Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-04-29

| co.,"
"They may consider themselves
lucky to get anything" he retorted.
run your eye over the case, and see
how it stands. You must know as
well as I do that they haven't leg
TO stand upon. If I wanted to be
nasty, I should say let them prove
that they have right to the stones.
They can't call in the assistance of
the law"
"Why not?"
Because to get even with me it
would be necessary for them to
make certain discriminating admis-
sions, and to call certain evidence
that would entail caustic remarks
from learned judge, and would not
improbably lead to a charge of muir
der being preferred against them.
No, Mr.. Fairfax, 1 know my own
business, and, what is better, I know
theirs. If they like to take $4,000,
and will retire into obscurity upon it,
will pay it to them, always through
you. But 1 won't see either of them,
and I won't pay a halfpenny more
than have offered"
'You don't mean to tell me that
you are in earnest?"
II am quite in earnest" he an
swered. 81 never was more so. Will
you place my offer before them, or
will you not?"
81 will write and also wire them
! to-day" I said. 'But 1 think I know
exactly what they will say"
Point out the applicability of the
moral concerning the bird in the
hand. If they don't take what they
can get now, the time may come
when there may be nothing at all.
never was very patient man, and
can assure you most confidentially
that | am about tired of this game"
But how am l to know that this
is not another trick on your part,
| and that you won't be clearing out
of Paris within a few hours? 1
| should present a sorry picture if my
| clients were to accept your generous
offer, and had to inform them that
| you were not on hand to back it up"
"Oh, you needn't be afraid about
that" he said. with a laugh. 81 am
not going to blk you. Provided you
| play fair by me, l will guarantee to
do the same by you. With the adj
vantages l at present enjoy, I am
naturally most anxious to know that
/ can move about Europe unmolest-
ed. Besides, you can have me
watched, and so make sure of me.
There is that beautiful myrmidon OF
yours, who is so assiduously making
love to Mile. Beaumarais' maid. Give
him the work"
/ was more than surprised to find
that he knew about this business.
He saw it, and uttered one of his pc
culiar laughs.
"He didn't think I knew it," he
said "But / did! His cleverness is a
little too marked. He overacts his
parts, and even Shakespeare will tell
you how foolish proceeding that is.
If you doubt my word concerning
my stay in Paris, let him continue
| to watch me. You know where am
living, and for that reason you can
come and see me whenever you like.
AS proof of my sincerity, may I
suggest that you give me the pleas
ure of your company at dinner to-
night. Oh, you needn't be afraid.
I'm not Caesar Borgia. shall not
poison your meat, and your wine
will not be drugged. It will be rath-
er a unique experience, detective and
criminal dining together, will it not
What do you say?"
The opportunity was so novel, that
I decided to embrace it. Why should
I not do so, since it was very good
excuse for keeping my man in sight?
He could scarcely play me any tricks
at fashionable restaurant, and I
was certainly curious to study an
other side of this mans complex
character. accordingly accepted
his invitation and promised to meet
! him at the well-known restaurant he
named that evening.
"In the meantime you will te1e-
graph to your clients, suppose"
he said. "You may be able to give
me their reply this evening when we
meet"
81 shall hope to be in position
to do So" I answered, after which
he babe me good-by, and picking up
his hat and stick left the room.
I sat down and wrote letter to
Miss Kitwater, telling her all that
had occurred; then went out to dis
patch it with telegram to Kit
water himself, informing him of the
| offer Hayle had made. I could guess
the paroxysm of rage into which it
would throw him, and I would will
ingly have spared his niece the pain
such an exhibition must cause her.
I could see no other way out of it.,
however. The message having been
dispatched, settled myself down to
wait for a reply, with all the pa
thence l could command. In my own
mind knew very well what it would
be. 1t was not so much the money
that Kitwater wanted as revenge.
That Hayle's most miserable offer
would only increase his desire for
it, / felt certain. Shortly after three
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