The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-11-25

in ignorance OF our suspicion. Ana
with that view" he added. turning TO
noe. II counsel you, Mr.. Thorne, TO CON
ceal your own feelings. Not one Of
these three ought TO see any change
in your demeanor toward them"
This was sound advice, and recog-
nized the importance Of conforming
with IL; but / am the worst actor IN
the world where my feelings are con
cerned, and my very soul reyoited
against the men who had plotted to-
gether 10 take my life from the mere
insensate greed OF gain. j felt more
bitterly toward Brace than toward his
accomplice, not because / thought van
HOeck less guilty, but because felt
more kindly toward the Judge, 10
whom | seemed linked by the brother
hood OF labor.
kept out OF his way when we re-
turned 20 the library, ana avoided
looking at him, lest he should perceive
that was no longer his friend. But
/ knew he had his eyes upon me ana
was reading the signs OF my newly
born aversion, and this made my acting
worse.
When the officer had completed his
investigation, lie said sagaciously, as
he closed his notebook:
IL have sufficient information for my
present purpose. i may not be able
TO discover the perpetrators OF this out
rage and robbery Immediately, but !
think i shall be in position to tell
you something about the lost diamond
within twenty-fOur hours"
Sir Edmund accompanied him TO the
door. When he returned and took the
seat he had occupied at the head OF the
long table, Brace arose, and placing
himself at the opposite end, inclined
his head first to the baronet, then TO
the right, ana TO the left.
Squire and gentlemen Of this com
mittee," he said. 81 don't want to speak
disrespectful OF the police, but the in
tclligent officer who has jest left us, as
If he'd got hold OF the tail end Of n
rocket, and meant follerin' il right mp,
and holdn' tight OH I'LL IL bust, amt
goin' to do any good for hlsself or
any one else in this business. The big
diamonds lost, end he amt goin' to
find il in twenty-four hours, nor in
twenty four years. Ef il was hay
stack don't say but what, with the
help OF Providcnce-and q good lot or
it-he might be up to the job he's on
dertook. But IL amt n haystack End
cf he was TO grind up the whole OF
this country. end every blessed thing
upon It small, buddlcd ii in clean
nume, and sifted the tailin's careful, he
wouldn't find It. End these bein' my
views, IL stands TO reason that l amt
goin' to hang about here lookin' at the
place where I've come TO grief, like an
old female what's slipped Off the side
walk on bit Of orange peel. With
your permission, squire, I'm goiu' away
right off,
81 cannot stop you. Brace, even IL |
wished TO-" replied Sir Edmund, who,
be 10 observed, knew nothing of the
suspicion against the Judge. 81 am
inclined TO think that you will be hap
pier in seeking new fortune than In
lingering about with the faint hope Of
recovering the old. If the diamond
is found you will hear OF il wherever
you may be. Are YOU going TO look for
another dlamondY
mo. squire; I'm roin' to find that,
please God" Brace replied; then, after
a moments pause, he said, There's n
matter of business To finish up before /
go, sir: all the money | have in my
pocket belongs TO you
ITS loan; keep il, Rrace-kccp IL
until you are in position TO pay me;
and l hope, FOR your sake, that time
may not be far hence
you're grit, squire. real grit won't
refuse your kindness. | shall need Il
bit to start with. But I'll ask you, sir,
to hold this til I claim IT,"
He went round to Sir Edmund.
"What is it, Bracc?" asked the baro-
net. taking the paper Brace drew from
his pocket. Re found it was the
Judges copy OF agreement. "Oh. | do
not need this. my good fellow" he pro
tested; 81 have your q u, and that is
rs good now rs ever " was"
"If you won't keep Il for your own
security, squire. I'll ask you to keep IL
| for my own. It's q kinder ce'tifcate,
and IL any one hes got auythin' 10 say
agCn me when I'm not here to defend
myself, I'll ask you 10 let that up.
Good-by, squire"
He held ont his hand and said, as Sir
Edward shook it cordially, THANK you
sir. thank you, Won ere gritr'
He strobe down the room. brushing
-Sast Van lIoeck. who sat immoyable
and silent as though hc were carved IN
stone. and came to where | was stand
| ing. My face must have told him that
my heart was hardened. But he
stretched out bis hand, and said
hoarsely:
"Say goodbye 10 us. pardner."
folded my arms and shook my head
lie dropped his hand by his side.
Perhaps you're right" he said. re
morscly. perhaps you'ic not. Time
will show that I've got n clean con
science. if Heaven j. Just" He paused
then in n still lower tone and with m
accent OF reproach. he added: "Sa,
yer hope so. pardner, say yer hope So
Il hope So" said.
lie shook his head ruefully.
'Tain't yer old voice. Gentleman
Thorne-there's no heart in it. We've
roughed IL together, aud we've shared
our bacca out there. Cud'-his chir
twltched conyulsiyely. and turning
| nMaN ln nulinrnil .lIf fuLns nll ihl