The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1897-01-16

asked. I'm afraid we may be seen here.
l thought saw that black-browed coach
man look suspicious at me as l came
round"
l had left the library window open, and
we entered the house noiselessly. Slip
ping to the door 1 made sure that the
coast was clear, and then. with silent
tread l led the way upstairs, knowing
that in Miss Manver's dressing room we
should be free from all possible Interrupt
ton. Gently closing the door, l was an
xious to show my lover something of the
value of this room.
You must see the diamonds first, Regi-
nald," 1 said. "Of course Miss Manvers
is wearing some tonight, but"
"Ah, the diamonds, ya'as. By Jove,
Clara, they're handsome!' as 1 opened a
casket and displayed the contents. After
wards we became more love like. Regi-
maid took me in his arms and imprinted
kisses on my lips. Then, before 1 was
aware of it, he seized me roughly round
the waist, sweet, pungent odor filled the
room, and the next instant pocket hand
kerchef saturated with some oVerpower-
ing liquid was pressed over my nose and
mouth. horror seized me- My tongue
was paralyzed and my throat parched
with fear, 1 could utter no cry. A drowsi-
ness gradually crept over me, and L had
a pleasant, vague sense of drifting into
oblivion. L do not wish my narrative to
be disconnected, and so 1 will give the
details of what transpired from the par
ticulars which were afterwards supplied
to me. Leaving me chloroformed and per-
fectly helpless on the floor, my aristo-
cratic lover seized every atom of jewelry
he could lay his hands on. Then listen
ing at the door and carefully convincing
himself that no one was about, he slipped
hastily from the room, reached the IL
brary in safety, and with his costly booty
sprang on to the lawn.
But he appears he had been correct
when he fancied that Joe Bates had look
ed suSpiciously at him earlier in the even
ing. Poor Joe, jealous almost to madness,
had followed him, witnessed our meeting
in the grounds, and watched us enter the
house in company Almost beside him
self, he had been unable to tear himself
from the spot and paced the lawn in an
agony of despair. Presently, seeing the
captain appear at the library window,
and thinking it strange that l did not
accompany him thus far Joe made his
presence known The captain wished to
evade him, and, in his anger, scarcely
knowing what he did, the coachman seiz-
ed him by the arm
Hands off. you cur" Kissed the cap
tain, striking viciously at Joe.
That was sufficient to arouse every
vestige of latent energy in the coachman.
He retaliated, then they closed and a ter
iiiiC Struggle eHSueQ. 1t must nave COIL
tinued for a considerable time, for when
a semi-consciousness returned to me- I
rushed from the room, downstairs and
arrived on the lawn in time to see the two
men struggling together on the ground.
l ran forward, when to my horror l found
that, although Joe was uppermost, the
villianous captain held a long, cleaning
knife in his hand Trembling and afraid
as | was, I seized his wrist, and exerting
all my strength, bent his hand backward
until the knife dropped from his grasp.
At this juncture the butler and a friend
OF his appeared, and the capture of the
captain was accomplished by the police.
Judge of Joe's surprise when l informed
him that his rival had stolen the Menvers
diamonds Imagine mine when the police
men told us that the captain was Cen
tleman George, one of the most expert
cracksmen in London. I'll do the villain
the justice of saying that there was a
little of the gentleman in him. He never
said a word concerning our rendezvous,
but allowed 1t to be supposed that by him
self he had effected an entrance by the
library window. and, finding me in the
dressing room, had chloroformed me and
thus taken possession of the jewels. And
Joe loved me too much to tell all he knew.
Master rewarded him handsomely. and
well, Joe said the reward 1 gave him was
far more precious. I never saw a man
so delighted with a kiss-Brookyn
Standard Union.