Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-02-28


4 inclined to believe that it is the same
Individual. is the fact that our sec
rotary met him in Leadenhall street
only few days ago. He looked old
err, but had evidently prospered in
the world. AS matter of fact,
Warner described him as being ir-
reproachably dressed and turned
out. / trust his good fortune was
honestly come by; but I must own,
from what know of him, tina. I
have my doubts"
"But what possible reason could
this individual have for calling upon
me, and why should he have made
me such an offer as 1 have described
to your"
The director shook his head. The
question was evidently beyond him.
IT can assign no sort of reason for
it" he said, "unless he has some hope
of being able to get you out of Eng
land for time"
II don't see how that could benefit
him." I replied. 81 am connected
with no case in which he has any
sort of interest
You never can tell" the old gen
tleman replied. "From what I know
of him, Gideon Hayle was always"
Gideon what?' I cried. springing
10 my feet. "Did I understand you
to say Gideon Hayle?"
That's the name of the young man
of whom have been speaking to
you," he replied. "But what makes
you so excited?"
Because can understand every
thing now" l declared. Good
heavens! What an idiot have been
not to have seen the connection be-
fore! Now know why Gideon
Hayle tried to lure me out of Eng
land with his magnificent offer. Now
I see why he set these roughs upon
me. It's all as plain as daylight"
81 am afraid do not quite under
stand" said my companion in his
turn. "But it is quite evident to me
that you know more of Hayle's past
life than / dol"
i Il should think I did," replied.
"By Joye, what a blackguard the man
must be! He robbed his two part
ners of enormous wealth in China,
left them in the hands of the Chinese
to be tortured and manned, for life,
and now that he knows that 1 am
netting for them in order to recover
their treasure, he endeavors to put
me out of the way. But you've not
done it yet, Mr.. Hayle," continued,
bringing my fist down with bang
upon the table, land what's more,
clever as you may be, you are not
likely to accomplish such an end.
You'll discover that can take very
/ good care of myself, but before very
long you'll find that you are being
taken care of by somebody else"
This is n strange affair indeed,
i Mr.. Fairfax" said the manager, land
it is evident that 1 have been of some
! assistance to you. need not say
that am very glad, the more SO be-
cause it is evident that our company
is not involved in any system Of
fraud. I will not disguise from you
that had my fears that it was the
beginning of trouble for. us ALL" Us
You may disabuse your mind of
that once and for ALL" l answered.
IF there is any trouble brewing it
is for our friend, Mr.. Hayle. That
gentleman's reckoning is indeed like
ly to be a heavy one. / would not
stand in his shoes for something"
4 There was brief and somewhat
uncomfortable pause.
And now allow me to wish you a
very good afternoon" the old gentle
man observed.
| Good afternoon" 1 replied, "and
many thanks for the service you
have rendered me. 1t has helped me
more than can say"
pray don't mention it, my dear
sir, don't mention it," replied the
kindly old gentleman, as he moved
towards the door. II am very glad
to have been useful to you"
When he had gone sat down at
my desk to think. had had good
many surprises in my life, but don't
/ know that had ever been more as
tonished that was that afternoon.
II only had been aware of Hayle's
identity when he had called upon me
two mornings before, how simply
everything might have been ar
ranged! AS a matter of fact had
been talking with the very man had
been paid to find, and, what was
worse, had even terminated the in
terview myself. When I realized
| everything, I could have kicked my
self for my stupidity. Why should
I have suspected him, however? The
very holiness of his scheme carried
conviction with It'll Certainly, Mr..
Gideon Hayle was foeman worthy
OF my steel, and I began to realize
that, with such man to deal with,
the enterprise had taken in hand
was likely to prove bigger affair
than I had bargained for.
Having failed in both his attempts
to get me out of the way, his next
move will be to leave England with
as little delay as possible" said to
myself. 'If only knew in what part
Of London he was staying, I'd ran
sack it for him, II I had to visit every
house in order to do SO. AS it il, he
has thousand different ways Of es-
cape, and unless luck favors me
shall be unable to prevent him from
taking his departure"
/ At that moment there was tap
at the door and my clerk entered the
i room