Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1914-02-14

81 have lost it. II has been taker
from me-"
"Who has taken it," he asked, ir
thick, husky voice.
II cannot say. ] could not see the
man who robbed me-"
He was silent for time, and then
his feelings found expression, at first
in execration, then in incoherent SEN
fences, broken 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 invective, accused
me of cowardice, of completely in rob-
bing him, of i know not what base
ness and heartlessness-indeed, il
seemed as though the blow had de-
prived him of reason for the moment.
At length, when his passion was some
what exhausted, he said:
"And what is your defense? ?"
l took his arm, and as j led him
up the hill towards the crossroads
/ went over the story once more.
When ] was telling him how Lola had
come to my rescue, he stopped me.
"That is a liew he said; 'for she
has been with me-"
"lmpossiblew ! exclaimed.
impossible, according to your
story, but it is the truth for all that,
| got off the path, and could not find
my way back. She led me TO a road
God knows where! land left me-"
"When?"
"How can tell? The night has
been an age"
Granting she led you for an hour
and you would scarcely suffer her to
lead you longer--that would allow her
TO return to the Abbey and come
to my rescue at the time / speak of"
Have it as you WILT makes no
difference now. She got me out Of
the way, and that was her object in
being there. Go on"
| came to the end of my narrative,
and then suggested that the theft
might be traced to one of the ser
wants.
Anything TO shield Brace" he SAID
bitterly; and then, stamping his foot,
he added, "You know he took it!'
1t was useless reasoning with him.
in his present condition.
he continued; what ordi
ing obtained the diamond, TO wait
there, risking discovery, and leopard
ling his own life--for the sake of
you? If Brace was the
thief, such thing is possible; for ne
must kill both you and me to profit
by the possession Of the diamond.
Where is he now"
with Lola, in the woods looking
for you"
what? alreadyw he exclaimed, in
alarm. Gle is losing no time. Where
are the woods 2"
1--WE are in them now" ! replied,
for we had passed the cross roads.
He stopped short. Shaking off
my hand he muttered, in tone of
dread
"Are you three hunting together"
"Be reasonable, Van Hoeck," ! said.
whats that" he asked, under
his breath quickly. There's some one
on the road. It's his step. If you
have any mercy, save me from him"
While / was turning to look up the
road, to see if his fears were justified,
he CROPPED about until he caught hold
Of my arm.
had heard no sound, but his finer
sense was not at fault. On the
brow of the hill-which we were now
escending-stood the gaunt figure OF
Brace. The light of the rising sun
shone in the shadow of the wood,
where the mist still hung over the sod
len earth.
IL do not hear him, where is he
1ow?" Van Hoeck whispered.
He is standing on the hill, a couple |
IF hundred yards behind us. He does
rot see us"
'If we could but get to the Abbey!
Forget what / said, "Thorne. Have
pity on me-" he murTmured.
What do you want me to do?"
LEAD me back to the Abbey. II
escape from that man now, ] may pro-
ect myself after"
| saw no possible reason for refus-
ng compliance with this request, and,
aking his arm, l led him along that
tide of the road where the shade was
ieeper. But, before we had gone a
iozen yards, a shrill whoop rang
through the woods to our right, and
Van Hoeck again stopped. ] looked in
'ain over the brake for Lola, whose
Try ] recognized; but glazing up the
Dad, perceived that the Judge had
eard the signal, and was coming after
is. At the same moment Van Hoeck,
tarting forward, cried
Quick, quick-he sees us-he is
oming down upon us!" and then, after
mother dozen yards, do you want
i'm to overtake us that you stick to
his cursed road 2"
al am looking for a path; we can
lot push through the brake" ] re-
lied.
CHANGING over my shoulder | saw
he Judge, his shoulders bent for
yard, his arms swinging from side
o side, bearing down upon us with
ong strides, and rapidly diminish
ng the distance between US.
"He is gaining upon us. How far
re we from the Abbey?" asked Van
ioeck.
Nearly two miles; we will run for
J, if you like"
We ran for some distance. Again
)olling back, | saw the Judge still
lodding on, with the same rhythmic