The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-10-21
CHATTER VII.
Continued.

'I would suspect any one who has
the opportunity to possess himself Of
such treasure as you hold. Do you
blame the man who protects himself
when his life is in dangerl That dia-
mond is life to me! What could / do
IL II were lost? You hold that dia-
mond-my life-in your keeping. You
are bound to take every precaution
for its safety. You have no right 10
despise my warning because it does
not agree with your reckless trust in
humanity"
Take the diamond into your keep
ing, IL you think il is not safe in
mine" said.
"You make that offer because you
know that / am powerless to accept II
in my blind and helpless condition.
How can l keep IL against man like
BraceY
"If you have more faith In my power
10 keep the diamond, why do you ac'
cuse me OF neglectlng its safety"
Because you blind yourself in the
danger that exists. Godw he ex-
claimed. protruding his slghtiess eyes
TO the light, and clenching his hands
in frenzy. "to think that those who
can see will not see!'
"What possible connection can there
beT" / asked, "between the safety Of
our diamond and the event OF last
nightT"
"A palpable connection. The event
OF last night was an abOrtiye attempt
10 obtain the diamond"
As heard this, and looked ut Van
Hoeck. / almost doubted II he were in
his right mind
1.-THE plot failed" he continued. "bc-
cause the girl mistook the room"
An incredulous exclamation es-
capped me.
you shall hear me-" he muttercd
stretching his arm TO the right and
left until he encountered mine with
his hand. and then clutcbing IL tightly;
"yOu shall see-with my eyes, IL not
with your own. You have urged that
the girl could know nothing of the dis
position OF the rooms; but she might
receive instructions from her father.
He went into the wood to give her
those instructions yesterday. Look at
your plan'-he handed me the dia-
gram I had drawn at his request
"Brace, having his room at the back
OF the right block, would naturally
Tell her that when she got to the top
OF the stairs she was not TO pass
Through the picture gallery, but to go
straight to the landing over the stairs
che had ascended, open the window in
the bay, which would then be on her
left hand. and make her way to the
oriel facing her.
''That, according to his calculation,
would bring her to your window"
Certainly"
"But he did not take account OF the
fact that the door by which the girl
enters the house is at the back OF the
right block, and that the stairs by
which she would ascend to the first
floor bring her 10 the landing between
Sir Edmund's room and Miss Las
celles'. Thus, though carrying out her
fathers instructions 10 the letter. she
must inevitably make her attempt up
on Miss Lascelles' room, and not upon
yours. Look at your plan"
IL follow you perfectly well" said,
astonished 10y the ingenuity Of his ex-
planation, which had made n perfectly
Incredible suppositiOn possible-nay.
for the moment, probable.
Are you conyinced?" he asked tri-
umphally.
You have yet to explain how Brace
thought TO obtain the diamond by the
means he employed He would scarcely
expect that should faint with terror"
"Who said he would? Brace cal.
culated upon dealing with a heavy
sleeper, not nervous girl. The tap
ping is described rs soft and regular;
it was intended TO test whether you
were asleep or not The moment n
light appeared the sound Ceased-thc
girl had gone back 10 the bay. From
the landing she could see when the
light was put out, and il was safe 10
recommence the attack The candle
was lit with some difficulty the second
time-Miss Lascelles possibly stood
with her back TO the window as she
held the vesta. Lola may have de-
tected the first glimmer, and unccr-
tain or not whether it was safe 10
continue turned the blind and looked
through. At that moment the wick
burnt up. and Miss Lascelles turning
saw the girls eyes between the laths.
The knocking was not repeated. for n
simple reason-Iola had discovered her
mistake and retreattd. DO yiu doubt
now the purpose with which Brace has
gone 10 seek the girl today"
! was forced 10 admit that this OK
planation was feasible, yet could not
believe that Lola, who seemed sincere
ly attached 10 me. would consent 10
aid in my ruin merely at the instiga.
tion Of her father, whose authority
she habitually disregarded. saii
this 20 van Hoeck.
ut is because she is attached 10 you
because she loves you" he replied
with emphasis. that she would readi.
ly enter into her fathers project tc
rob you Of the diamond The dia
mond is her enemy-it has separated
her from you. and placed you side 10y
side with Miss Lascelles. for whom
she has manifested jealous hatred
from the very first. What could b,
more gratifying 10 her savage disposi
Son than 20 take away the damon,
that has created this difference be
tween you and her. and to reduce yo'