El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-04-19

lifted making me blink He stared
at me.
Suddenly I realized it all.
He didn't see me. He was sleep
walking.
His staring eyes looked at me
still. and then battered to the front
door once more. fumbling with the
huge key, flinging it open and step
ping out into the night
Mutely I followed, wondering what
were best to be done. Providence
seems to watch over somnambulists.
But still it was surely my duty to
watch him, too.
He swayed on ahead of me, an IN
canny figure, in the~bellying dressing
gown and the fluttering red cap.
He made his unerring way to the
ruins of St Anselm's-the monastery
which is a mark to seamen for miles
and there stood staring out at sea,
shaking his head.
Then at last he sobbed. turned his
back on the heaving waters, and re-
traced his steps. His candle. as I've
said, was out. the front door was
carefully locked, I heard the bolts
shoot; though 1 stood on the outside.
he vas safe, I could fairly assume.
1 So went home dismissing old Gaius
and his vagaries from my mind. and
| dwelling only on my own sorrow, on
Jocelyn, and on our parting.
YOU" exclaimed Gaius. as I was
| shown in the next morning.
II dreamed last night. Roger Nor
wood 1 dreamed I found the pearl,
| I felt young my fourscore years drop
ped from me. I knew peace again.
When-when I awoke I found myself fin
the hall. 1 had been sleep-walking,
Roger"
You, went out. sir; I saw you," l
said. 'I followed you for fear harm
came to you. You walked to st. An
selm's@"
"St. Anselm's," he echoed frowning.
Il went there this morning. An
| idea-a wild hope came to me-" 1
cried. Mr. Liston. supposing a man
restored to your keeping the Oyster
Pearl, would you leave your niece to
marry whom she pleased?'
The pearl! the PEARL" he scream
ed you've found it-you know
where 1t is You know the theft"
at is here" I said, and held out my
hand, palm upward, the pearl lying
there.
The thief" he rried, as he snatched
it, mounting over it.
YOURSELF" 1 said. and I laughed.
AT least. 1 imagine so. You walked
to its hiding place last night, You
stood on the very stone in st. An
seIm's which covered It! You must
have hidden it there yourself-in your
sleep. perhaps. 1t worried you. you
say"
At that moment Lord Elsted came
in. He looked at me furiously-an'
noyed at my coming: jealous of Jocelyn.
Lord EIsted,' I said "a mistake has
been made. Mr. Liston is old. Tho
fault wasn't his The pearl-your
pearls perfectly safe. 1t had never
left the place OF security into which
trusty Mr.. Liston had placed 1t. Mr.
Liston had forgotten it's whereabouts
for the moment"
Elsted strobe into the room, his face
darkening. Gaius held out his tremb
ling hand. El1ted seized the-pearl.
looking at it closely. What passed be-
tween the two 1 don't know, for at
that moment. I heard JoceIyn's step OIL
the staircase.
I went out, leaving raging Elsted
, and the old man. 1 stood below joe
elyn. staring at her over the bannlsters
and explained.
Roger, is it true%' she asked pit
eously, as though I could cheat her.
For answer. 1 captured botht her
hands, dragging her down, till stand.
ing on tiptoe I found and kissed her
lips.
And Elsted-Tm sorry, for he de-
served it-went cursing to the hall
door at that very moment.
THE END.