Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1914-02-14
She had come to INV door and heard

hand still trembled. 1t gave me cour-
age, for il showed that ne feared dis
covery, and | knew he would not risk
his own neck for the mere pleasure
of killing me, i put out my strength
again, making the bed post snap un.
der my strain.
"Shall / sing OUT" Lola asked, 3
little louder and with an accent OF
alarm.
Inc hand slipped from my shoulder
and down my arm as the villain step
ped from the bed. His position was
getting more perilous. If Lola 'sang
out" there would be little chance OF
his making off with the diamond.
] had loosened the towel that bound
my head and gagged me. | wriggled
about furiously, worked the fold out
of my month, and got my chin above
it, breathing freely for the first time
since i had been tied up. At the same
moment / heard the key turn in the
door, and | knew that the murderer
intended TO let Lola in and silence
her.
Take care, take carel" | shouted,
as loudly as the towel that still COW
cred my face would permit.
Another wriggle, ana l felt that
the upper part OF my face was UNI
covered. Moreover, / distinguished a
long gray patch before me. The cur
tam OF the oriel had been drawn back;
the light had sensibly increased during
the tune occupied by the events
have narrated.
| almost fancied / saw the silhou-
cite of a mans figure against the
1t moved, and | was SURE
that my eyes were not deceived; IL
and almost Immediately
afterward | heard fall upon the ter
race below. The man had dropped
down a distance of fifteen feet from
the window-a drop of not more thai.
six feet for an ordinary man hanging
from the ledge.
The feeling of relief, combined with
caused my my frantic Ell
forts, was too much for me. / was
yiddy and sick, my eyes closed, the
sweat stood cold upon my face, every
muscle gave way and quivered, only
he bonds upon my body kept me from.
falling.
"Y'ain't hurt, are you, dear?" were
he first words | heard. 1t was Lola :
voice, very gentle and tremulous.
mo; you have saved me-" said |.
She gave a little moan of delight
md her hands which had been busilS
Juggling at the knots, stopped in then
work.
She threw her arms about my neck,
,reast, sObbed.
CHAPTER XII.
Braces door was unlocked. He to
Ill appearance was sound asleep with
lis face, to the wall | shook him, and
Is he turned over ! said
Get up; the Hesper is lost"
Lost, as how" he asked, sitting
Up.
"Stolen--taken from me.
where's Israeli"
| told him of Van Hoeck's terrible
resentment, and the circumstances
Inder which he had left the house.
1--WE will find him, pardner," said
he Judge, in his slow, sententious
manner, which was queerly at vari-
nee with his speed in hurrying into
lis clothes. 1--WE will find him, and
ee if his presentiments will go so far
IS fur to explain what's become of
he diamond. Let up what has hap
ened, pardner. Reel it off. am all
wake"
| narrated briefly the events of the |
light while he completed dressing. |
ola, standing by the window, listened |
n silence. There was just enough |
ght to reveal the mischievOus eXul- !
alton that sparkled in her eyes.
Here's a Vigilance Committee job,
: ever there was one" said the Jud-
e, hastily lacing his boot. 81 amt |
GIFTED on anything so much like Cali
orney since the good old days. Now,
ir, If you air ready, We'll hunt up |
srael, the prophet. He's got TO tell
D something more about this than we
now on"
1t was striking five when we Quilted I,
he house. The judge left me to look
bout the garden and its vicinity for
an Hoeck; he himself struck out ut
nee for the wood, taking Lola with
i'm. The girl would have stayed
18th me, but her father had her hand
! his, and there was no getting away
rom that grip.
After exploring the garden, took
ne path that led to the lodge, as
eng one that Van Hoeck frequently
alked in when alone. The lodge
eeper was not up, but, passing
trough the open wicket into the road,
came upon a laborer, trudging along
, his work with pick upon his
boulder, and a tin flask in his hand
1t then was half-past five, or perhaps
little later.
'Have you passed blind gentle
an on the road?" asked.
81 amt passed 'im," he answered;
nut as l come by the crossroads /
.e some 'un, as looked gentleman
he, kinder fumbling his way along
lie road down by Harley bottom"
| knew the crossroads; they were
early two miles distant. 1t was in
to me how Van Hoeck
1d strayed so far from the Abbey;
II the laborer's description left little
,om for doubt that it was Van Hoeck
; had seen, and ! started at once in
e direction indicated.
| could see Van Hoeck from the
but on turning the angle ]