The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1902-03-28
My Strangest Case
BY GUY BOOTHBY.
Author Of "DT. KikoIa,'' "The Beautiful
White Devil" % Pharos, The
Egyptian" Etc.
copyrighted, 1901. by Ward. Lock & Col
PART I.-CoNTINUED.

PART I.-CONTINUED.
Hayle accompanied them into the
bar, and was a witness of the satisfac-
ton the landlord endeavored, from
business motives, to conceal. In due
course he followed them to the small,
stifing 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 rapping
upon the walls in order to discover
their thickness, and to find out wheth-
er the sound of thinking 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 to
himself. cit would be bad business
to allow them to suppose shat 1 had
more, until find out what they want"
'The last time I was here was with
Stellman," said the taller of the men,
when they met again in the courtyard.
Tie had got a concession from the
Dutch, so he said, to work portion of
the West Coast for shell. He wanted
me TO go in with him"
"And you couldn't see your way
to it?''
"I've seen two Dutch jails," said tbe
other; "and have no use for them" -
"And what happened to Stellman?'
asked Hayle, but without any appar-
ent interest. He was thinking of some
thing else at the time.
"They got his money, his boat and
he ri
have made your mouth water" replied
the other.
"And Stellman?"
ooh, they buried him at Sourabaya.
He took the cholera, so they said, butt
have heard since that he died of star
walton. They don't feed you too well
in Dutch jails, especially when you've
got a concession and a consul"
The speaker looked up at his COM
panion as ne said this, and the other,
who, as I have already said, was not
interested in the unfortunate Stell-
man, or had probably heard the tale
before, nodded his head in the direc-
ton of the room where the smaller
man was engaged on his toilet, to the
accompaniment of splashing water.
The movement of the head was as sig
nificant 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 i'll. Lord,
what man he would have been fer the
British museuml There's not his
equal on ancient Asia in the world"
"And this particular business?"
"Ah you shall hear all about it in
the proper time. That'll be tomorrow
morning, I reckon. In the meantime
you can go to bed, and content your
self with the knowledge that, all being
we'll, you're going to play hand in
the biggest scoop that ever I or any
body else have tackled"
Mr.. Kitwater, for such was the name
of the gentleman, began his prepare
tons for the night, vigorously cursing
the mosquitoes as he did so. He was
a fine-loOking man, with a powerful.
though somewhat humorous cast of
countenance. His eyes were large and
not unkindly. His head was a good
OAC II Jill q PM CliOAOS ANoA IOlLJ VI NlcWs
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.
"Hayle, if I can sum it up Alright, is
just the same as ever" he SGiJ, as he
arranged the mosquito EettiCG of his
bed "He doesn't trust NE, aB6 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 Go it again"
With this amiable sentiment Mr. Kit
water prepared himself for slumber.
Next morning they met at break
fast. All three were somewhat silent.
1t was as if the weight of the matter
which was that day to be discussed
pressed 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 vii
isia IN . senSS. BE was a rogue and q