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The Diamond Coterie

By LAWRENCE M. LYNCH (E. M. Van ‘Deventer)

Author of “A Women’s Crim:,” “John Arthur’s Ward,” “The Lost Witness,” “A Slender Ciue,” “Dangerous Greaid,” “ Against Odds,” Etc., Etc.

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(Coutinued)

“There's BelAnap, Ana Not a minuretto jese. I'll go meet hirm.’’c<and he hurried aut. wearing a look of eligf, mingled wwith expectancy.

In # moment he returned, closely ‘ fol- lowed by the smiling detective.

“Quick, Belknap,’’ said Frank, ctosing the door, carefully, “give us the import- apt points. The carriage will be here in ashort time, to take the old man to town, and he must be em time, for trains won't wait.’’

“Trne,’’ said Mr. himself near the table “7

Belknap, seating should

have |

reported to you last evening, but thought |

it best to remain abomt town, and let myself be seen by the hctvel loungers; people in a place like this, are curious about a man who keeps too much to him- self, and one must always conciliate sus- picion.”’

“True,’’ from Mr. Guamotte.

“1 saw Miss Wardour ‘yesterday, gen- tlemen; she entirely withdraws the case.’’

“What! entirely?’ asked Frank.

“Entirely; she asked for ney account, paid it, and dismissed me, saying, that she should not resume the -search, but should double the reward.”’

“Double the reward!’ vepeated Frank.

‘Yes, provided beth the diamonds and the thieves were found.”’

A moment’s silence and tthen the elder Lamotte emptied his glass and set it down, saying as he did sa:—-

‘‘Well, but the point is not-yet reached. Did you explain the necessify you were under if the case left your hands?’’

“T did. She ‘was suprised, of course, and incredulous, but she made no re- marks,and seemed net at all discomposed at the danger menacing Mesector Heath. After we had settled our business, she asked me if I should now drop the case and let the authorities work it out, or if I would continue to work independent of her.”’

‘And you said what?’ asked Frank.

“T said that circumstances must decide

that.”’

“And she was not disturbed about Heath?”’

“Evidently not; she wras as cool as myself.’’

Frank drew a long breath of relief. “And now, Mr. Lamotte,’’ said the private detective, ‘“‘what as the next move?”’

‘Perfect quiet for the-next two or three days; like Miss Wardour,:we will take time to consider. Iam going to the big city to-day, Mr. Belknap, .if :reu need any funds before [ return, call on Frank. I shall be back in two days, amd then we will decide upon our next muewe. Is that the carriage, Frank?’’

It was the carriage, and. almost before Mr. Belknap could realize it or gather

together his scattered farees, Mr. La- motte had shaken hands -with him, nodded to Frank, donned his hat,

gathered up his traveling coat, cane, and gloves, and was on his way to the car- riage, followed by a servant, who carried his traveling bag.

As may be seen, Mr. Belknap had made his ‘‘reports’’ according to his own lights, as for instance, giving, his first interview with Constance in brief, on the fame day it took place, merdly stating

that Miss Wardour requested time to con- sider; and reserving all that portion concerning Doctor Heath, :until to-day, when he gave that too, in brief, ead with many ‘‘mental reservations. ”’

Mr. Belknap was a little bit non-

plussed at this sudden journey of Jasper |

Lamotte’s; he did not like to be se wide- ly separated from his patron, even for a few days, and especially now; but it was too late to make an amendment to this state of affairs, so he contented himself with a cigar and Frank’s society. Not finding the latter of the best, and being able to enjoy the former anywhere, he soon took his leave, and drove back to his hotel, the best in W—, where he went straight to his room, ordered up a hot brandy, complained of a slight indisposi- tion, and spent the remainder of the day and the entire evening in and about the hotel, lounging, smoking, reading, chatting and always visible.

Meantime, Mr. Lamotte, arriving ten minutes early at the W— depot, sauntered out among the people swarming about, and waiting the arrival of the fast ex- press.

There was always a bustle about the W— depot at this hour of the day, and Mr. Lamotte noddel graciously here and there, and stopped to extend a patroniz- ing hand to a chosen and honored few. Presently he came face to face with a man who, with hands in his pockets, Was watching the unloading of a belatéd dray.

‘““How do you do, Brooks,” said he, glancing at the hands and face that were a little cleaner than usual, and at the pretence of a toilet that made the awk- wardness of the fellow unusually appar- ent. “‘You seem taking a holiday. you bound to leave us?’’ ;

“That's what I am.

Are

sir,’’ said the

man, touching his hat. ‘‘ Work’s too scarce for me, sir, and bad company’s too plenty. I've said I would zo a dozen

times, sir; and now I’m off.”’

“Tam sorry we could not keep you on at the mills, Brooks; but—you know who Was to blame.’’ aoe it was me, sir; I don’t deny that. _ s hard for me to keep away from the oe But look here, Mr. Lamotte, sir:

Jou ever see me again, you'll see me BOR >

’ Mr, Lamotte uttered a skeptical latga and turned away, ‘The train was there.

ee

——— |

_

and it ‘bore Mr. Lamotte, loafer, Brooks.

citywerd the” gerttemanly amd the half-imebriated

CHAPSDER XXIV.

