Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-03-26


him French doctor. brought in this
morning from the Chateau of la
Trappe."
He turned his grim, infiexible 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 spurred heels.
1T must be Dr. Delmont!" said.
looking at the Countess as there came
low knock at the door,
She rose unsteadily from her chair;
somebody entered the room behind
me and l 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 embers 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 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 a civilian" He looked across
at the Countess, who already stood
with her hand on the door-knob.
! "If you disturb me-" he said, Il 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
moment, then came straight to me.
Madame" said Buckhurst. In his
peculiarly soft and persuasive voice.
81 am not here to betray this gentle
man; am not here even to Justify
myself. ! came here to make repara-
tion. to ask your forgiveness. madame.
for the wrong l have done you. and
to deliver myself. II necessary. into
the hands of the proper French su-
thorities In expiation OF my misguided
zeal"
I 81 do not exactly understand" said
!, "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 1t 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 a 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: 1t contained a
diamond: ! opened another, another
and another; diamonds lay blazing on
my blanket. a whole handful. glitter
ing in undimmed splendor.
Count them" murmured Buck
hurst, fashioning the paper box into
!
With a quick movement I 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 i had second time finished
the enumeration ] leaned back in my
chair. utterly at foss to account
for this man or for what he had done.
As far as I could see there was no
logic in it, nothing demonstrated. moth
ing proven. To me-and am not
either suspicious or obstinate by na-
ture-Buckhurst was still an unrepen.
tant thief and a dangerous one.
mfr. 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 l am situated, OF course I can
not Tow ask you to accompany me to
Paris, where doubtless the proper au.
thorities would gladly admit extenuat-
ing circumstances, and credit you with
sincere repentance. But I put you
on your honor to surrender at the first
opportunity"
1t was as stupidity trite speech as
could think of.
Buckhurst glanced up at me. Was
he taking my measure anew, judging
me from my bray?
81 could easily aid you to leave
Morsbronn." he said. stealthily.
"Oho," thought !. 80 you're Ger
man agent, too. as I suspected" But
I said, aloud, Stimulating astonishment:
''Do you mean to say, Mr.. Buckhurst,
that you would deliberately risk death
D., aid I, ,oJica ,f1,ar to hrt,u you ha