Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-08-29
CHATTER VII.
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II would suspect any one who has
the opportunity to possess himself Of
such a treasure as you hold. Do you
blame the man who protects himself
when his life is in danger2 That dia.
mond is life to me! What could do
II 1t were lost? You hold that dia
mond-my lifc-in your keeping. You
kre bound to take every precautien
1or its safety. You have no right ia
1espise my warning because it does
tot agree with your reckless trust in
humanity"
take the diamond into your keep.
ing, If you think it Is not safe in
mine" said.
"You make that offer because you
luow that | am powerless to accept 1t
n my blind and helpless condition.
How can l keep 1t against man like
Brace?"
''If you have more faith in my power
y keep the diamond. why do you ac
suse me of neglecting its safety?"
Because you blind yourself in the
1anger that exists. God! he ex
Ilaimed. protruding his sightless eyes
to the light, and clenching his hands
in frenzy. "to think that those who
san see will not see"
"What possible connection can there
Ae?' 1 asked, between the safety OF
our diamond and the event Of last
night?"
"a palpablc connection. The event
If last night was an abortive attempt
TO obtain the diamond
AS I heard this, and looked at Van
Hoeck, almost doubted If he were In
Ills right mind
'"The plot failed" he continued, "be
cause the girl mistook the ROOM"
An incredulous exclamation es.
raped ne.
You shall hear me-" he muttcred,
stretching his arm to the right and
left until he encountered mine with
his hand, and then clutching it tightly;
"you shall sec--with my eyes. If not
with your own. You have urged that
the girl could know nothing OF the dis
position of the rooms; but she might
receive instructions from her father,
He went into the wPd TO give her
those instructions yesterday. Look at
your plan"-he handed me the dia-
gram I had drawn at his request
"Brace, having his room at the back
of the right block, would naturally
tell her that when she got to the top
of the stairs she was not to pass
through the picture gallery, but to go
straight to the landing over the stairs
she had ascended, open the window in
the bay, which would then be on her
left hand, and make her way to the
oriel facing her.
"That, according to his calculation,
would bring her to your window"
"Certainly."
"But he did not take account Of the
fact that the door by which the girl
enters the house is at the back of the
right block, and that the stairs by
which she would ascend to the first
floor bring her to the landing between
Sir Edmund's room and Miss Las
celles'. Thus, though carrying out her
must inevitably make her attempt up
on Miss Lascclles' room, and not upon
yours. Look at your plan"
II follow you perfectly WELL" said,
astonished by the ingenuity of his ex-
PLANTATION, which had made a perfectly
incredible supposition possible-nay,
for the moment, probable.
"Are you convinced!' he asked tri-
umphally.
"You have yet to explain how Brace
thought to obtain the diamond by the
: means he employed. He would scarcely
expect that l should faint with terror
"Who said he would? Brace cal.
culated upon dealing with Il heavy
sleeper, not nervous girl. The tap
ping is described as soft and regular;
1t was intended to test whether you
We're asleep or not. The moment a
light appeared the sound ceased-the
girl had gone back to the bay. From
the landing she could see when the
light was put out, and it was safe to
Tecommence the attack. The candle
was lit with some difficulty the second
time-Miss Lascelles possibly stood
with her back to the window as she
held the vesta. Lola may have de-
tected the first glimmer, and umcer.
tain or not whether 1t was safe to
continue, turned the blind and looked
through. At that moment the wick
burnt up, and Miss Lascelles turning
Jaw the girls eyes between the iaths
The knocking was not repeated, for q
rlmple reason-Lola had discovered her
mistake and retreated. Do you doubt
now the purpose with which Brace has
gone to seek the girl to-Gay?'
was forced to admit that this ex'
panation was feasible, yet l could not
believe that Lola. who seemed sincere
Iy attached to me- would consent to
aid in my ruin merely at the instlga.
ton of her father, whose authority
she habitually disregarded. l said
this to Van Hoeck.
at is because she is attached to you
because she loves you," he replied
with emphasis, that she would rcadi
ly enter into her fathers project to
rob you of the diamond. The dia'
mond Is her enemy-it has separated
her from you, end placed you side by
side with Miss Lascelles. for whom
she has manifested Jealous hatred
from the very first. What could be