Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1912-05-30


the folly OF suspicion, there came to
me as distinct and clear a warning as
though some human voice had given
speech to 1t The very silence OF the
others-for they said no word, and q
curious hesitation seemed to come
upon them-impresse the conviction
of the monition. Once in the hall, my
uneasiness became stronger, for there
ut a table was the footman had
recognized. and as ne glanced at me
when : passed him his face was knit
up as the face Of a man thinking; and
he let o glass fall at the very moment
we reached the stairs. What he wished
to convey do not know; but although
felt there was danger In leaving the
ground floor, another force dragged
me on behind the colonel, and kept me
advancing unhesitatingly until / had
reached the end Of the long picture
gallery with him, and he had knocked
upon a door in the eastern wing Of the
rambling mansion. What this force
was I do not pretend to explain. 1t
may have been merely the influence
of the woman; 1t may have been my
inherent obstinacy and belief in my
self; or simple lack Of conviction
which forbade any public expression
of the fears l had fomented. ] know
only that we waited for some seconds
in the passage until hospital nurse
opened the door, and that l found
myself at last in very pretty bou-
doir, where a pale and sickly-looking
man was lying upon a couch, but
propped up to greet us.
That you would understand what
happened in the next few minutes 1t
is necessary for me to say q word
upon the construction Of the boudoir.
It was a room hung In pink silk and
white, and 1t had two doors in 1t,
giving off to other rooms, whose size
/ could not see since they were in
darkness. For light, we had a lamp
with white shade upon the invalids
table, and two others upon the man
tel-shelf; while we were seated In
fashion that allayed any fears l might
have had Of personal and sudden at
tack The colonel lounged in an
American rockingham, he being near
est to the head Of the couch; his
daughter leaned back against buhl
work cabinet, she being little way
from the sick mans feet; / had IL
brary.chair, and was alone In an atti'
tude which would allow me to spring
to my defence-if that were necessary
without delay. looked, too, at Her
mann Rudisic, the colonels partner
and l confess that contempt for his
physical powers was my first thought
I was convinced that II it were a ques
ton Of fight, l could hold the two
men till Abel, who was in the ser
wants hall, came to my assistance;
and while the others were present ]
had no fear Of any Of those machina
tions which are chiefly the property
of imaginative fiction-makers. This
knowledge gave to me my nerve again
i
from my pocket and showed the stone
The vision OF the glorious gem, rip
pling on its surface with myriad
lights, white, and golden, and many
colored, in the play Of radiating fire
was one that compelled the silence o.
amazed admiration for many minutes
Margaret Klein spoke, her face benz
to the diamond so that its waves o.
color seemed to float up to her raw
ished eyes; and with a little cry
wrung from her satisfaction she
said,-
"oh, Mr.. Sutton, it's too beautiful
to look att"
'I am glad that It does not disap
point" said l.
1T would disappolnt no one,' thu
invalid said, stretching out q hanC
which trembled to draw the treasure
closer to his eyes.
Its the whitest stone I've seen To-
three years." the colonel remarked
coolly, and then, as with a new
| thought, Nc duueuI-
az believe it's whittier than the Bra
lillian stone in my old ring. I shoulC
like to compare them, II you'll let me
The other stun is in my dressing
room there; Margaret, will you &c
it?"
He gave her his keys. and taking |
lamp from the shelf, she passed init
the chamber which was behind me
In the same moment Rudislc askeC
his host to prop him up higher upol
the couch, and the colonel had jus
begun to place the pillows when
heard Margaret's voice crying
Father, l can't open the drawer
it's stuck; do come and help"
II was an act Of consummate folly
that / concede you; but I was 81
completely unaware Of any signs o
trickery here, and had so forgotten
my fears, that / found 1t the mos
natural thing in the world to steI
into the room, and to enjoy helplnl
the girl in her dif1culty. i DISCOVERIES
her before an open door-the doc
of q wardrobe I thought It was 70
a moment, but l saw at the seconI
look that It gave access to a tin!
chamber, whereof the walls were al