The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-25

had rewarded their toll OF course, ! made
fuss as to the conduct of some mysteri-
Gus thieves who had not even spared the
lining of my boots, and certain inquiries
were instituted which came to nothing.
innocently complained to Gibson as to the
bad quality of his whisky, and there APP
parently the matter ended for l was mo-
Tested no more
Gibson continued good friends with me-
and often came and chatted as / languidly
studied Lock on Gold" in my deck chair
AS a practical mineralogist, he pointed out
the best parts to study, and / imbibed
much information valuable enough had |
designed to turn miner. He was an anus
ing man, and creed simple enough-"Get
money, honestly if you can but get
selling the numbers of the ships run in
the daily sweeps it would be impossible to
find. and / enjoyed the privilege of acting
actioneer's clerk with Lock for a desk
on my knee.
1t was 4 o'clock on a Tuesday afternoon
when we reached Cape Town, and Gibson
managed to get away by that evenings
train, leaving two Of his followers 20 bring
his luggage on next day, when the rest Of
eled
The third morning after landing found
me in Fox street, johannesburg, seeking
Towards office l had just seen the name
n the window, and had assembled the steps
to the door of the building when a passer-
by pulled up on recognizing me. 1t was
''Hulio,' he said, where are you off to
now?"
was mine, and L could safely enjoy my tri-
umph. l surveyed the baf1ed nnancier with
a smile of infinite satisfaction and replied:
Il am the bearer of a certain document
from Mr. Tring to Mr.. Howard"
From the expression on my face and the
accent on my words he read the truth and
knew that l had baffled him, and his face
changed. Words failed him, for he was
taken quite by surprise and bewilderment
rendered him speechIesS.
Enjoying his discontinue a few seconds,
I turned and went in, leaving him on the
pavement below the most unhappy man in
Johannesburg.
my name to clerk | was speedily shown
into Mr.. Howard's private room. He greet
ed me warmly, and in the same breath in
quired if l had been successful.
L said I had
That's good news. I've just got my
mail and heard Of fly your coming ng Look Look
with. You are sure Gibson hasn't set eyes
on the map?"
Absolutely" [ replied then gave him a
short account of the efforts to secure it.
"Ay ay they wouldn't stick at much.
You're fortunate to get here with a whole
skin. But where Is it, after ALP
In answer l produced Lock on Gold"
and, taking my penknife cut off the gray
calico cover, which had put again after
the point into the cover itself I cut it
open. There, snugly concealed lay the
precious map. 1 had, before leaving Lon
don, cut the cover open with sharp knife,
and. placing the map in between, glued up
the edges with great care. Being unable to
absolutely conceal the fact that the cover
had been cut, 1 had put the calico cover
over, and when it had been torn off by
the eager searcher he had never noticed
that the binding itself had been cut
Thus safely and securely, the map had
travelled, unseen by any eye, untouched by
any hand, and now, having placed it in
the possession of Mr.. Howard, my mission
as a special envoy was over.
With the knowledge gained by the map
Howard took steps which very shortly
made the land where Pepworth Tring
found diamonds the property of that
worthy and | knew no more, as nothing
further has been heard of the discovery
no company has been publicly formed to
work it. But | have strong idea that the
find turned up trumps. and that the reason
of the silence is that it is too good a thing
for the public to be admitted.
Chambers Journal.