The Red Cloud chief., 1897-01-01

suited to that uncloudcd sky. and the
surrounding scenery. The view from
the belvodere was incredibly bcauti-
full, and indeed justified the high.
sounding name given to the valley
IL overlooked.
THAT is q house worthy of Edith"
| thought. "Uh, that il we're mino
to offer her."
II would be time wasted to enter
into my business transactions with
Colonel Kinks. Suffice IL to
say that my ardent wish was
realized, and that in less than
a month from my arriving in
San Diego entered into possession
of the beautiful property. Doubtless
1t vas a hazardous undertaking for
one who knew nothing whatever OF
tho business; but what hazard Is too
great for u man whose object Is to
win the woman he loves? That the
money | invested was not my own
did not lessen the risk | ran. but in
creased it.; for, unless / could show q
reasonable probability OF repaying
Sir Edmund's loan. | could not de-
mana Eultn ) nanu.
Early in November I received q
letter from Sir Edmund. Among
other things. he wrote
1.-The robbery is still a mystery
to mo it is n greater mystery than
ever. Van Hoeck has taken lodg-
ings in the village. | have met HIM
twice in tho woods, q wild. dcplora-
BILE object. and, indeed, pitiable. il
n may doubt his completely in the
robbery. Once he was upon his
hands and knees, cropping among the
ferns, as II he expected to find there
tho lost diamond; but he chooses the
night for these expeditions-proba-
bly, because he Is then less open to OBJ
servation. The keepers tell me that
he passes the whole night, and every
night in this hopeless search. Why
on earth should he do this, II he aud
Brace got possession of the diamond,
as we supposep"
In a postscript he added-.'Mr.
Furnival, dating from Haxel's hotel,
London. wrote asking me for your
address. replied that you were at
San Diego, California"
The news with regard to Van Hoeck
did not add greatly to the mystery
in which this strange man was
already involved; but the postscript
was a new source OF perplexity to me.
knew no n Of the name OF Furni-
val; / could not recollect having
spoken to any one OF Sir Edmund
while / was in London.
How, then, could this Mr.. Furni-
val have known where to apply for
my address, | expected q letter
from him to clear up this matter,
but no letter came.
A few days later I received q
letter addressed to me at Monken
Abbey, and re-addressed in Sir
Edmund's hand. Turning to the
signature found it was from Brace.
1t was dated October 10Th, Peters
vile, Nevada county. The Judge
then was in California, within q
days journey OF me. | was not sur-
prised at this, knowing his p~artiali-
ty for the state. but it was %irrecon.
cilable with the supposition that he
and Van Hoeck had the diamond.
He wrote thus
al rite these lines fur to show
where l I'm lokated, and likewise
that have not slinked of like q
thief in the night to hide my lites
under a bushel. II things amt nc
forarder than they was in the di.
rection OF clearin up what's become
OF the Great Hesper, they amt any.
ways no backarder.
1T amt no use promisin without
you are got it right inter yer to per-
form. but l will allow that l amt
goin' to chuck up the cards before
I've made you shake my hand and ac-
knowledge I've played square. The
Kid is frettln. and things in genial Il
not lively with your pardner.
"JOs BRACE"
l did not reply to this letter.
heard again from Sir Edmund ut the
end Of November. His letter was
dated the goth. He felicitated me
heartily upon the purchase l had
made. and added the warmest wishes
for my
Fro mn