The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1915-07-01

morning from the Chateau of Ia
Trappe."
He turned his grim, inflexible face
to the Countess and bowed, then he
bowed to me. swung squarely on his
heel. and walked to the door,
Admit the French DOCTOR" he said
to the soldier on guard. and marched
out. his curved saber banging behind
his epurred heels
1T must be DR.. Delmont!" l said
looking at the Countess as there came
a low knock at the door.
She rose unsteadily from her chair
somebody entered the room behind
me and turned. calling out. "Wel-
come. doctor!"
Thank you" replied the calm voice
OF John Buckhurst at my elbow.
The Countess shrank aside as Buck
hurst coolly passed before her. turned
his slim back to the embere Of the
fire, and fixed his eyes on me-those
pale, slow eyes. passionless as death
my friend" he observed In Eng
lish. do you think you will know me
again when you have finished your
scrutiny"
The Countess. face averted, passed
behind my chair.
| Wait" said Buckhurst; and turn
ing directly to me. he added: you
were mistaken for a hussar at La
| Trappe; you were mistaken here for
hussar as long as the squad holding
this house remained in Morsbronn. A
few moments ago the provost mistook
you for civilian" He looked across
at the Countess, who already stood
with her hand on the doorknob.
'lf you disturb me-" he said, II have
only to tell the provost the truth
Members Of Imperial Police caught
without proper uniform inside German
lines are shot. seance tenante."
The Countess stood perfectly still a
moment. then came straight to mo.
Madame" said Buckhurst, in his
peculiarly soft and persuasive voice
II am not here to betray this gentle
man; l am not here even to Justify
myself. / came here to make repara-
ton, to ask your forgiveness, madame
for the wrong I have done you, and
to deliver myself, II necessary, into
the hands Of the proper French au-
thoritiss in expiation Of my misguided
zeal"
Il do not exactly understand" said
I. how you can expiate a crime here" :"
II can at least make retribution." he
said. turning the paper box over and
over between his nat fingers
Have you brought me the diamonds
which belong to the state?" inquired,
amused.
Yes" he said. and to my astonish
ment he drew a small leather pouch
from his pocket and laid it on my
blanket-covered knees. How many
diamonds were there?" he asked
"One hundred and three" | replied.
! incredulously, and opened the leather
i pouch. Inside was bag OF chamois-
skin This stretched wide and emp
tied.
Scores Of little balls OF tissue paper
rolled out on the blanket over my
knees; | opened one; it contained a
diamond: l opened another, another.
and another; diamonds lay blazing on
my blanket, whole handful, glitter
ing in undimmed splendor.
Count them" murmured Buck
hurst. fashioning the paper box into
a f1y-trap with a lid.
With quick movement ! swept
them into my hands, then one by one
dropped the stones while | counted
aloud one hundred and two diamonds
The one hundred and third Jewel was,
of course, safely in Paris.
When had second time finished
the enumeration l leaned back in my
chair, utterly at loss to account
for this man or for what he had done.
AS far as | could see there was no
logic in it, nothing demonstrated, moth
ing proven. To ne-and | am not
either suspicious or obstinate by ma.
ture-Buckhurst was still an unrepen.
tant thief and a dangerous one.
"Mr, Buckhurst," | said, pompously
"in bringing these diamonds to me you
have certainly done all in your power
to repair an injury which concerned
all France.
AS | am situated. Of course | can
not low ask you to accompany me to
Paris. where doubtless the proper au
thorities would gladly admit extenuat
Ing circumstances, and credit you with
a sincere repentance. But l put you
on your honor to surrender at the first
opportunity"
1t was as stupidly trite a speech as
could think Of
Buckhurst glanced up at me. Was
he taking my measure anew. judging
me from my bray?
II could easily aid you to leave
Morsbronn.'' he said. stealthily.
"Oho." thought l. $50 you're a Ger
man agent. too. as I suspected" But
l said. aloud. stimulating establishment:
DO you mean to say, Mr.. Buckhurst
that you would deliberately risk death
to aid police officer to bring you be
fore a military tribunal In Parish"