The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-11-04


for only 10 third fright could i at
tribute her scream OF terror-had
brought her father and myself from
our rooms. Instantly, something like
the truth flashed upon my mind:
TO bring me from my room was the
very object with which the attack up
on Edith had been made.
Unridding the mystery with this
key, assumed that the thief had
watched me close the door upon Van
Hoeck and return TO my room; that,
after allowing me sufficient time TO get
into bed, but not 10 fall into sound
sleep, he had made the attack upon
Edith, opening her door beforehand,
to provide n speedy means Of escape
and to allow her cry to be more dis
tinctly heard; that, having succeeding
in terrifying her, he had sped down
the stairs in the left block, passed
through the library and dlnlng-rOom,
and asceDded by the stairs in the right
block about the same time that might
be supposed TO have reached Edith's
room, ana that, reckoning upon my
keeping the Great Hesper under my
pillow, and leaving it there in my
alarm upon Edith's account he had
expected TO have possessed himself OF
our treasure. If what ! thus assumed
was the fact, then, indeed, this plan
might have succeeded but for Van
Hoeck's prudent insistence upon my
strapplng the diamond TO my wrist.
AS thus explained what had hap
pened. more startling reflection oc-
CURED to my mind. The thief had
been disappointed in not finding the
diamond beneath my pillow, but he yet
might not have relinquished the hope
Of getting ii.
lie might not have left The room. He
might be hidden there AT that very mo-
mcnt.
what was more easy, being in the
room, than 10 conceal himself in il?
The curtain that masked the oriel, the
great chest. the settle, the press. were
all suggestive OF that course. The fel-
low might be under the very bed
was lying upon!
The movement had seen In The cur
tain. the sound similar 10 the drawing
OF blade from its sheath (Which might
well have been caused 10y the move
ment OF the heavy valance OF the bed,
strengthened the suspicion. Was lie
lying there waiting for The sound OF
my heavy beathing to assure him that
| slept?
There was scarcely the necessity TO
wait for that, for what resistance
could !, lying upon my back. make
against foe springiDg out of the
dark upon me?
thought OF the claspknifc Van
HOeck had given me. and. stretching
ont my hand, | felt for il where I had
stuck it-betwecn the mattress and
the bedstead. ! could not find II.
Pushing back the curtains so that
the light from the lamp fell upon the
edge OF the bedstcad. | assured my
self that It was not where had left it,
1t must have slipped through-or been
drawn out.
The latter suppostion explained the
sound AMI movement ! had heard and
seen. Yet IL might have made that
sound in slipping throuch-its fall upon
the floor deadcncd by the carpet or its
cicd its horn handle was too wide TO al.
low OF its slipping through.
TO satisfy myself at once upon this
point ! leaped out OF bed. resolved 10
strike match and look under the va
lance. / stood for moment stupefed;
table where l was certain ! had laid
them.
They must have been taken while !
lay screened 10y the bed curtains.
glanced over my shoulder
The folds of the curtain against the
bed were not the same az when |
pushed them back 10 the wall, one fold
stood out mt an angle, ana as, slowly
turning round. | looked more closely.
saw against the dark oak panel Of the
wall. about the mid-hcight Of man,
and protruding but an inch or so from
the edge of the curtain, the bright
point If knife blade.
Now, indeed. there was no longer any
doubt. The man who had come 10 rob
was there 10 murder me. Had l stopped
but another moment on the bed he
might have knitted me.
What was 10 DO? had him stand
ing there behind the curtain at a GER
tain advantage.
Should l spring upon him and stran-
gle him against the wall In the folds OF
the curtain?
IL was not n sure victory for me, and
partial one might in the end be IA
tai The thick stun would prevent my
getting n firm grip of him, and his
right hand, the one that held the
knife. was free. My chance was too
small. the danger too great 10 Justify
the attack, though the muscles of my
arms and fingers were strung VI to
make the tempting effort
Keeping my eye upon the curtain
drew back TO the foot OF the bed. To
10 the door | must cross the room,
ADD inevitably be seen by the murder.
Gus rascal as he stood there on the in
ncr side OF the bed curtain; and ar.
rived az the door | must turn the key
twice gnd the handle as well before he
overlook me. ON the other hand, he
had TO disengagc himself from the
folds OF the curtain ana recover the
start had OF him.
The chances were pretty equal. and
I determined 10 save myself by flight