Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1902-07-18
My Straf11gest Case
BY GUY BOOH1BY.
Asfhor Of DR.. NIK0LA'' BEAUTIFUL WHITE DEVIL
..~r "PtAROS, THE EGYPTIAN" Etc.
Copyrighted. 1901. by Ward, Lock 4 Col
BY GUY BOOTHBY.

consistent with my character that +
still occupied the same apartments
in the private hotel, off the Strand,
in which l had domiciled myself
when l first arrived in England. If
I am made comfortable l prefer to
stick to my quarters, and the hotel
in question was q quiet one; the
cooking and the service were excel
lent, and, as every one did his. or
her, bestfor me. I saw no sort OF
reason for moving elsewhere, It is
something incsuch matters to know
the people with:~whom one has to
deal, and in my, case could not have
been better cared for, had l been a
crowned head. suppose I am bit
of a faddist in these things. Except
when business compels me to break
through my rule, l rise at the same
hour every morning, breakfast, lunch,
and dine at the same time, and as
far as possible retire to rest pune
tually at the usual moment. After
dinner in those days, things have
changed since then somewhat, l in
variably smoked a cigar, and when
the evening was fine went for a
stroll, returning between nine and
ten and retiring to rest, unless I had
anything to attend to, punctually at
II. On this particular occasion, the
night being fine, though rather close,
I lit my cigar in the hall and stepped
out into the street exactly as the
clock was striking eight. I had a lot
to think of, and felt just in the
humor for. a walk. London at all
hours is q fascinating study to me,
and however much I see of her, l
never tire of watching her moods.
After left my hotel strolled along
the embankment so far as the houses
of parliament, passed the abbey,
made my way down~:Victoria street,
and then by way of Grosvenor place
to Hyde Park corner. Opposite APPS
ley house paused to look about me.
l had my reasons for so doing, for
ever since / had left the riverside 1
had entertained the notion that I:
was being followed. When l had
crossed the road at the houses of
parliament, two men, apparently of
the loafer class, had crossed too.
They had followed me up Victoria
street, and now, as stood outside
the duke of Wellington's residence, 1
could see them moving about on the
other side of the way. What their
Intentions were I, could not say, but
that their object was to spy upon my
movements was quite convinced.
In order to assure myself Of this
fact I resolved to lay a little trap
for, them. Passing down Piccadilly
at a sharp pace, I turned into Berke-
ley street, some 20 yards or so ahead
Of. them. Crossing the road I shell
tered myself in doorway and wait
ed. I had not been there very long
before I observed that they had
turned the corner and were coming
along in hot pursuit. That they did
not notice me in my hiding-place is
evident from the fact that they
passed on. the other side of the
street, and, doubtless thinking that
they had missed me, commenced to
run. thereupon quilted my friend
ly doorway, returned to Piccadilly,
hailed . cab, and drove back to my
hotel. As I went I turned the mat
ter over in my mind. With the ex-
ception Of the present case I had
nothing important on hand, so that
I could think of no one who would
be likely to set watch upon me-.
That I did not. suspect Hayle would
only be natural under the circum-
stances, as I did not know then that
he had been the witness Of Kitwater
and Colds visit to my Office that aft
ernoon, and I felt convinced in my
own mind that he was unaware that
they were in England. It was most
natural, therefore, that should not
in any way associate him with the
plot.
The following day was spent for
the greater part in making further
Inquiries in Hatton Garden, and
among the various Dutch merchants
then in London. The story the senior
partner Of Messrs. Jacob and Bulen-
thall had told me had proved to be
correct, and there could be no sort
of doubt that Hayle had realized
very large sum Of money by tho
transaction. What was more, dis
covered that he had been seen in
London within the previous "a hours.
This was q most important point,
and It encouraged me to persevere in
my search. One thing, however, was
remarkable. One or two Of the mer-
chants to whom Hayle had disposed
of his stones: had seen more of him;
than ,Messrs. Jacob and Bulenthall.
Two had dined with him At; q certain
popular restaurant in Regent street,
and had visited Z. 5thoater, with him
afterwards. In neither case, how
ever, had they discovered his name
or where. he lived. This secret he
guarded most religiously, and the
fact that he did so afforded addition
al food for reflection. If he imagined
his old. companions to be dead, why
should he be so anxious that his own