The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-08

WRITTEN FOR SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
One OF the most curious cases Of circum
Otantial evidence I have come across Is tn
following. which I considered interestin
enough to put down At full length. in m
diary after having collected all the detail
from h different persons. concerned.
Wrots Il In narrative form, . a. to hav
the exact EXPANSIONS used - often a. pos
sible. I happened to b out at the Cap
At the time. and having nothing to do.
took the matter up In q nonoficial way.
81 haven't . vacant room in the house
repeated the landlord OF the Blue Boa,
Hots: In Cape Town to his ~pertinacioul
visitor. you must try elsewhere"
But I have tried everywhere. and the,
Ill tell me the same thing" replied tn,
stranger. What am I to dot I must slee,
OomoWhsfo"
Ths landlord was . g~ood-natured man AM
be took time to consider.
"A gentleman landed a little while age
from the Peruvian. who took my las'
soom." he said. land perhaps he wouldn't
mind sharing with you. It's only for one
night: he told me he was going on to the
Diamond Fields tomorrow. I'll have an
other bed put In and chance It."
The stranger. who ave his name as
whitaker. gratefully accepted the oner and
Wen upstairk
An hour later. Nj. Whitaker. who was
stiu awake. heard footsteps outside the
door. and the next moment the handle was
turned He thought It best to feign to be
asleep. but through his half-closed eyes
he saw q young man come in. carrying .
lighted candle In his hand. He stopped at
the foot Of his bed. looked At him intently
. minute. n then turned away.
Whitaker. with idle curiosity. watched
him undress. and saw that he slipped his
watch and p~ocketbood under his pillow; in
Hight. and in another ten his deep. regular
breathing proclaimed him to be asleep. He
himself vas not % fortunte. He had too
much to think about to sleep. He looked
enviously through the darkness In the direc-
tion CT the other bed. Its lucky occupant
was going on to the Diamond Fields to-
monow-the new Fl Dorado which had
flooded Cape Town with men eager to make
their fortunestwhile he, for lack OF a few
pounds. must perhaps remain behind. He
was a desperate man and he was no; long
making up his mind how to act.
He waited an hour or two until all was
quiet in the hotel. then he crept softly out
Of bed and dressed himself. The first gray
streaks OF drawn were lighting the room
now and he could sec what he was doing.
The window had been left open. for 1t was
Q hot night. and all he had to do was to
take the pocketbook from under the pillow
There must be money In II or II would not
been put In such q ~place-step out
On to the balcony n drop into the street
below matter Of a few feet. The man
vas sleeping 20 soundly that there should
b little danger. Very gently he inserted
hi hand under the pillow. and touching the
drew It slowly out. tn I'M
man did not stir: he had had .
hiring. exciting day. and he was worn out
Then. stepping out Of the window.
Whitaker jumped lightly to the ground. He
Q moment without moving. but hear
ing and seeing nothing. he began to walk
I1psdly away. It was not until he had
put some distance between himself and the
Blue Boar that he took the p~ocketbook from
- 0IS88eo ~ (ASaAdC4 AZ AAcAo
sero about 60 in gold and several bank
much q he had hoped for. but Il would take
Start
Fortune favored him. for in the early
- eame upon a party OF men
travelling b. bullock wage to the Fields.
vho conssnted to let him Join them on his
aging hi share OF the Expense
n. s.r.s post ONO. a. tn. Diamond Field,
~ sothing more than a shanty composed
CANVAS and corrugated iron. but 1t looked
important by the side OF the little
ots which had sprung ri Ike mushrooms
the brown veldt and which earned for
he town its early name Of camp"
Two men were lying stretched out one
IN front Of q drinking bar. which
aced he post ONCE. smoking and talking
ny together. One Of the men bore any
hing but Q progressing appearance: the
vas . eentIemanIy looking youth Of
hree or four and twenty with a weak. but
ot Q vicious face. though at the present
line II was far from attractive, showing
Iainly the signs Of recent dissipation.
The older man looked at his companion
urtfveiy from time to time without turning
is head. and at last, after a longer pause
han usual, he said carelessly:
Il hear Gluckstein and Levy are send
ig home . big consignment Of diamonds
bis mail. Lucky beggars!"
His companion's face clouded. Il might
ave been doing the same II I had had a
lir chance" he said p~assionately. II only
ia, I could fnd the scoundrel who robbed
v in Cape Town. He should have some
ling to remember me by. What Is the
pe Of being here without m money"
Not much certainly" assented the other.
I auppore you can't get n more"
Not q farthing. ] am almost at my wits
ID. I can't tell you. Markham. I wish 1 had
.ver come to this cursed country"
/,
When Godfrey Faulkner awose late in the
Of his first day in Cape Town and
und thai his bedroom companion had
ken his departure. and also tina. his peck :
book had gone from under his pillow. he
as almost beside himself with grie. and !,
That ECO which he had acquired with ,
me difficulty was to have been the .
,cIeus OF Q fortune. and now he was left .
.lplea and beggared in a strange land. !,
e rave Information to the police. OF .
urse, but with the present shifting popu- :
ton they did not hold out much hope +.
being able to help him.. The landlord +.
% sympathetic and willing to be generous !.
wa partly to blame for the loss. so +.
determined 70 make his way
to the Fields. He did not know where i.
u Il