The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1915-09-04

When we reached the quicksand we
walked out together ON the low ledge
Of rocks called the South Spit.
With Betteredge's help 1 soon stood
I'm the right position to see the beacon
and the coast guard flag staff in a line
together. Following the memorandum
as our guide, we next laid my stick in
the necessary direction as neatly as
we could on the uneven surface Of the
rocks.
1 advanced more than halfway along
the stick without encountering any
thing but the edges Of the rocks. An
inch or two farther on, however, my
patience was rewarded. In a narrow
little assure, just within reach Of my
forefinger, 1 felt the chain.
1 drew it up without the slightest
difficulty. And there was the Japanned
tin case fastened to the end Of It.
Putting the case between my knees,
and exerting my utmost strength, I
contrived to draw on the v Some
white substance filed the whole in
terror when I looked in. I put In my
hand and found 1t to be linen.
In drawing out the linen I also drew
out a letter crumpled up with 1t. Aft
err looking at the direction and discov-
ering that 1t bore my name, l put the
letter in my pocket and completely
removed the linen. 1t came out In q
thick roll, nodded, Of course, to the
shape of the case in which 1t had been
so long confined, and perfectly preserv-
ed from any injury by the sea.
I carried the linen to the dry sand
Of the beach, and there unrolled and
smoothed 1t out. There was no mistak-
ing it as an article Of dress. 1t was a
nightgown. g
The uppermost side, when I spread 1t
out, presented to view innumerable
folds and creases, and nothing more.
l tried the undermost side next, and
instantly discovered the smear of the
paint from the door Of Rachels bou-
doir!
l had discovered the smear or the
nightgown. To whom did the night
gown belong?
I took 1t up from the sand and look
ed for the mark. I found the mark
and read
My own name!
My impression is that the shock in
fiicted on me completely suspended my
thinking and feeling power. l certain
ly could not have known what l was
about when Betteredge Joined me, for
1 have it on his authority that 1 laugh
ed when he asked what was the nat
ter and, putting the nightgown into his
hands, told him to read the riddle for
himself.
The scene shifts to Betteredge's lit
tie sitting room. My resolution not to
enter Rachel's house is forgotten.
"Now, Mr.. Franklin, there's one thing
certain, at any rate" said Betteredge,
throwing the nightgown down on the
table and pointing to it as if it was a
living creature that could hear him.
Hes a liar. to begin with"
This comforting view of the matter
was not the view that presented itself
to my mind.
81 am as innocent of all knowledge
of having taken the diamond as you
are" l said. but there is the witness
against me-. The paint on the night
gown and the anne on the nightgown
are facts"
"Was there nothing else In the tin
case when you put your hand into it?'
The question instantly reminded me
of the letter in my pocket. I took it
out and opened it. 1t was a letter of
many pages, closely written. 1 looked
impatiently for the signature at the
end. "Rosanna Spearman."
1 began and read these lines:
"Sir-I nave something to own to
you. A confession which means much
misery may sometimes be made in
very few words. This confession can
be made in three words-I love you.
II shall be dead and gone, sir, when
you find my letter. 1t is that which
makes me bold. Not ever my grave
will be left to tell of me. l may own
the truth-with the ~quicksand waiting
to hide me when the words are written.
Besides, you will find your night
gown in my hiding place, with the
smear of the paint on 1t, and you will
want to know how 1t came to be hid
den by me, and why I said nothing to
you about it in my lifetime. / have
only one reason to give. I did these
strange things because l loved you.
II won't trouble you with much
about myself, or my life, before you
came to my lady's house. Lady Verin-
der took me out Of a reformatory. I
had gone to the reformatory from the
prison.
do you remember when you came
out on us from among the sand hills,
that morning, looking for Mr.. Better
edge? You were like a prince in a
fairy story.
81 went back to the house, and some
devil-no, I ought to say some good
angel-whispered to me. Go and look
in the glass. l was too foolish to take
the warning. 1 tried-oh, dear, how 1