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

On this understanding we shook
hands and parted. he plunged again
into the wood; / returned to the Alb
hey. That was between z and 9
O'Clock.
at 2 o'clock I went once more into
the wood Lola was wanted.
The police officer from Southampton,
on hearing my story, declared at once
that the theft had been committed by
servant, and that Lola must be
found at once. to know if she bad
seen the thief as he escaped by the
window, and could identity 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 Inc 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, to wiring from Van
Hoeck the secret which he believed
him to hold with respect to the lost
diamond.
/ retraced my steps 70 the spot where
I had helped to conceal Van Hoeck.
The broken brake marked distinct
trail and in a pit less than hundred
yards from that point the undergrowth
was beaten down, as il a struggle had
taken place.
Was it not possible that Brace had
gone further than he intended and
killed Van Hoeck? Had he concealed
the body and fed witt his daughter to
escape the consequences Of his act?
Asking myself these questions, ! fol-
lowed track from the pit that
brought me to 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 thd
Abbey road at that part. 1t was near
" as possible the point where Van
Hoeek had stopped me in the morning
upon hearing Brace in our rear. Look
ing up the road, saw the ffnger-post
at the cross roads; looking down. / saw
that which took by breath away with
amazement- 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 incomprehensible picture of unity,
friendly assistance, and reliance.
1t 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 would not have
walked by his side; but all doubts as
to the existence of a friendly under
standing between the two men was
dispelled from my mind by what fol-
lowed.
Arrived opposite the bride path
leading up into the wood they stopped,
and consultation ensued between the
two men. could hear their voices at
that distance, but saw by their ges-
ticulations that they were discussing
some point; it ended by Brace going
to the side Of the road, and craning his
neck to see if any one were. in sight.
crouched down beside the thicket.
which partly concealed me.
When cautiously raised my head
and looked again. Brace, still standing
opposite the bride way, was drawing
his arm out of the sandy bank that
there slSirted the road.
ducked my head. as, once more he
peered to the right and left. They
were gone, all three, when / looked
again.
When thought it safe TO venture,
I went to the spot where Brace had
stood. There was a rabbit hole in the
sandy cutting. partly hidden by the
training growth from the overhang-
ing edge. took off my coat, turned
back my sleeve, thrust in my arm. and
drew out-the leather case in which
the diamond had been taken from my
wrist, 1t was empty.
To be continued