The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-01-10
CHAPTER XII.
Continued.


way back. She led me to a road-GOd
knows Where!-and left me-"
''When?"
"How can tell? The night has been
an age"
Granting she led you for an hour
you would scarcely suffer her to lead
you longer-that would allow her to
return to the Abbey, and come to my
rescue at the time speak Of"
Have it as you will; it makes no diff
ference now. She got me out Of the
way, and that was her object in be-
ing there. Go on"
I came to the end Of my narrative,
and then suggested that the theft
might be traced to one of the servants.
Anything to shield Brace" he said
bitterly; and then, stamping his foot,
he added, 'You know he took it."
1t was useless reasoning with him in
his present condition.
tYou stand convicted by your own
statement" he continued. What or
binary thief would be fool enough.
having obtained the diamond, to wait
there, risking discovery. and leopard
izing his own life-for the sake Of
butchering you? If Brace was the
thief such a thing is possible; for he
must kill both you and me to profit by
the possession of the diamond. Where
is he now7"
with Lola, in the woods looking for
you"
What? Already?" he exclaimed in
alarm. 'He is losing no time. Where
are the woods?"
eve are in them now" / replied, as
we had passed the cross roads.
He stopped short. Shaking off my
hand, he muttered in tone of dread:
Are you three hunting together?"
BE reasonable, Van Hoeck," said.
II am" he said; leave me here"
made no reply, and we stood there
in the middle Of the road, he quaking
with fear, and turning his head from
side to side to catch the sound that
might confirm his fears. He looked like
a hunted beast, that knows not which
way to escape the hounds.
Whats that?' he asked, under his
breath. quickly. There's some one on
the road. It's his step. If you have
any mercy, save me from him.
While was turning to look up the
road, to see if his fears were justified,
he CROPPED about until he sought bold
Of my arm.
l had heard no sound, but his finer
sense was not at fault. On the brow
of the hill-which we were now de-
scending-sto the gaunt figure Of
Brace. The light Of the rising sun
shone upon him, but we stood in the
shadow of the wood, where the mist
still hung over the sodden earth.
II do not hear him; where is he
now?n Van Hoeck whispered.
nHe is standing on the hill, couple
OF hundred yards behind us. He does
not see u.s."
IF we could but get to the Abbey!
Forget what l said, Thorne. Have
pity on me- he murmured.
'.What do you want me to do?"
LEAD me back to the Abbey. If !
escape that man now, I may protect
myself after"
saw no possible reason for refusing
compliance with this request and
taking his arm, / led him along that
side of the road where the shade was
deeper.
But before we had gone dozen
yards, a shrill whoop rang through
the echoing woods to our right, and
Van Hoeck again stopped. / looked
in vain over the brake for Lola, whose
cry I recognized; but, glancing up the
road, / perceived tl.at the Judge had
heard the signal, and was coming after
us. AT the same moment Van Hoeck,
starting forward, cried
Quick, quick sees us-he is. com
ing down upon esp and then, after
another dozen yards. Edo you want
him to overtake US that you stick tc
this cursed road3"
Il am looking for path; we cannot
push through the brake" I replied.
CHANGING over my shoulder ]. saw th6
Judge. his shoulders bent forward, his
arms swinging from side to side, bear
ing down upon us with long strides
and rapidly diminishing the distance
between us.
He is gaining upon us. How fal
are we from the Abbey?D asked Val
Hoeck.
Nearly two miles; we win run fol
it if you like
We ran for some distance. Agar
looking back, saw the Judge still
plodding on, with the came rhythmic
swing OF his long arms. Running hat
given us no sensible advantage. VaI
Hoeck's ear told him this Drops o.
moisture stood on his llyid face, the re
suit Of terror rather than exertion.
''There is no one in sight-no ont
we can call TO for help?1 he asked.
mo one. see footpath through
the wood, if you think that Will b
safer"
Eyes, yes anything is better thar
this open road"
we took the path had caught sigh
OF. II was a good sound bride way
covered with short turf; we ran aloni
noiselessly The angle we made shu
off the view from the road. Brace
/ could not cut off the corner withou
getting entangled in the underground
Of hriers interviewer With the tai
brake.
He must follow in our steps to over
take us, The danger lay in th
straightness Of the path, which KEEP
II f..-.. kl,a roe n Oh.