Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-11-20

Nothing is to be gained Ivy delay, and
if, as you say, thc man has now been
in England two months, he NAV soon
be thinking Of getting out of it again
If he has not done so already. But
before l embark on anything, you
must answer me some questions"
"A hundred. If you like" he re.
turned. you have only to ask them
and I will do my hest to answer"
I'm the first place, I must have a
description Of this Mr.. Gideon Hnyle
What is ne like?"
Tall. thin, with brown hair, and
. short, close-cropped beard; he car.
ries himself erect, and looks
about 49,"
"You don't happen to hsJe a photo
graph Of him in your possession.
suppose?"
NO." replied Kitwater, shaking his
head. "Gideon Hayle is not the sort
of man to allow himself to be photo
graphed, and what's more you must
remember that when we reached
Nampoung, the station on the from
tier Of Burmah, we had scarcely a
rag upon our backs. Any goods and
chattels we might once have pos
sessed were in the hands Of the Chi
ncse. They had robbed US Of every
thing, except what that arch thief,
Hayle, had already stolen from us"
As he said this, another look such
as I had seen on the occasion Of his
previous visit spread over his face.
"The robber, the thief" he Kissed,
almost trembling in his sudden ex-
cess OF rage; when get hold of him
he shall rue his treachery to the day
Of his death. Upwards Of . quarter
OF . million Of money he stole from
as, and where is it now? Where is
my sight, and where is Coddy's pow
er Of speech? All gone, and he is
free. Vengeance is Mine saith the
Lord. but I want to repay it myself.
I want to-"
Here he lcant across the table and
turned his sightless eyes upon me.
This is certainly a curious sort
Of missionary" said to myself as I
watched him. ale may be smitten
on one check, but I scarcely fancy
he would be content to turn the
other to the striker"
At this moment Coddy leant for
ward in his chair, and placed his
hand upon his friends arm. The ef-
feet was magical. His fit of impotent
rage died down as suddenly as it had
sprung up, and Immediately he be-
came again the quiet, suave, smooth
spoken individual who had first en-
tered my Office.
fax" he said. in a totally different
voice to that in which he had just
spoken. when I remem Der how we
have been wronged, l am apt to for
get myself. I trust you will forgive
mc?"
II will do so willingly" answered.
"You have certainly won the right
to be excused if you entertain feel
ing Of resentment for the man who
has treated you so shamefuly. And
now to resume our conversations"
What were you about to say?"
81 was about to ask you the num-
Der and description Of the stones of
which he robbed you. You told me
they numbered 90 in ALL if I remem-
Der Alright. Can you tell me how
many there were of each?"
"Forty-eight rubies and As sap
phires," he replied without mo-
ment's hesitation. The rubies were
uncut and of various sizes, ranging
perhaps from ten to eighty carats.
They were true rubies, not spnels,
remember that. The sapphires ran
from IS carats to 60, and there was
not flaw amongst them"
HAS Hayle any knowledge Of the
value of precious stones?"
There's not a keener judge in the
east. He would be cunning man
who would succeed in taking him in
about the value of anything from a
moonstone to ruby"
in that case he would, in all prob
ability, know where to place them
to the best advantage?"
You may be sure that was his in
tention in coming to England. But
we have tried Hatton Garden and
can hear nothing of him there"
He may have disposed of some of
them on the continent" said.
However. we will soon clear that
point up. The size of the larger
stones is so unusual that they would
be certain TO attract attention. And
now one other question. Are You
aware whether he has any friends or
relatives in England"
so far as we know he has not q
single relative in the world" Kitwa-
ter replied. Have you ever heard
Of one, Coddy?"
The little man shook his head, and
then, taking the others hand, tapped
upon it with his fingers in the man
ner ] have already described.
He says Hayle had a sister once,
OF whom he was very fond" The
tapping upon the hand continued,
and once more Kitwater translated:
she was cripple. and lived in a
small house of the Brompton road.
She died while Ilayle was in North
Borneo; is not that so, little mnn?"
Codd nodded his head to show that
kitwater had interpreted him cor
rectly. l then made some inquiries
as TO the missing mans habits. SO
far the description | had had of him
was commonplace in the extreme.
DO you know whether he shipped