The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-09-09
An Invisible Hand !
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latter had whispered to Godfrey that
she would presently return.
She had not been gone ten minutes
before the drawing room door opened
again and she came In saying, You
must forgive my feminine curiosity,
Godfrey, but I'm sure l couldn't sleep
until 1 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 was 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 II with
hidden fire. why, 1t is fit for a dueh-
ess!"
ut is Intended for my queen re-
piled Godfrey.
This two men looked at him and
then at each 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 Of
precious stones, after which he gave 1t
back with a faint half-suppressed sigh,
as If regretting that sight of 1t was
ueIllGu HlII1.
Then Godfrey, taking from the box
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 II they had suddenly lifted their eyes
to the red glare OF a sinking sun. For
before them was a row of rubies. u
perb in color. unusual in size, n
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 ear, n glancing In its direction
he saw Urbano standing on his toes
and staring owe his masters shoulders
with eyes that Elared from under their
cavernous depths like those of an ami
NAL liked 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 n stepping back as the others
turned toward him, said, II 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 over what the coming year
might bring him. BY the time 1t ended.
his eighteen months probation would
be nearly up. and he should soon be
able to call Edith his wife.
An hour passed, the IRE was dying
out, and still he did not feel sleepy. He
looked at h books lying on q side
table. but none Of them interested hin.
Then he remembered that when last
at the hall @ certain old volume in the
library had amused him; so he resolved
to go down and fetch 1t. He found 1t
without difficulty, but when tucking it
striving to recover 1t his candlestiok
fell. putting out the light. He had no
matchea, but he knew he could find his
way back to his own room without
difficulty.
Accordingly he went up the softly
carpeted stairs, clinSing to the balus-
trade. for the lights had been extin-
Euished al over h house. At last he
room opened. and that was now silent
a. . graveyard and pitch dark.
With slow steps and extended hand
feeling his way, he proceeded some
dozen yards before something almost
Intangible in its softness bruzhed past
him. Instantly he stretched out his
disengaged hand toward that invisible
SAAAAA8s UOI Ills uIkGEB only Cld9De
the empty air.
WHO 10 there1" he asked, standing
still. Who 10 that?" but no answer
was given. and though he listened with
an i%ntentness hat 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 TO the
wardrobe in which he had locked the
black box. To his relief he saw 1t was
still there. and to reassure himself COM
pletely he opened its lid and took out
the cases. the Jewels flashed on and
daxzled him.
He put the box on a table beside his
bed and within each 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 It
been human 1t would have answered
his call. On consideration he concluded
he had merely allowed his Imagination
to conJurs 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 hts
night, for he was suddenly startled
from some terrible and menacins