sight OF Edith,
who was entering from the dining
room, she started back.
Scowling over her shoulder at
Edith, her eyes atlame with hate, she
said, in a voice from which all ter
derness had gone
..For her sakep No" aud without
looking again at me she went from
the room and joined her father.