Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-02-14
He th.reupon bade me good-by, and,

the street by his companion in an OPP
posite direction to that / was taxi
ing. They seemed delighted that had
given them an appointment, but for
my part am afraid was too absorbed
by the memories of the day, and the
punishment that had been allotted to
the two principal members in the
swindle, to think very much of them
and their business. Indeed, although
l made note of the appointment, it
was not until / had arrived at the of
fee on the following morning that I
recollected their promised visit had
just finished my correspondence and
had directed few letters to my man
aging clerk, when junior entered
with two cards, which he placed be-
fore me. The first took up bore the
name of Septimus Codd, that of the
second, Mr.. George Kitwater. When
had finished the letter was in the
act OF debating, bade the clerk adj
NIT them, and moment later the
blind man and his companion whom I
had seen on Ludgate Hill the previous
evening were ushered into my pres
ence. cannot remember more ven
cradle appearance than that present.
ed by the taller man. His was person.
atty that would have appealed fore
IDLY to any student of humanity. 1t
was decidedly an open countenance,
to which the long white beard that de-
scended almost to his waist gave an
added reverence. His head was we'll
shaped and well set upon his Shout
ders, his height was six feet two if
an inch, and he carried himself with
the erectness of man accustomed to
an outdoor life. He was we'll dressed,
and for that rea son surmised that he
was the possessor of good manners.
His companion was as much below the
middle height as he was above it. His
was peculiar countenance resembling
that of boy when seen at distance,
and that of an old man when one was
close to him. His eyes, as I have al
ready said, were small, and they were
set deep in his head. This, in itself,
was calculated to add to his peculiar
appearance. He steered his blind COM
panion into the room and placed him
in seat. Then he perched himself on
chair beside him and waited for me
to open the debate.
Good morning, gentlemen" 1 said.
"Allow me to congratulate you on
your punctuality."
1--WE were afraid of missing YOU"
observed Kitwater. "Our business is
SO particular that we did not want to
run any risk of losing our appoint
ment."
Perhaps you will now be good
enough to tell me whatsthat business
is?" replied, taking my note book out
of drawer, preparatory to writing
down what they had to say.
I'm the first place, sir" the man be-
gan, I'VE of course understand that
everything we have to tell you will
be regarded by you as strictly private
and confidential?"
THAT goes without saying" / re.
piled. If were to divulge what my
clients tell me, my business would not
be worth days purchase. You can
rest assured that everything you may
impart to me will be treated In strict
est confidence"
I'VE thank YOU" said Kitwater.
"Ths story 1 have to tell you is per-
haps the strangest that has ever been
told to mortal man. To begin with,
you must understand that my COM
panion and myself have but lately ar
rived in England. We have been for
many years missionaries in China, SOW
ing the good seed in the western prov
inces. ] do not know whether you
have ever visited that country, but,
evenif you have not, you must be aware
to some extent of the dangers to which
our calling is subjected. We carry our
lives in our hands from the moment we
leave civilizati ton until we enter it
again. There are times, however, that
compensate one for all the trials that
have to be undergone"
You must excuse me-" said, ..if L
remind you that my time is valuable,
and that, however interested Ismay be
in the missionary work of China, I
cannot allow it to interfere with NV
business. The sooner you tell me in
what way you want me to help you, the
sooner ] shall be able to give you the
answer you are seeking"
II must implore your pardon" the
man continued, humbly enough. 81
am afraid our calling, however, is. apt
to make us trif1e verbose. If you wM
allow me ! will put, what have to say
in as few words as possible"
I bowed and signed 70 him IN rro.
coed.
sour caseis as follows" he began. Gas
! have told you, we have been in China
for several years, and during that
time we have had the good fortune to.
enroll not few well-known names
among our converts. To make long
story short, we were so successful as
to be able to persuade even the man
DARN OF the province to listen to our
message. He was an enormously rich
man, one Of the richest, perhaps, in
China, and was SO impressed by the
good news we brought to him that, on
his death-bed, he left to us for the
benefit of the mission all his wealth, in
gold, silver and precious stones. 1t
was princely legacy, and one that
would have enabled us % carry on our
mission with such success as we had
never dreamed off,
"But If you were so lucky and so
much in love with your profession, how
does 1t come about that you are in
England now?" inquired.
Il will tell you why" he answered,