The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-11-18

On this understa ndiDg we shook
hands and parted. He plunged again
into the wood, ] returned 10 The Alb
hey. That wac between and y
O'Clock.
At O'Clock ] went once more into
the wood. Lola was wanted.
The police officer from Southa mptOn.
On hearing my story, decfired at once
that the theft had been committed by
a servant, and that Lola must be
found at once. 20 know IL she bad
seen the thief as be escaped by the
window, and could identify him.
TO find Lola, however, was not my
sole object -
The protracted absence OF Brace and
Van Hoeck excited my misgiyings,
and. despite the Judges promise. al.
ready reproached myself with having
abandoned my blind partner. The
Judges notions Of justice were pecu-
liar and based upon me rough usage
OF California miners in the days when
| they made and executed their own
laws. ] believed him capable Of ap-
| plying torture only stopping short OF
actual murder, 20 wiring from Van
| HOeck the secret which be believed
him 10 hold with respect 10 the lost
diamond.
retraced my steps % the spot where
had helped 10 conceal Van Hoeck.
The broken brake marked a distinct
trail. and In a pit less than a hundred
yards from that point the underground
was beaten down, as II struggle had
taken place.
Was ii not possible that Brace had
gone further than be intended and
Killed Van HOeckf Had he concealed
the body and fed witt his daughter TO
escape the consequences Cf bis act?
Asking myself these questions, fol-
lowed a track from the pit that
brought me 10 the bride way. Look
ing for further traces OF passage
through the brake, ! made my way
toward the road
Again perceived broken brake, and
following the line, ] threaded my way
between the trees upon the slope OF
the hill until emerged from the wood
upon the high bank that edged the
Abbey road at that part. II was near
~ az possible the point where Van
Hoeck had stopped me in the morning
upon hearing Brace IN our rear. Look
ing up the road. ] saw the fnger.pOst
AZ the crossroads; looking down. saw
that which took by breath away with
amaZemcnt-Brace was trudging along
the road toward the Abbey, with Van
Hoeck holding his arm on one side,
and Lola his hand upon the other
an incOmprehensiblc picture Of unity,
friendly assistance, and reliance.
II was true that without assistance
Van Hoeck could not have found his
way along the road, and very possibly
that. without the restraint of her
fathers hand. Lola world not have
walked by his side; but all doubts az
10 the existence Of a friendly under
standing between the two men was
dspelled from my mind by what fol-
lowed.
Arrived opposite the bride path
leading up into the wood they stopped.
and consultation eusued between the
two men. | could hear their voices az
that distance. but ! saw by their gcs-
ticulations that they were discussing
some point; IL ended by Brace going
10 the side Of the road, and cranlng his
nee. TO see if any one were in sight.
! crouchc1 down beside the thickct.
which partly concealed me
When / cautiously raised my head
and looked again. Brace. still standing
opposite the bride way. was drawing
his arm ont OF the sandy bank that
there skirtod the road.
I duslod my head. as once more he
pcered TO the right and left. They
were gone, all three, when / looked
again.
When 7 thought Il safe to venture.
7 went ia the spot where Brace had
stood. There was rabbit hole in the
sandy cutting. partly hidden by the
training growth from the oyerhauc-
ing edge. I took on my coat. turned
back my sleeve. thrust in my arm. ali
drew out-;hc leather case in which
the diamond had been taken from my
wrist! IL was empty.
"a fn