The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-08-14
(1 : SPECIAL ENVOY:



poison"
He introduced me to his friends. Spell
man, Dunbarton and Vnndermit, who
seyeTally expressed Themselves delight
ed to make my acquaintance,
The first two or three days my adyer-
saries only skirmished, tried to pump
me, and dropped broad hints as To the
advantages which would follow II !
Joined them-hints | ignored.
AS, however, they felt pretty sure that
] was the bearer OF the coveted map,
my portmanteaus We're searched more
than once, and my spare clothes when
was absent from my cabin. II was
Speilman who was told of FOR this PeF-
ton OF the quest; finding was not very
cordial TOWARD him. he struck mp Il
friendship for one OF my cabin mates,
which gave him an excuse for entering
at all hours. / did not think 1t advis-
able to enllghten the latter, as my at
titude was to hiandty ignore my adver-
sarles' behavior.
SPellmap's researches proving of no
avail, the greater endeaVor to discover
II had the paper took place about
week after MADEIRA was passed. I was
playing In whist tournament, and no.
ticed that Dunbarton and Yandermit
were playing nap with the two men
who shared my cabin, ] guessed that
spelIman was making thorough
search, and as soon as l was at liberty
/ hurried there.
1t had indeed been thorough. Every
article had been take out Of the port
mantelus and examined, and the port
manteaas themselves cut and hacked
In search Of secret hiding place,
Everything had been scrutinizeds even
the gray calico cover pulled off Lock"
to make sure that nothing was between
It and the binding, Nor was this all, for
while l surveyed the wreck / became
conscious OF IN overpowertng feeling
of drowsinGss. and knowledge came to
IRE that had been drugged. Too late
remembered having Just accepted n
drink from Gibson; but / had only
sense enough left to tumble into my
bunk before falling into heavy sleep.
They no doubt searched the to the
skin that night, for slept as the dead;
but though woke next morning with
bad headache, felt well pleased, for no
result had rewarded their toll. OF
course l made a fuss as to the conduct
Of some mysterious thieves who had not
even spared the lining Of my boots. and
certain Inquiries We're Instituted which
came to nothing. l iaRoceRtly COM
planned to Gibson as to the bad quality
OF his whisky. and there apparently the
matter ended, for l was molested no
more.
Gibson continued good friends with
me, and often came and chatted as |
ianguidiy studied Lock and Gold" In
my deck chair As practical miner
ologist he pointed out the best parts
TO study, and imhibed much informa-
ton valuable enough had / designed to
turn miner, He was an amusing man,
and his creed simple enough-"Get
money honestly II you can: but get
money" A more efficient auctioneer
for selling the numbers of the ships
run in the daily sweeps II would be inn
possible to find, and / enjoyed the priv.
llege Of acting auctioneer's clerk with
Lock- for desk on my knee.
II was O'Clock on n Tuesday after
noon when we reached Capetown, and
Gibson managed TO get away by that
evenings train, leaving two Of his fol-
lowers to bring his Luggage on the next
day, when the rest OF the passengers
bound for the Rand Travelled.
The third morning after landing
found me in Fox street. Johannesburg,
seeking Towards office. l had just
seen the name on the window and had
descended the steps to the door of the
building. when u passerby pulled up on
recognizing me. 1t was Gibson,
"Hutio!" he said. where are you off
to now?'
The time for caution was passed, vic
tory was mine, and l could safely enjoy
my triumph. / surveyed the batlled
finanoier with smile OF infinite salts
faction and replied:
81 am the bearer Of certain docu-
ment from Mr.. Trlng to Mr.. Howard"
From the expression on my face and
the accent on my words he read the
truth, and knew that 1 had baliled him,
and his face changed. Words failed
him, for he YVES taken quite by sur
prise, and bewiiderment rendered him
spetchless.
Enjoying his discontinue few sec
on6s turned and went in, leaving him
on the pavement below, the most I'M
happy man in Johannesburg.
Having entered the outer office and
given my name to q clerk, was speed
lily shown into Mr.. Towards private
room. He greeted mo warmly. md In
the same breath inquired If had been
successful.
1 said 1 had.
That's good news I've Just got my
mail and heard Of your coming. Look
you see; the envelope has been tam
pered With You are sure Gibson hasn't
set eyes on the map?'
Absolutely" l replied, then gave him
n short account of the efforts made to
secure it,
'Ay, ay, they wouldn't stick at much;
you're fortunate to get here with a
whole skin. But where Is tt after aii?"
In answer produced Lock on Gold"
and, taking my penltnife, cut off the
gray calico cover which / had put on
again after 1t had been pulled off
Then inserting the point into the cover
itself, l cut It open ThNe. snugly con.
ceated, lay the precious map / had,
before leaving London, cut the cover
open with q sharp knife. nnd placing the
map IN between, glued up the edges
with great care. Being unable to abso-
lutely conceal the fact that the cover
had been cut, had put the calico cover
over, and when It had been torn OFT by
the eager scurchcr, he had never no
tICeq that The binding Itself had been
cut.
Thus, safely and securely, the map
had travelled, unsecn by any eye. un-
touched by any hand, and now. having
placed It In the possession Of Mr. How
ard, my mission as n special envoy was
over
with the knowledge gained by the
map Howard took steps which very
shortly made the land whore Pcpworth
TrinB found diamonds the property OF
that worthy, and / know no more, ns
nothing further has been heard OF the
| dlBcDyrry-hD company has boon pub
lcly formed TO work H.. But l hive n
strong idea that the lind turned up
| trumpa, and that The reason Of the nj.
lencc IN that It 10 too good a. thing for
the public to be admitted. -ChHmbrfs's