The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-09-08

ALAA\L ia
she would presently return.
She a o been gone ten minute
before the drawing room door opened
again and she came 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 If. and first brought
out the morocco case containing the
bracelet OF diamonds and sapphires
which was his birthday gift to his fan
Gee.
ooh, 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 fit for 4 OUCH
ess!"
TT is intended for my queen" re-
piled Godfrey.
The W. men looked at him and
then at eac other. They could offer
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 or
precious stones, after which he gave 1t
back with a faint half-suppressed sigh,
as If regretting that sight of it was
denied him.
llIEll ItplLltS, lsihlllS a. ~"
an old, faded, red leather case, with
a richly embossed monogram, touched
a spring on which its covers flew open,
when those who looked were daZZled,
as If they had suddenly lifted their eyes
to the red glare of a sinking SUM-. 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
q circle and were looking at the neck
lace in silent fascination when Il sound
of heavy breathing caught Geodreys
quick ear, and glancing in its direction
he saw Urbano standing on his toes
and staring over 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 a rung for me;
the door was open and I am in"
On going to his room Godfrey felt
little inclination for sleep; SO lighting
a cigarette he drew close to the fire and
thought over what the coming year
might bring him. BY the time it ended,
be nearly up, and he shout soon be
able to call Edith his wife.
An hour passed, the fire was dying
out, and still he did not feel sleepy. He
looked at the books lying on a side
table, but none Of them interested him.
Then he remembered that when last
at the hall a certain old volume IN the
| ifSra ~ md or1i1caH him. CO he resolved
to go down and fetch 1t. He found 1t
without difficulty, but when tucking it
under his arm 1t 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 own room without
difficulty.
Accordingly he went up the softly
carpeted stairs, clinging to the balus-
trade, for the lights had been extin-
gulshed all over the house. At las he
gained the corridor on which his bed
room opened, and hat was now silen'
as g. graveyard and pitch dark.
With slow steps and extended hand
feeling his way, he proceeded som
dozen yards before something almos
Intangible in it's softness brushed pas
MIN. Instantly ne stretched out hi
d~isengaaed hand toward that invisible
something, but his fingers only claspet
the empty air.
WHO Is there?" he asked, standing
! still. 'rWho Is that? ?" but no answe
was given, and though he listened wit.
an intentness hat must have caugh
the slightest movement, nc sound fe
upon his ears.
In a second he had found the match-
and lit his candle. Then full Of sus
pense and dread he hurried 70 tn
wardrobe in which he had ocked tn
black box. To his relief he saw 1t We
still there, and to reassure himself CON
pletely he opened its lid and took OF
the cases. the jewels flashed on ar
dazzled him.
He put the box on a table beside h
bed and within reach Of his hand ar
then hurriedly got between the sheet
for he felt chilled to the bone. F.
some moments he thought OF hat II
tangible something that had brushe
against him in the passage outsid
which had eluded his grasp. Had
been human 1T would have answer,
y his call. On consideration he conclud,
he had merely allowed his i%rnag1natit
o to conjure up the ghostly and unknow
AS a rule he slept soundly, seldo
8 waking before late in the morning, b
6 his experience was far different on tt
night, for he was suddenly startl
from some terrible and meuaci,