The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1902-12-04
Ny Strongest Glse /.
By GUY BooTHBY.
copyrighted, 1901. by ward. LOCK q ool
Author OF ''Dr Kiknla I" ''rlle keauti
ful white Dsyil." "i'haroa, The
kgyptian." etc.

Copyrighted, is9i, " war; LOCK COL
"Beoznse to get even with me u
would be HeoerssIy ior them to
make certain discriminating admit
sions, and to call certain evidence
that would entail rausiie remarks
from a learned Judge, and would not
lmprobably lead to Q charge Of muir
der being preferred against them.
No, Mr.. Fairfax. know my Owu
business, and what Ia better. know
theirs. II they like to take Es0.OOo,
and viii retire into obacurity upon IL,
] will pay u To them. always through
you. But I won't sec either Of them,
aud won't pay a hElfPcnny more
than l have offered"
you don't mean Go tell me that
you are In earnestT"
II am quite In earnest" he an
swercd. II never Was more SO. VIII
YOU place my offer before them. or
will you not2''
II will write and also wire them
to-day" said. But think ] know
exactly what they will say"
Point out the applicability Of the
moral concerning the bird In the
hand II they don't take what they
can get now. the time may como
when there may be nothing At all. l
never was n very patient rsAn, and I
can assure you most eoDtidentially
that ! am about tired Of this game"
-'itW how am i 10 Know that this
Is not another trick on your part,
and that you ~aE't be clearing e.s
Of Paris within q few hours2
should present q sorry picture II my
clients were to accept your generous
offer. and I had to inform them that
you were not ON hand co back IL up"
"Oh. you needn't be afraid about
that" he said. with q laugh. Il am
moi going TO blk you. Provided you
play fair by me. win gusranlse 20
30 the same by you. With the adj
yautAges I at present enjoy. ] am
naturally most anxious 10 know that
! can move about Europe unmolesi-
cd. besides, you can have me
watched. aud 80 make sufs VI me.
There Is that beautiful myrmidon of
yours, who ~ SO srsidaouniy making
love to Nile. Beaumarais' maid. Give
him the work"
was more than surprised to find
that he knew about this business.
lie saw IL. and uttered one Of bis pc
culiar laughs.
He didn't think I knew H." he
said. "But | dldl Hia elevernesS n a
little too marked. lie overaets his
parts, and even Shakespeare will tell
you how foolish q proceeding that Is.
u you doubt my word concerning
my stay Ia Paris, let him continue
10 watch me. You know where ! am
living, and for that reason you can
come and see me whenever you like.
As a proof Of my sincerity, may !
suggest that you give me the pleas
urr Of your company at dinner to-
night. Oh, you needn't be afraid.
I'm not q Caesar Borgia. ! shall not
poison your meat. and your wine
will not be druRged. II will be rath.
er a unique experience. detective and
criminal dining together, will Il not3
What do you says"
The opportunity was 80 novel. that
decided TO embrace II. Why shcsla
not do 80. since IL was a very good
excuse for keeping my man In sight?
He could scarcely play me any tricks
at n fashionable restaurant, and |
WAS certainly curious 60 study an
other side OF this mans complex
character. accordingly accepted
his invitation and promised 20 meet
him az the well-known restaurant be
named that evening.
In the meantime you viii tele-
graph TO your clients, suppose"
he said. "You may be able to give
me their reply this evening when we
meet"
81 shall hope 20 be in a position
90 do so" | answered, after which
he babe me Eood-by. and picking up
his hat and stick left the room.
sat down and wrote n letter to
Miss Kitwater, telling her all that
bad occurred; then went out to dis
patch Il with 9 telegram to Kit
water himself, informing him of the
offer HAyle had made. could gusas
the paroxysm Of rage into which II
would throw him, and would will
ingiy have spared his niece the pain
such an exhibition must cause her.
! could see no other way out OF II.
however. The message having been
dispatched. se,tled myself down TO
wait for a reply. with all the pa
thence could command. In my own
mind knew very well what Il would
be. Il WAS not so much the money
that Kitwater wanted "a revenge.
That Hayle's most miserable offer
would only increase hln desire for
Il, felt certain. Shortly after three
o'clock the reply arrived. II was
short aud TO the point, aud ran as
follows;
-Tell him I wiIl have all or moth.
ing"
Here was . Hics position for
man to find himself in. Instead of
solving the difficulty ws had only In
creased Il. wondered Whist Hayle
wonld say when be heard the a@ws.
and what HE nsxt step would be.
That he would endrayor to bolt
again. felt quite eartais. II was
point IN my favor, however. that be
would not know antil the evening
wha, kiiwater's decision was. 80
felt had Atill aosn. s.ne TO arrange
my plaa of aetiun. % cnr thing
was quits determined. and that was
that he shoula be Watched day and
night from that mlnHse. but net N
Mr. Diekspn. fiat wosshy hsae
return 70 England. ana his rage Oh |
discovering that Mile. ncaumsrais'
maid had trieksds Ain rwould have
tsnsze arsstanfs,sf Il. s.y{< as,z. haA sh~