All that day, or what remained of it after his father’s departure, and the al- most simultaneous withdrawal of the private detective, Frank Lamotte passed in an uneasy reverie. He had much at stake; and now that the crisis of his for- tunes was so near at hand, he began to review his ground, and every word, look, and tone of Constance Wardour, as he recalled them, ome by one, was to him a fresh puzzle.

Six months ago, Frank Lamotte would have scoffed at the suggestion of a refusal even from the proud Constance. Now, somehow, he had lost his self-confidence. Again and again he imagined the words that he would say, and the words he hoped, that she would answer. Then, as he forced himself to face the possibility of defeat, the ‘veins upon his temples swelled out, his teeth clenched, and one of those ‘‘atttacks,’’ to which he was subject, and against which Doctor Heath had warned him, seemed imminent. Again and again he gazed, with proud satisfaction, upon his reflected image, in the full length drawing-room mirror, and turned away, wowing himself a fitting mate for any woman. Again and again, when the image-of his own physical per- fections had ceased to dazzle his vision, his heart sank within him, and a dismal foreboding put his courage to flight.

‘‘Confound it:aill,’’ muttered he, as he wandered aimlessly from one deserted room to another: ‘‘the very house seems under a spell. Sybil, sitting like a recluse in her own reoms, growing pale, and wild-eyed, and spectre-like, every day Evan, in his reom, sick with drink, and verging on the D. T. Mother, gliding like a stately ghost from one to the other, or closeted in her own.room; she has not been down stairs torday. Burrill, the devil knows where heiis, and what took him out so unusually early this morning. He’s been cutting it worse than ever for the past week; the fellow, seemingly, can’t find company low enough for him, in one stage of his drunkenness, nor high enough for him .in another. It’s fortunate for us that liquor has at last relaxed his vigilance; the old man has taken a leading trick by the means. Curse the brute! Why won't he die ina drunken frenzy, or from over-feeding, but he won’t!’’ Thms -soliloquizing, he lighted a cigar and went out into the grounds. ‘I’ try the-effect of a little sunshine,’’ he muttered; ‘‘for the house feels like a sarcophagus; one would think the family pride was about to receive its last blow, and the family.doom about to fall.’’

So, restless and self-tormented, Frank Lamotte passed the long afternoon, in

the double solitude of a man deserted, alike by his friends amd his peace of

mind.

‘*We make our own ghosts,’’ said some- body once. Frank Lamotte’s phantoms had begun to manifest themselves, hay- ing grown into things of strength, and become endowed with the power to tor- ture; thanks to the atmosphere into which he had plunged himself and them.

Late inthe afternoon, Jehn Burrill came home, but Frank avoided him, not caring to answer any questioms at that time.

Burrill seemed to care little for this, or anything; he was in a wonderfully jubilant mood. He rambled through the tenantless rooms, whistling shrilly, and with his hands in his pockets. He com- manded the servants like a Baron of old. He drank wine in the library, and smoked a cigar in the drawing room, and when these pleasures palled upon him, he ascended the stairs, and went straight to the room occupied by Evan.

For-some time past, Jasper Lamotte had made an effort to break the bond of good fellowship, that, much to the sur- prise of all the family, had sprung up sbetween the wild young fellow, and the coarser and equally or worse besotted elder one. How even reckless Evan La- motte could find pleasure in such society, was a mystery to all who knew the two. But so it was, and Jasper Lamotte’s in- terdict was not strong enough to sever the intimacy. John Burrill responded to his exhortations with a burst of defiance, or a volley of oaths; and, Evan received all comments upon his choice of a com- panion, with a sardonic smile, or a wild mocking laugh.

They had not been much together for the past few days, owing to the indispo- sition which had kept Evan away from their favorite haunts, but had not kept him away from his favorite beverage.

As Burrill entered his room, Evan re- ceived him with a shout of welcome, and for more than an hour they were closeted there, some titmes conversing in low, guarded tones, and sometimes bursting into roars of laughter, that penetrated even through the shut doors of Sybil’s rooms, causing her to start nervously, and shiver as with a chill.

A little before sunset the carriage from Wardour deposited Constance and Mrs. Aliston at the door of this home of little harmony, and even Constance noted the unusual stillness, and whispered to her aunt, as they waited in the drawing room the appearance of Mrs. Lamotte :—

‘*Bah! I sniff the ogre here, auntie. ‘The trail of the serpent’ is over the entire house.’’

‘I sniff the dead odor of a vile cigar,’’ retorted Mrs. Aliston. ‘‘As far the arre

——tf he won't appeat im Merson, ‘and survive the nest.’’

DALLY EXAMINER, CHARLOTTETOWN, MAY 27, 1897

“Tam very glad yon ‘tmve come, Con- , Stance,’’ said Mrs. Lamettte, entering at

this moment. ‘We are so dull here, and Sybil has wisted mravth to see you.”’ And then she extended.a courteous but more stately greeting to Mrs. Aliston.

