Crittenden press., 1902-03-13

PART I.--CoSTINUED.
Hayle accompanied them into the
bar, and was witness Of the satisfac-
tion the landlord endelvored, from
business motives, TO conceal. In due
course he followed them 10 the small.
sitting rooms In the yard at the back.
and observed that they were placed
on either side OF himself. He had al
ready taken the precaution OF rappihg
upon the walls in order 90 discover
their thickness, and 90 find out wheth-
er the sound OF chinking money
was TO be heard through them.
81 must remember that thirty-seven
and sixpence and two Mexican dollars
are all ] have In the world" he said 10
himself. "It would be bad business
To allow them to suppose that l had
more. until find out what they want"
"The last time / was here was with
stellman," said the taller OF the men,
when they met again in the courtyard.
"He had got a concession from the
Dutch, 40 he said. 60 work a portion OF
the West Coast for shell. lie wanted
me TO go in with him"
"And you couldn't see your way
TO itP"
ave seen two Dutch jails," said the
other; "and have no use for them"
"And what happened TO Stellman?'
asked Hayle. but without any appar-
ent interest lie was thinking OF some
thing else AZ the time.
"They got his money, his boat and
his she'll, with three pearls that would
have made your mouth water" replied
the other.
"And Stellman?"
"Oh, they buried him At Sourahaya.
He took the cholera, so they said, but l
have heard since that he died Of star
walton. They don't feed you too well
In Dutch iails. especially when you've
got a copcession and a consul"
The speaker looked up at his com
panion as he said this. and the other.
who. as / have already said, was not
interested In the unfortunate Stell-
man. or had probably heard the tale
before. nodded his head in the direc-
tion Of the room where the smaller
man was engaged on his toilet. TO the
accompaniment Of spiashing water.
The movement Of the head was as sig
niHcant as the nod Of the famous lord
OF Burleigh.
"Just the same as ever" the other
replied. always pushing his nose into
old papers and documents, until you'd
think he'd make himself Ill. Lord.
what n man he would have been for the
British museumi There's not his
equal on ancient Asia In the world"
"And this particular business?"
ec>'Ah, you shall hear all about II In
y proper time. Thatll be tomorrow
morning, / reckon. In the meantime
you can go 20 bed and content your
self with the knowledge that, all being
we'll, you're going TO play a hand in
the biggest scoop that ever / or any
body else have tackled"
Mr.. Kitwater, for such was the name
of the gentleman, began his prepara-
tions for the night, vigorously cursing
the mosquitoes as he did so. He was
a lne-looking man, with a powerful.
though somewhat humorous cast OF
countenance. His eyes were large and
not unkindly. His head was a good
one from chronological point of view,
but was marred by the possession OF
enormous ears which stood out on
either side OF his head like those of a
bat. He wore a close-cropped beard.
and he was famous for his strength,
which indeed was that OF giant.
"iIayle, II can sum IL up Alright, Is
Just the same as ever" he said, as he
arranged the mosquito netting OF his
bed. "He doesn't trust me, and don't
trust him. But he'll be none the less
useful for that Let him try to play
me false, and, by the Lord Harry, he'll
not live TO do IL again"
"a With this amiable sentiment Mr.. Kit
water prepared himself for slumber.
Next morning they met at break
fast. All three were somewhat silent.
II was as II the weight of the matter
kwhich was that day 10 be discussed
ptssSed upon their spirits. The small
est OF the trio, Septimus Codd by name,
who was habitually taciturn, spoke
scarcely word. He was a strange
little man, a nineteenth century VIII
lain in a sense. He was rogue and