Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-10-03


ter from Sir Edmund. Among other
things, he wrote:
"The robbery is still a mystery-to
me it Is q greater mystery than ever.
Van Hoeck has taken lodgings in the
village. have met him twice in the
woods, 4 wild, deplorable object, and,
indeed, pitiable, IL one may doubt his
completely in the robbery. Once he
was upon his hands and knees, crop
ing among the ferns, as IL he expected
to find there the lost diamond: hut he
chooses the night for these expeditions
probably because he is then less
open to observation. The keepers tell
me that he passes the whole night, and
every night, in this hopeless search.
Why OH earth should he do this II he
and Brace got possession of the dia-
mond, as we suppose?
In postscript he added: "Mr. Fur
nival, dating from Haxels Hotel, Lon
don, wrote, asking me for your adj
dress. replied that you were at San
Diego, California"
The news with regard to Van Hoeck
did not add greatly to the mystery in
which this strange man was already
involved; but the postscript was new
source of perplexity to me- l knew no
one of the name of Furnival; l could
not recollect having spoken to any one
of Sir Edmund while was in Lon.
don.
How, then, could this Mr.. Furnival
have known where to apply for my ad-
dress? I expected letter from him to
clear up this matter, but no letter
came.
A few days later l received letter
addressed to me at Monken Abbey,
and readdressed in Sir Edmund's hand.
Turning to the signature, l found it
was from Brace. 1t was dated OctO-
ber Is, Petersville, Nevada County.
The Judge, then, was in California,
within a days journey of me. l was
not surprised at this, knowing his par
tlaliiy for the States, but it was ire
concilable with the suppostion that
he and Van Hoeck had the diamond.
He wrote thus:
II rite these lines fur to show
where am lokated, and likewise that
| have not slinked Off like thief in
the night to hide my lites under a
bushel. If things aint no forwarder
than they was in the direction of
cearin up what's become of the Great
Hesper, they aint anyways no back
arder.
1T aint no use promisin without
you are got it right inter yer to per-
form, but l will allow that l aint goin
to chuck up the cards before I've made
you shake my hand and acknowledge
I've played square. The Kid is fret
tin. and things in genal is not lively
with your pardner.
JOE BRACE"
did not reply to this letter. I
heard again from Sir Edmund at the
end OF November. His letter was
dated the goth. He facilitated me
heartily upon the purchase had made
and added the warmest wishes for my
success.
He continued:
"Thank you for Braces letter. The
tone CT it would lead one to imagine
not only that he knows where the dia-
mond is, but has strong belief in his
power to recover it.
"One cannot possibly believe that it
was he who robbed and attempted to
murder you. But whom are we to sus-
pect. If not him? If he were not
guilty, why should he try to conceal
the leather case which might lead
to it's recovery? There is fascination
in this subject which overcomes my
wish to drop it. 1t is like the fifteen
puzzle that drove half the world mad
some years ago.
"Van Hoeck still wanders about the
woods through the night. More than
once he has been seen standing out
side the room in which Edith and I
pass IL, evening, listening.
"His suspicion have perhaps fallen
on us. The poor wretch may have lost
his reason. His appearance when l
Caught clSuI VI thC othSi uoJ
justifies the suspicion.
II have to confess to an indiscre-
ton tina. may nave no serious result
but which regret all the same. Yes
terday l received telegram from
Furnival, dated Hexcl's Hotel.
"It ran thus:
"'We have important clue. Send ad-
dress of Joseph Brace at once. or
place where he is likely to be found
'The we led me to suppose that
he was an agent of the detectives en-
ployed in this case, and without fur
ther reflection l sent Braces address,
having your letter under my hand. l
became uneasy as soon as the mes
senger was out Of sight, and sent wis
son over to Southampton with two
telegrams, one for Furnival and the
other for the head of the detective de-
partmcnt, asking for further partlcu-
lars. have received no reply what
ever from Furniyal, and the detectives
replied by letter that they employed
no one named Furnival, and that all
inquiries arc made through the head
Office.
"Who on earth can this Furnival
be and what can be the object of his
inquiries? The mystery was sufficient
ly incomprehensble without this add
ton"
Incomprehensible indeed, and the
more closely one examined the mys