Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-09-19
CHAPTER XII.

Braces door was unlocked. He to
all appearance was sound asleep with
his face to the wall. shook him,
and as he turned over I said:
"Get up; the Hesper is lost"
Lost. as how" lie asked, sitting up.
"Stolen-taken from me-"
"Where's Israeli"
told him of Van Hoeck's terrible
presentiment. and the circumstances
under which he had left the house.
I'VE will find him, parGner," said
the Judge, in his slow, sententious
manner, which was ue,rly at vari-
ance with his speed in hurrying into
his clothes. 1--WE will find him, and
see if his presentiments will 60 as fur
as to explain what's become Of the dia.
mond Let up what has happened,
pardncr. Reel it off. am all awake"
narrated briefly the events Of the
night while he completed dressing.
Lola. standing by the window, listened
! in silence. There was just enough
| light to reveal the mischievious exult-
alton that sparkled in her eyes.
Here's Vigilance Committee job
| if ever there was one" said the Judge,
hastily lacing his boot. 81 amt lighted
on anything so much like Californey
since the good old days. Now, sir.
if you air ready, We'll hunt up Is
rael the prophet He's got to tell us
somethin' about this than we know
on"
1t was striking five when we quilted
the bonse The Judge left me to look
about the garden and its vicinity for
Van Hoeck; he himself struck out at
once for the wood. taking Lola with
him. The girl would have stayed with
me, but her father had her hand in
his. and there was no getting away
from that grip.
After exploring the garden, took
the path that led to the lodge, as be-
ing the one that Van Hoeck frequently
walked in when alone. The lodge
keeper was not up. but passing
through the open wicket into the road,
l came upon laborer trudging along
to his work with pick upon his
shoulder, and tin flask in his hand.
1t was then half-past five, or a little
later.
"Iave you passed blind gentle.
man on the road?' l asked.
II amt passed i'm" he answered:
see some 'un as looked gentleman like,
kind 'er fumbling his way along the
road down by Marley bottom"
l knew the cross roads; they were
nearly two miles distant. 1t was in.
comprehensive to me how Van Hoeck
had strayed so far from the Abbey;
but the laborer's description left little
room for doubt that it was Van Hoeck
he had seen, and | started at once in
the direction indicated.
could not see Van Hoeck from the
cross roads, but on turning the angle
of the lane at the foot of the hill l
perceived him feeling the way with
painful slowncSs on the side Of the
hedgerow Il hundred yards in advance.
Hearing my STEP he turned, and, rec.
seemed to forget the danger of making
Il false step, and advanced with eager
quickness-his whole body partaking
the expression of anxiety imprinted
on his features.
"Is 1t you, Thorne?" he called.
Yes" | replied
''What has happened?'
waited until | cot up to him then
putting my hand on his shoulder,
said:
Il have bad news for you, Van
Hoeck."
He trembled violently under my
hand and opened his lips to speak, but
no sound came; his condition was pit
liable, and to keep him no longer in
suspense, l said:
II have lost it, 1t has been taken
from me-"
"Who has taken it?' he asked In a
thick, husky voice.
II cannot say. I could not see the
man who robbed me-"
He was silent for time, and then
HIS leelllSS lOull'l eNpTeSSlOu, ~ HTSI
in execration, then in incoherent sen.
tences, broke up with words of Dutch
where the English tongue failed to
give sufficient force to his anger and
modification. He assailed me with
every kind of invectiye, accused me Of
cowardice, of completely in robbing
him. of 1 know not what baseness and
heartlessness; indeed, it seemed as
though the blow had deprived him Of
reason for the moment At length,
when his passion was somewhat ex.
hausted, he said:
"And what is your defense?"
took his arm, and as led him up
the hill toward the cross roads, went
over the story once more. When I
| was telling him how Lola had come to
my rescue, he stopped me.
/ "That is liep' he said, 'for she has
been with me-"
Impossible" 1 exclaimed.
! To be Continued.
|