“Jt grieves mie not so well, dear Mrs. Ihamotte. Does she employ a physician?” asked Constance, presently.

“She will not tmve‘a physician called, much to my regret. make her wildly nervous. ”’

**‘And—she keeps her room too I think Frank told me.”’

‘Yes, recenthy. But, Constance, go up

much.

lil try y

te ‘hear that Sybil is ,

The very suggestion .

to her; Mrs. Aliston and I will entertain ;

each other for awhile, and then we will join you. Sybil heard you announced. and will expect vou.”’

Thus commanded, Constance lost no time in making her way, unattended, to Sybil’s room.

In the upper hall she met Frank, who started, and flushed at sight of her, and then hurried forward, with extended hand.

‘*Constanee,’’ he exclaimed, **how glad l.am to see you.,’’ “T’m such an uncommon laughed, too much absorbed with thoujzhts of Sybil, to notice the his greeting, or a certain change of man- ner, that was a minglingg of boldness,

bashfulness, humility and coxcombery.

‘*How do -you do, Frank?’’

‘*Well in body, Constance—’’

“Oh! then we can easily regulate your mind. lm going to see Sy il, and I don’t Waht your company; so adieu, Frank.”’

*‘One moment, please. I want to—l must see you, this evening. Shall you remain with us?’’

‘‘No. Aunt Honor home, soon.”’

‘*Then—may I call, this evening, Con stance?’’

‘‘What a question! as if you did not eall whenever the spirit moved you s0 to do; come, if you like, child; I shall have no better company, I am afraid,’’ and on she swept, and had vanished within his sister’s room, before Frank could decide whether to be chagrined, or delighted, at so realily given, carelessly worded, a consent.

The start, the nervous tremor, the ter- rified ejacylations, with which Sybil greeted, even this expected and welcome guest, all told how some deadly foe was surely undermining her life and reason. And Constance noted, with a sinking heart, the dark circles around the eyes that were growing hollow, and heavy, and full of a strange, wild expectancy; the pale cheeks, thinner than ever, and the woful weariness of the entire face,

Greeting her tenderly, and making no comments on her changed appearance, Constance chatted for a time on indiffer- ent subjects, and noted closely, as a lov- ing friend will, the face and manner of her listener. Sybil sat like one ina trance, rather a nightmare, her eyes rov- ing from her visitor’s face to the door, and back again, and this constantly re- peated; her whole attitude and manner, that of one listening, rather for some sound, or alarm, from afar, than to the words of the friend beside her.

At last, Constance finding common- place about exhautsed, said :—

‘“‘Congratulate me, child! I have thrown off a burden from my shoulders; I have brought my diamond investiga- tions to a close.”’

‘*Ah! diamonds!’’ Sybil almost started from her chair, and the exclamation came sharply from lips white and trembling.

‘*Yes, my lost diamonds, you know; I have dismissed Mr. Belknam’’

‘*Belknap!’’ an unmistakable look of horror crossed her face. ‘‘ Dismissed him; oh, I wish I could!”’

Sorely at a loss, yet thinking it best pot to seem surprised at what she be- lieved to be the efforts of a wandering mind to grasp and master the subject under discussion, Constance talked on, answering questions and making observa- tions, without allowing Sybil to see the surprise and sorrow that filled her heart; and, not until many days later did she recall her friend’s wild words, to see how much of method there might be in this seeming madnesy¥.

is below; we go

‘“‘Mr. Belknap was conducting the search for the diamonds, you know,

Sybil?’’ Sybil seemed making an effort to col- lect her scattered senses. ‘*Yes, yes, Conny, go on,”’ pered. “T have paid him off and eam done with him; that’s about all, dear.’’ ‘“‘Conny,’’ in a half whisper, ‘‘is he

she whis-

gone?”’

‘‘T don’t Know about that: he said something about remaining here fora time.’’

“Oh!"’ ejaculated «Sybil, and then, under her breath, ‘‘ My God!’’

Constance shuddered as she looked

upon the shivering figure before her, the wavering eyes, the hands clenching and unclenching themselves; she found con- versation difficult, and began to wonder how she could avoid subjects’ that brought painful thoughts or suggestions. But suddenly a change came over Sybil; sitting erect, she looked fixedly at her friend, and asked :—

‘*Conny, has he tormented you of late?’

‘He! Sybil; you mean—”’

‘“‘T mean my curse! has he dared to annoy you? He has sworn that he will be accepted and recognized as your friend.”’

Constance laughed a short, sarcastic laugh.

‘*Be at rest, Sybil; he never will.”’

‘‘No;’’ with a strange dropping of her voice. ‘‘He never will!’’

Again she seemed struggling to recover herself, and to recall some thought; then she looked up and asked abruptly :—

‘Conny, have you promised to marry my—Frank Lamotte?’

‘‘No, Sybil.’’

‘‘Then—promise, promise me, Con- stance, as if I were on my drying bed, that you never will”

“Why, Sybil, dear®’

(To be Oontinued.)

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