Charlevoix county herald., 1914-02-28
THE
GREAT HESPER
By FRANK BARRETT

growing, as it is here described,
seems to be the very thing that
should suit a man Of your disposition
and taste; it would suit me, if l were
thirty years younger than i am. As
it is, nothing would better please me
than TO see you a prosperous fruit
farmer.
"rhat Edith might have something
to look forward TO, | have proposed
that our next summer holiday trip
should be to San Diego. She thinks
we should ind California hotels IN
suppOrtaDle. Perhaps you Will be
able 70 Ouer something more accept
able than hotel accommodation. In any
case my dear fellow, you can give me
no more acceptable testimony OF your
affection than in awaiting yourself
freely and fully Of my pecumary as
Sistance."
The cutting referred to vine-grow-
ing and trult-cuiture In Southern
California; but before ] read single
line IN 1t / had made up my mind to
be at San Diego to receive Edith ana
her father IN the summer,
CHAPTER XIV.
Fortune favored me; before / had
been twenty-fOur hours in san Diego,
| learned Lnat one of the best trult
farms IN San Diego was to De sold.
1t lay IN Elyslum Valley, about IL
miles PACK from san Diego City, and
was the property of Colonel Kinks.
On hearing TINS, l hired a horse at
once, and rode to the estate. The
road ran between irrigated planta-
tions of lemons, citrons, oranges, and
other fruits that perfumed the arr;
the higher slopes were covered with
vines. In the distance before me
were the snOw-capped peaks OF the
Sierra Nevada, and turning in my
saddle as | assembled the gentle rise
on which the house stood, my eyes
were dazzled with the beauty Of San
Diego bay.
The house was a large and we'll
built in the Italian style-a style not
unsuited to that unclouded sky, and
the surrounding scenery. The view
from the belyedere was indescribably
beautiful, and indeed justified the
high-soumding name given to the val
ley it overlooked.
There were flowers everywhere
about and around the house; they
festoOned the terrace fronting the
facade; they hung from the windows;
they edged the paths; they even
twlned from bought 10 bOugh of the
great cedar that lent shade TO the
lawn,
'"Ihis is a house worthy Of Edith
/ thought, "Oh, that it may be mine
TO offer her"
IL would be time wasted to enter
into my business transactions with
Colonel Kinks. Suffice it to say that
my ardent wish was realized, and that
i'm less than a month from my arriv-
ng IN San Diego ] entered into pos
session of the beautiful property.
Doubtless il was a hazardous under
taking for one who knew nothing
whatever Of the business; but what
hazard is too great for man whose
object is to win the woman he loves
That the money ] invested was not
nay own, did not lessen the risk
ran, but increased it; for, unless /
could show 3 reasonable probability
Of repaying Sir Edmund's loan,
could not demand Edith's hand.
However, ! had every reason TO be
Geve that Colonel Kinks was a gen
LIOus man of business; added to this,
1 had confidence in my own perse-
verence, energy and strength, and
that buOyant feeling Of hope with
which nearly every one who breathes
the healthfUl air Of this delightful
continent seems 10 he inspired.
Early in November | received q let
ter from Sir Edmund. Among other
things, he wrote
The robbery is still d mystery
to me it is greater mystery than
ever. Van Hoeck has taken lodgings
in the village. | have met him twice
in the woods, wild, deplorable OBJ
ject, and, indeed, pitiable, if one may
doubt his completely IN the robbery.
Once he was upon his hands and
knees, cropping among the ferns, as if
he expected to find there the lost dia-
mond; but 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 on earth
should he do this, if he and Brace
rot possession Of the diamond, as we
suppose 2"
III pCSbSSflpb ne auueu- MI.
turnival, dating from Baxel's Hotel,
London wrote asking me for your
address. ! 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 post
script was a new source of perplexity
TO me. ! knew no one of the name
of Furnival; ! could not recollect hav-
ing spoken to any one of Sir Edmund
while | was in London.
How, then, could this Mr.. Furn-
ival have known where 10 apply for
my address? expected letter from
him to clear up this matter, but no
letter came.
A few days later received letter
addressed to me at Monken Abbey,
and re-addressed in Sir Edmund's
hand. Turning to the signature, |
found it was from Brace. 1t was
dated October 18th, Petersville, Ne
vada County. The Judge then was in
California, within days journey of
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