Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-22

he muttered. He looked through the hedge,
and as they had disappeared from view
around a bend in the road, and no one else
was in sight, he picked up small case,
squeezed through the hedge and crossing
the highway, entered a wood in which was
a dense underground Of ferns and briars.
After penetrating this for some distance In
the direction of the village, he turned back;
but instead of following his former path
struck off to the south of 1t and again
emerged upon the road, some distance be-
low the spot where he had encountered the
boys.
While he was walking through the woods
he had been busily thinking, and hoped that
he would meet some one upon the highway,
who seeing him come from the direction OF
the village, would suppose that he had just
left it. For he feared that a report Of his
attempt to seize the ring would be circu-
lated, though he reasoned that as Cover
had probably taken the jewel unknown to
any Of the family, he might hesitate about
telling how nearly he had lost it.
eff had got that ring" thought the man,
as he threw his leg across the top rail OF
the fence, "Easton would never see me
again. Wouldn't I have cut a swath IN
North Carliny! I swore when I left that
cursed country, with Matildy a-laughin' at
me, I'd go back rich and have the laugh
on her. I've been long a-getting rich-but
my turn will comet
Now, IL he had wished to be seen by some
one when he again reached the road, the
person he met was the last one whom he
cared to encounter, and was no other than
Nose going on an errand to distant part
of the farm.
.'Hi, darl Doctah Blackhaht." he greet
ed, ''yo' jes' come fun town.
YES" the other answered. During his
! walk he had turned over many plans IN his
mind for the capture Of the Montjoy jewel,
and strangely enough, the old negro man
figured In all Of them. But, until some one
scheme was perfected he did not wish Nose
to see him in the neighborhood on that day.
sfWa1ked all de way?' persisted his COM
panon falling into step.
Yes; fact is, my horse is lame. and I'm
lettin' him rest for spell" ..
Who's sick hereabouts. anyhow, Doctah?"
zone of the Presley children"
"Well, now, Use gwine jes' erbout dat fab
myself. anil walk along wild yo' eff yo' dom
keer Wese been fren's good many
yeahs. Amt we. Doctah?"
Yes, we have" said the other, wishing
heartily he had never seen him; for now he
would be obliged to retrace his entire way
to the Presley home when he had intended
only to hide behind the hedge, after being
seen upon a supposed visit to the house,
and walt until convenient time to return.
| For this child was the patient whom he
had just visited and what excuse should he
offer for returning soon?
He had not solved this question before
they came in sight OF the house, and Nose
did not leave him till he saw him knock
at the door.
why Doctor" said the woman who
opened it, you back?'
Yes; did l leave a bottle here? I miss
one, and came back to see If had left 1t.
1t contained a very precious medicine, and
| as may have to use some of 1t this even
Ing. came all the way to get it,
Eyes, you did leave a bottle" handing 1t
to him. its marked peppermint
The doctor took the bottle-which really
he had not misunderstanding his lucky stars
for one of those accidents which sometimes
occur, it seems on purpose, to cover the
schemes Of the deceitful, and FASTENED
away.
He quickly retraced his steps to Easton
and paused before a small building whose
front door opened directly on the main
street Of the village The house contained
only two rooms. The doctor-as he called
himself-occupied one as an Office, while
that In the rear was used by him for cook
ing and as general living room.
There were no orders written upon the
slate that hung at the door-there seldom
were-and he threw himself into q chair,
rested his elbows on the table and buried
his face In his hands, common attitude