Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1902-06-19

"If he were a missionary, I am
quite sure my father did not know
it," she said. ''In fact / always un-
derstood that he was somewhat of
scapegrace, and in consequence could
never settle down to anything. That
is your first, now what is your sec
ond question, Mr.. Fairfax"
l paused for moment before I
replied.
MY second partakes more of the
nature of an assertion than ques-
! tion," L answered. "As / read it,
you are more afraid of what may
happen should the two men meet
than anything else"
Yes, that is just what I am
afraid Of" she replied. my uncle's
temper is so violent, and his desire
for revenge so absorbing, that / dare
not think what would happen if he
came into actual contact with Hayle.
| Now that | have replied to your
questions, will you give me the an
swer | want? That is to say will
you tell me what you think of the
whole affair?'
"If you wish it, / WILL" I said.
slowly. you have promised to pen
NIT me to be candid, and | am going
to take advantage of that permis-
sion. In my own mind l do not be-
lieve the story they tell. l do not
believe that they were ever mission
aries, though we have convincing
proofs that they have been in the
hands of the Chinese. That Hayle
betrayed them l have not the least
doubt, it seems consistent with his
character, but where they obtained
the jewels, that are practically the
keystones to the whole affair, l have
no more notion than you. They may
have been honestly come by, or they
may not. So far as the present case
is concerned that fact is immaterial.
There is still, however, one vital
point we have to consider. If the
gems in question belong equally to
the three men, each is entitled to his
proper share, either of the stones or
of the amounts realized by the sale.
That share, as you already know,
would amount to considerable sum
of money. Your uncle, | take it, has
not a penny-piece in the world, and
his companion is in the same desti-
tute condition. Now we will suppose
that I find Hayle for them, and they
meet. Does it not seem to you quite
possible that your uncle's rage might
lead him to do something desperate,
in order to revenge himself upon the
other? But if he could command
himself he would probably get his
money? If, on the other hand, they
do not meet, then what is to be
done? Forgive me, Miss Kitwater,
for prying into your private affairs,
but in my opinion it is manifestly
unfair that you should have to sup
port these two men for the rest of
their eXistences."
"You surely must see that I would
rather do that than let my fathers
brother commit a crime" she re-
turned, more earnestly than she had
yet spoken.
The position was decidedly an awk-
ward one. 1t was some proof of the
girls sterling qualities that she
should be prepared to make such a
sacrifice for the sake of a man whom
it was certainly impossible o love,
and for that reason even to respect.
looked at her with an admiration
in my face that l did not attempt to
conceal I said nothing by way of
praise, however. 1t would have been
an insult to her to have even limited
at such a thing.
Pardon me-" I said at last, "but
there is one thing that must be
taken into consideration. Some day,
Miss Kitwater, you may marry, and
in that case your husband might not
care about the arrangement you
have made. Such things have hap
pened before now"
She blushed a rosy red and hesi-
tated before she replied.
"I do not consider it very likely
that l shall ever marry" she an
| swered. "And even if I did I should
certainly not marry a man who
consider to be my duty. And now
that we have discussed all this, Mr..
Fairfax, what do you think we had
better do? / understood you to say
to my uncle that you intend leaving
for Paris tomorrow morning, in or
der to continue your search for the
man Hayle. Supposing you find him,
what will you do then?"
'In such a case" I said, slowly,
looking at her all the time, "I should
endeavor to get your uncle's and
Codd's share of the treasure from
him. If I am successful, then shall
let him go where he pleases."
"And supposing you are unsuccess-
full in obtaining the money or the
gems?"
"Then must endeavor to think of
some other way" I replied, "but
somehow 1 do not think 1 shall be
unsuccessful
Nor do l." she answered, looking
me full and fair in the face. at fan
cy you know that / believe in YOU