The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1902-11-27

way Of thinking" / saii. at will
save us both an lnhnity of trouble.
You understand. Of course. that rep
resent Measrs. Kitwnter aud Cudd. 3"
Il am well aware OF H." he replied,
"and In common fairness to myself,
] eau only say tina, I am sorry to
hear IT,"
"MHy | ask why you are sorry?"
''..,.sss,i-s y.s have tine iiuuvr io
represent the biggest pair Of scoun-
drcls unhung." he answered. And in
saying this pledge you my word
that | am by no means ovcrstcppinP
the mark have known them both
for a great many years, aud can.
therefore, speak from experience" .
Before going further with him
was DESTROYS OF convincing myself
upon the point.
"You knew them, then. when they
were missionaries In China, sup
poser"
That's the FIRST time | have ever
heard what they were" he replied.
saltwater & missionary YOU must
forgive my laughing. bot she idea is
too ludicronA. I'ii admit he's done a
considerable amount OF converting.
but II haA been converting other PEG
Piles money into his own pockets"
He laughed az his own bad Joke,
aud almost instantly grew serious
once more. He was quite at his
ease. and. though he must have
known that was familiar with the
story. or supposed story. ~ his w
iainy, seemed In no way ashamed.
"Now. Mr.. Fairfax" he went on,
II know that you are surprised to
see me this morning. hut ! don't
think you win be when We have had
little talk together. First and fore.
most, you have been told the story
of the stones ! possess"
81 have heard Mr. Kitwater's yer.
sioE OF H." | answered, cautiously
II know that you robbed my clients
Of them and then disappeared"
4 did not rob them Of the Stones
he said, not in the least offended by
the bluutncss OF my speech. ut f.
plain that you do not know how we
obtained them. Perhaps les as well
that you should not. for there's more
behiad. and you'd go aud get them.
No! We obtained them honestly
enough at q certain place. and was
appointed 20 carry them. For this
reason ] secured them In belt
about my waist. That night the Chi
nese came down upon us and made
ms prisoners. They murdered our
two native servants. blinded Kit
water. and cut out Cndd's tongue
alone managed TO effect my escape.
Leaving my two companions Cor
dead. | managed to get away into
the Jungle. Good heavens! man, you
can't imagine what I suffered after
that"
looked AZ him and saw that his
face had grown pale at the mere
recollection Of his experiences.
eat last | reached the British out
post of Nampoung, ON the Burmah-
Chinese border, where the officers
took me in and played the part Of
the good Samaritan. When ! was
well enough TO travel, made my
way down to Rangoon, where. stlll
believing my late companions 60 be
dead. shipped for England"
AS Mr.. George Rertram." ! said.
quietly. "why under an assumed
name, when, according so your story,
you had nothing Ia fear?"
''HeeauSe had good and sufficient
reason for 80 doing" he replied.
"You must remember that had
quarter OF a millions worth of pre-
eious stones in my possession. mud.
well, to put IL bluutly. up 10 tina,
time ! had been living what you
might call a make-zhift sort Of life.
For the future ! told myself was
going to be a rich man. That being
so, I wanted TO start with a clean
sheet Yon ran scarcely blame mel"
| did not answer him ON this point,
but continued my cross-examinaiion.
"You reached London, and sold
some Of the stones there, later ON
you disposed Of some more In Am
sterdam. Why did you refuse the
dealers your name and address,
Once more he was quite equal to
the occasion.
''Tlsrause IL had told them, every
body would have 10 know II, and.
10 be perfectly frank with you.
could not feel quite certain that Kit
water and cndd were really dead"
''By tina, am 10 presume that you
intended, u possible. to swindle them
out of their share?" I asked, not q
little surprised by hEs admission.
''0nce more. to be frank with you.
I did. have no deaire 10 be rude,
but | rather fancy yon would have
done the same had you been aim
Harry situated. I never was much
OF success Ia the moral business.''
could wen believe this. but | did
not tell him so.
''syhen did yon first become aware
that they were la Londong''
''0n the day that they landed" he
answered. u watched every ship
that eamr Ia from Rsngoon. and al
Last had the slaubtfHI satisfaction of
seeing my two old friends pass out
Of the dock-gAtes. Poor beggars.
they I'D indeed had hard time |
% it,
Then you could pity the1n2 Even |
while yrn were rohbing fhemg''
tskHav ,so4 4ss IA a u.x..x..a s.Ta.axx