Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1899-12-21


ting in private room at the hotel.
The dispatch was safe in my small
trunk. If only Lottie could see us at
that minute-how her brown eyes
would widen! If only the London
editors, eagerly competing for informa-
ton, had guessed at the contents OF
that little leather case!
''Just imagined" Jack repeated, cram
ing himself over the red Goals. l had
just told him; there was no secret in
the world l should have dreamed OF
Withholding from Jack. 'Eh? I'm
looking awfully queer? Pooh, it is you
who have taken in fresh stock of vi
tality out yonder. Dad and the others?
yes, all going well and strong"
''All?" I dropped my voice. was
touching on the family skeleton here.
'Er-you don't include Wilfred, of
course? No change or hope in that di-
rection, II suppose? I've never heard
a. word of him.
"And you won't, Brian!" Jack whis-
pered that with hand to his eyes
he had been the last to taboo that scape-
grace brother of his. I knew. He
doesn't count-a hopeless outsider-we
don't mention his name, if we can help
it. Living? No one knows; at least,
it's some days since he last came try
ing to squeeze more money by lies
from me, and-and you know what
I've done for him in times past. But
drop that now. You wrote home about
some diamonds-do show mel"
"Turned them all into cash at a
profit" I laughed; ,"all except one, that
I've had set in brooch for-you can
guess who It's in the big trunk; you
can see it when we go up to bed"
So we chatted on, till an irresistible
drowsiness crept over me. | was doz-
ing as Jack talked; and soon after nine
o'clock caught up the small trunk and
declared for bed and clear head in
the morning. The morning-the sig
nifcant morning! should be thanked
by the colonial secretary himself!
-. Up we went.
Oh! my buzzing brain! Try as 1
would, tired as felt, could not quite
succeed in losing consciousness. Had
I done wrong in staying here? Might
the delay of even those few hours mean
danger? Was quite sure had locked
that door? Most provoking! Once or
twice I whispered to Jack in the bed
opposite, but only prolonged
"ch-r-r-h!" answered me. Finally l
gave up trying, and lay framing Lot
ties oval face in that wavering refiec-
ton of the gaslight overhead. Heaven
alone knew what it had meant to leave
the woman one longed for, and now
Oh, what. was that? A clock down
stairs had just struck II times, and at
the last stroke Jack had swayed silent
ly up in his bed and sat staring across
in my direction. A query was on my
lips, but I could not seem to sound it.
Perhaps my eyes were nearly closed,
but could see enough to make me lie
perfectly still, while kind of mystic
rious misgiving crept through me.
Why, I hardly knew must have been
inspired by sheer instinct. But Jack
over there, he had lifted himself out
of bed with a queer stealth; he had
taken step and still he stared across
in that unnerving way. / wanted to
spring up and gasp an end to the spell,
but there seemed a mesmeric numbness
in my limbs. Why, on that craned face
of his-almost chalk-white it looked
in the low glimmer of the gaslight be-
tween us-was there an indescribab BILE
expression of mixed dread and evil?
Merciful heavens! did it mean that
Jack, my oldest and dearest chum, who
had chased butterflies with me in the
meadows 20 years ago
One more stealthy step, as if to make
quite sure -yes-of my sublime un-
consciousness. Now he was hesitat ting,
like man weighing all the odds for and
against some design; now he was slip
ping on his clothes. \ Fully
dressed-hat, boots and all! He took
something from his pocket, stole across
quietly and dropped it ever SO lightly
across my face-a silk handkerchief.
n The thing seemed too paralyz-
ing for sanity. RENE mber counted
just Ca minute of nameless horror
for me; and not till afterwards did
know why I made no sound or sign.
Then my teeth closed on fold of the
silk, and drew it down little; could
Just see. y x If ever mans heart
stood all but still through sick amaze
ment, mine did then. The Transvaal's
Dispatch He meant to steal ito sell
its signed contents at price-to set
England ringing with news that might
hurry on an awful crisis! The key in
my trousers pocket; he had found it,
opened the small trunk-was half way
to the door with the precious leather
case. He was gone-no-he hesitated
again, tip-toed back and was on his
knees beside the big box. Jack Ham
Ign, the brother of the woman whose
love had been my guardian angelic
alone knew of my return; he meant to
rob me Of my honor and of my valua bles
besides.
Think of it! Perhaps minute
passed-and he had not found the blue
diamond. Of course! Another minute,
and he would remember that, after
making it fash before his eyes, had
placed it in the belt pocket round my
waist, along with roll Of bank notes.
To come at that he would need to rouse
me-to kill me!
And he would do it. Of sudden he
got to his feet-had recollected. And
now-did l live hundred years longer,
l could never forget how the cold sweat
crawled out upon me at that moment
his hands were plucking back the
bed clothes. + y
"Thief!'
The one choking word burst from