The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-09-09

latter a Whispered 10 GeOurey that
she would presently return.
She had not been gone ten minutes
before the drawing room door opened
again and she anne in saying, You
must forgive my feminine curiosity,
Godfrey, but I'm sure I couldn't sleep
until I had seen the jewels. Do bring
them down and let us have a private
view"
Taking the key from his watch
chain he unlocked 1t, and first brought
out the morocco case containing the
bracelet OF diamonds and sapphires
which "a his birthday gift to his fam
Gee.
"oh, how splendid. how beautiful!"
his aunt said, as she looked with de-
light and admiration at the ornament
that rippled and radiated as If with
hidden fire. why, it is At for a dueh-
ess!"
1T is intended for my queen" re-
piled Godfrey.
The two men looked at him and
Edith no such gift as this.
Let me take it," the count said. and
when it was handed to him he passed
his fingers lightly over the rows of
precious stones, after which he CAV it
back with a faint half-suppressed sigh,
as If regretting that sight of it was
denied him.
Then Godfrey, taking from h box
an old, faded, red leather case. with
a richly embossed monogram. touched
q spring on which it's covers flew open,
when those who looked We're dazzled,
as If they had suddenly lifted their eyes
to the red glare Of a sinking sun. For
before them was a row of rubies, SUI
perb in color, unusual in size, and
chained together in a setting of old
gold whose workmanship was a marvel
of beauty. -.
They had all gathered round him in
a circle and We're looking at the neck
lace in silent fascination when a sound
OF heavy breathing caught Geoffrey's
quick eur. n glancing In its direction
he saw Urbano standing or his toes
and staring owe his masters shoulders
with eyes that glared from under their
cavernous depths like those Of an ami
NAL fixed on his prey. whilst his hid
eous leaden-hued face twitched con-
vulsively from intense excitement.
"Urbano." he called out. startled and
surprised.
With a gasp the valet recovered him
self and stepping back as the others
turned toward him, said, Il thought
that his excellency had rung for me;
the door was open and I came In"
On going to his room Godfrey felt
little inclination for sleep; so lighting
a cigarette he drew close to the fire and
thought owe what the coming year
might bring him. BY the time it ended,
his eighteen months probation would
be nearly up. and he should soon be
able to call Edith his wife.
An hour passed. the fire was dying
out, and still he did not fesl sleepy. He
table, but none Of them Interested him.
Then he remembered that when last
at the hall a certain old volume In the
library had amused him; so he resolved
IN yvn fnun q nd 1ofoh ~ In Foy,~H ~
without difficulty. but when tucking it
under his arm it slipped, and when
striving to recover it his candlestick
fell, putting out the light. He had no
matches, but he knew he could find his
way back to his w room without
dficulty.
Accordingly he went up the softly
trade. for the lights had been extln-
gnlshed all over the house. At last he
gaiueA the corridor on which his bed
room opened, and that was now silent
a. q graveyard and pitch dark.
With slew steps and extended hand
feeling his way. he proceeded some
Nd6zeh yards before something almost
intangible in its %softness brushed past
him. Instantly he stretched out his
disengaaed hand toward that invisible
something, but his fingers only clasped
the empty air.
who is there?" he asked, standing
still. who Is that?" but no answer
was given, and though he listened with
en- intentness that must have caught
the slightest movement, no sound fell
upon his ears.
In q second he had found the MATCHES
and lit his candle. Then full Of sus-
pense and dread he hurried 70 the
wardrobe In which he had locked the
black box. 20 his relief he saw 1t was
still there, and to reassure himself COM
pfetely he opened its lid and took out
the cases, the Jewels flashed on and
dazzled him.
He put the box on a table beside his
bed and within reach OF his hand and
then hurriedly got between the sheets,
for he felt chilled to the bone. For
some moments he thought Of that In
tangible something that had brushed
against him in the passage outside,
which had eluded his grasp. Had II
been human 1t would have answered
his call. On consideration he concluded
he had merely allowed his imagination
to couture up the ghostly and unknown.
As q rule he slept soundly, seldom
waking before late in the morning, but
his experience was far different on this
night, for he was suddenly startled
from some terrible and me1acing