The Princeton union., 1903-02-12

vine the presence of gold. Might it
not be the same with diamonds? he
wondered, and, if so, who was more
likely to enjoy this transcendental sense
than the person who gloried in the ap-
pellation of the diamond hunter?
From such man he recognized that
he had everything to fear, and longed
eagerly for the arrival of day.
In the meantime he neglected no pre-
caution, concealed his diamond in the
most internal pocket Of a system of
greatcoats and devoutly recommended
himself to the care of Providence.
The train pursued it's usual even and
rapid course, and nearly half the jour-
ney had been accomplished before
slumber began to triumph over I'M
easiness in the breast of Mr.. ROLES.
For some time he resisted it's influence,
but it grew upon him more and more,
and little before York he was fain to
stretch himself upon one of the couches
and suffer his eyes to close, and almost
at the same instant consciousness de-
serted the young clergyman. His last
thought was of his terrifying neighbor.
When he awoke it was still pitch
dark except for the flicker of the yelled
lamp, and the continual roaring and
oscillation testified to the unrelaxed
velocity of the train. He sat upright
in panic, for he had been tormented
by the most uneasy dreams. It was
some seconds before he recovered his
self command, and even after he had
resumed a recumbent attitude sleep
continued to flee him, and he lay
awake with his brain in a state of vio-
lent agitation and his eyes fixed upon
the layatory door. He pulled his cler-
ical felt hat over his brow still farther
to shield him from the light, and he
adopted the usual expedients, such as
counting a thousand or banishing
thought, by which experienced invalids
are accustomed to WOO the approach
Of sleep. In the case of Mr. ROLES
they proved one and all vain. He was
harassed by dozen different anxieties
the old man in the other end Of the
carriage haunted him in the most
alarming shapes, and in whatever atti-
tude he chose to lie the diamond in his
pocket occasioned him a sensible phys
ical distress. It burned, it was too
large, it bruised his ribs, and there
were infnitesimal fractions Of second
in which he had half a mind to throw
it from the window.
While he was thus lying strange
incident took place.
The sliding door into the lavatOry
stirred a little, and then a little more,
and was finally drawn back for the
space of about twenty inches. The
lamp in the lavatory was unshaded,
and in the lighted aperture thus dis
closed Mr.. ROLES could see the head of
Mr.. Vandeleur in an attitude of deep
attention. He was conscious that the
gaze of the dictator rested intently OH
his own face, and the instinct of self
preservation moved him to hold his
breath, to refrain from the least move
ment and, keeping his eyes lowered, to
watch his visitor from underneath the
lashes. After about moment the head
was withdrawn and the door of the law
atory replaced.
Ine~ dictator had not cor,e >to attack,
but to observe. His action was not that
of a man threatening another, but that
Of q man who was himself threatened.
If Mr. ROLES was afraid of him, it ap-
peared that he IN his turn was not quite
easy on the score Of Mr.. ROLES. He
that his only fellow traveller was asleep,
and, when satisfied on that point, he
had at once withdrawn.
The clergyman leaped to his feet.
The extreme Of terror had given place
to reaction of foolhardy daring. He
reflected that the rattle of the flying
train concealed all other sounds and
determined, come what might, to re-
turn the visit he had just received. Di-
vesting himself of his cloak, which
might have interfered with the free
dom of his action, he entered the lava
tory and paused to listen. AS he had
expected, there was nothing to be heard
above the roar of the trains progress,
and, laying his hand on the door at the
farther side, he proceeded cautiously to
draw it back for about six inches. Then
he stopped and could not contain an
ejaculation Of surprise.
John Vandeleur wore fur travelling
cap with lappets to protect his ears,
and this may have combined with the
sound of the express to keep him in
ignorance of what was going forward.
1t is certain, at least, that he did not
raise his head, but continued without
interruption to pursue his strange en-
ployment Between his feet stood an
open hatbox. In one hand he held the
sleeve of his sealskin greatcoat, in the
other formidable knife, with which
he had just slit up the lin ing OF the
! sleeve. Mr.. ROLES had read Iof persons
carrying money in a belt, and, as he
had no acquaintance with any but
cricket belts, he had never been able
rightly to conceive how this was man
aged. But here was a stranger thing
before his eyes, for John Vandeleur, it
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