Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1936-04-29

seemed kinder. and walked more
slowly Mr. Van Every accompanied
them to the front door. went out 20
the street to taxi which was wait
ing-I saw this from the sitting room
window-and put them in. In the
library in the evening | happened to
mention that l had seen his unusual
visitors, but Mr.. Van Every had lit
tie to say about them. He seemed
preoccupied. Miss Joyce knew moth
ing of them when / asked her.
October 10. For the third time
since 1 have been in the house 1
have seen a letter from Ossining for
Mr.. Van Every 1t was lying on top
Of his mail on the desk in the library
where 1 went for a book. Soon is
staying almost constantly in the
library since yesterday. AS soon as
Mr.. Van Every enters. he goes. I
can't understand it. The letter from
Ossining worries me. That is where
the big prison is. Who should be
writing Mr.. Van Every from there ?"
October II. Mr.. Van Every has
been gone practically the whole day.
and Soon has not left the library
One of the other servants is taking
his place. At any rate, ! know where
he is when l want him. [ peeped
into his room in the basement today,
and it is altogether heathenish. Neat,
but Oriental. There were three idols
on a table near his bed. one an in
cense buIl.... Cont trust these
acfA &c
how a fine man like Mr.. Van Every
tolerates them. 1t is none of my
business. however. 1 was hurrying
to a subway tonight on my way to
Romeo and Juliet. as Miss Joyce
has gone out dancing. when 1 saw a
taxi parked up a block. Mrs. Bryce
was in it. She was probably waiting
for Mr.. Van Every, as he had just
come in when I was going out. Mr..
Van Every is at least careful about
his affairs. This is the second time
l have seen Mrs. Bryce. The first
time l described back last year. She
seemed at ease in the taxi, and ap-
parently didn't see me. She was
smoking a cigaret. But I recognized
her. 1 never forget faces.
October IL. The mystery is solved
at last. Mr.. Van Every has told Miss
Joyce he has a famous ruby in the
library. has had it for several days,
which is the reason Soon spends so
much time there. He is guarding it.
Miss Joyce wants to see it very
badly. So do l. If it is really the
Camden ruby, it has a bad history
l have read snatches of the ruin it
has wrought. If Mr.. Van Every would
only let Miss Joyce and me look at
it! asked him and he said no. He
would rather not. AS usual, he was
| kind about his refusal.
1T is embarrassing to go into the
| library for a book. when Soon is
there. He has a fashion of looking
straight through one. When Soon
| is not there. Mr.. Van Every is cour-
teous, pleasant, as if there were no
such thing as precious jewel in his
| library. But when he is not there,
and Soon is guarding, the room is
eerie, and the Chinaman makes me
feel creepy. Miss Joyce has said
that somehow she is going to see
Tie Iupy. nave AoI IHe HedrI 10
chide her for her curiosity as I am
| anxious, too, to see it.
October 10. The ruby is still in
the library, but although Miss Joyce
has begged her uncle. he will not
show it to her. I am beginning to
despair, for Mr.. Van Every told Miss
Joyce today that in a few days he
will put it in his safety deposit box.
I know where the safe is in the