Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-13
years ago? Do you think they were
such fools as to leave it behind when

such fools as to leave it behind when
they went elsewhere? Not they!"
Though they were well out of ear
shot of the land, and alone upon the
boat, Kitwater looked round him sus-
piciously before he answered. Then
a pleasant smile played over his face.
1t was as if he were recalling some
happy memory.
''How do l know it?" he asked, by
way of preface. eff you'll listen for
a moment, I'll tell you If you want
more proof, when I've done, you
must be difficult to please. When 1
was up at Moulmein six months ago,
] came across a man ! hadn't met for
several years. He was Frenchman,
who knew had spent the most of his
life away back in Burmah. He was
very flush of money at the time, and
kept throwing out hints, when we
were alone, of a place he knew OF
where there was the biggest fortune
on earth, to be had for the mere pick
ing up and carrying away. He had
brought away as much of it as he
could, but he hadn't time to get it all,
before he was chased out by the Chi
| nese, who. he said, were strong in
the neighborhood."
Kitwater stopped and rubbed his
! hands with a chuckle. Decidedly the
I recollection was a pleasant one.
WELL" he con tinued, ''to make a
long story short, / took advantage of
my opportunity, and got his secret
out of him by well, never
mind how l managed it. 1t is suf1i-
cient that / got it. And the conse-
quence is, 1 know all that is to be
known"
That's all very we'll, but what be-
came of the Frenchman? How do you
know that he isn't back there again
filling his pockets?"
81 don't think he is" Kitwater re-
piled, slowly. st put me to lot of
inconvenience, and came just at the
| time when | was most anxious to
leave. Besides, it might have meant
| trouble" He paused for moment
AS matter of fact, they brought it
in suicide during temporary insanity,
brought on by excessive drinking
v.
1t must have been insanity, I think,
for he had no reason for doing away
with himself. II was proved that he
had plenty of money left. What was
more, Coddy gave evidence that, only
| the day before, he had told him he
was tired of life"
Hayle looked at both with evident
admiration.
| 'Well, you two, taken together,
beat cock-fghting," he said, enthusi-
astically. Then he added: But
what about the secret? What did you
| get out of him?"
Here it is" said Kitwater, taking
an old leather case from his pocket,
/ and producing from it small piece
of parchment. There's no writing
upon it, but we have compared it with
another plan that we happen to have,
and find that it squares exactly
! He leaned over Hayle's shoulder
and pointed to a certain portion of
| the sketch.
That's the great temple" he said;
'and what the red dot means we are
going to find out"
"Well, suppose it is, what makes
you send for me?" Hayle inquired
suspiciously.
Because we must have another
good man with us" Kitwater replied.
I'm very well, but you're better.
Codd's head piece is all right, but if
it comes to fighting, he might just as
well be in Kensal Green. Isn't that
! so, little man."
Mr.. Codd nodded his head.
! II said, send for Hayle," he re-
marked in his quiet little voice. kit
sent, and now you're here, and it's
all right"
| 'Codd speaks the truth" said Kit
| water. Now, what we have to do is
to arrange the business part of the
matter, and then to get away as
quickly as possible"
The business portion of the matter
/ was soon settled, and Hayle was
| thereupon admitted a member of the
syndicate for the exploration of the
ancient town of Sengkor-Wat in the
| hinterland of Burmah.
| For the remainder of the day Hayle
was somewhat more silent than usual.
| IF there's anything in their yarn
it might be managed" he said to him
self that night, when he was alone in
his bedroom. ''Kitwater is clever, I'll
admit that, and Coddy is by no man
| ner of means the fool he pretends to
be. But I'm Gideon Hayle. and that
counts for something. Yes, I think
it might be managed"
What it was he supposed might be
effected he did not say, but from the
smile upon his face, it was evident
that the thought caused him consid-
cradle satisfaction.
Next day they set sail for Rangoon.
PART II.
The shadows of evening were slow