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

have" l answered "and his re-
ply is by no means satisfactory"
81 understand you to mean that he
will not entertain my offer?"
nodded my head.
sHe must have all or nothing he
declares. That is the wording of the
telegram I received"
"Well, he knows his own affairs
best. The difference is large one,
and will materially affect his in
come. Will you take creme de minthe-
kummel or cognac?"
"Cognac, thank you,' replied, and
that was the end of the matter.
During the remainder of the even
ing not another word was said upon
the subject. We chatted upon vari-
ETY. of topics, but neither the mat
ter of the precious stones nor even
htwater's name was once men
toned. 1 could not help fancying,
however, that the man was consider
ably disappointed at the monaco
ceptance of his preposterous offer.
He had made move on the board.
and had lost it. I knew him we'll
enough, however, by this time to feel
sure that he had by no means de-
SPARED yet of winning the game.
Men of Gideon Hayle's stamp are
hard to beat.
Now" he said, when we had
smoked our cigarettes, and after he
had consulted his watch, "the
night is still young. What do you say
If we pay visit to a theater-the
Hippodrome. for instance. We might
while away an hour there very pleas
antly, if you feel so disposed"
1 willingly consented, and we &C.
cordingly left the restaurant. Once
we We're in the street Hayle called a
cab, gave the man his instructions,
and we entered it. Chatting pleas
antly, and still smoking, we passed
along the brilliantly illuminated
boulevards. I bestowed little, if any,
attention on the direction in which
we were proceeding. Indeed, it would
have been difficult to have done SO.
for never during the evening hsd
Hayle been SO agreeable. A more
charming companion no man could
have desired. 1t was only on chanc-
ing to look out the window that I
discovered we were no longer in the
gayly-ighted thoroughfares, but
were entering another and dingier
part of the town.
What is the matter with the
driver?" I asked. Doesn't he know
what he is about? This is not the
way to the Hippodrome! He must
have misunderstood what you said to
him. Shall / hail him and point out
his mistaken"
mo, 1 don't think it is necessary
for you to do that" he replied.
DOUBTLESS he will be on the right
track in a few minutes. He prob
ably thinks if he gives us longer
ride he will be able to charge pro-
portionately larger fee at the end.
The Partisan, cabby is very like his
London brother
He then proceeded to describe to
me an exceedingly funny adventure
that had befallen him once in Chi
cago. The recital lasted some min.
utes, and all the time we were still
pursuing our way in direction ex.
actly opposite to that which I knew
we should be following. AT last ]
could stand it no longer.
"The mans obviously an IDIOT"
said, "and am going to tell him So
II shouldn't do that, Mr.. Fairfax >
said Hayle, in different voice to that
which he had previously addressed
me. II had my own reasons for not
telling you before, but the matter has
already been arranged. The man is
only carrying out my instructions"
what do you mean by already ar
ranged?" I asked, not without some
alarm.
II mean that you are my prisoner
Mr.. Fairfax" he said. "You see, YOU
are rather difficult person to deal
with, if l may pay you such com
pliment, and one has to adopt heroic
measures in order to cope with you
me sll this time" cried; "but you've
let the cat out of the bag little toe
soon. I think I'll bid you good-by."
was about to rise from my seat
= and open the door, but he stopped me
In his hand he held revolver, the muz.
zle of which was in unpleasant proxim.
, ity to my head.
: Il must ask you to be good enough
to sit down." he said. "You had bet.
ter do SO, for you cannot help your.
self. If you attempt to make fuss
l pledge you my word shall shoot
, you, let the consequences to myself
be what they may. You know me-
and you can see that am desperate
My offer to those men was only bluff
wanted to quiet any suspicious you
might have in order that might get
you into my hands. AS you can see
for yourself, I could not have sue.
ceeded better than have done. Igive
you my word that you shall not be
hurt, provided that you do not attempt
to escape OF call for help. If you do,
then you know exactly what to ex-
pect, and you will have only yourself
to blame. Be sensible man, and give
in to the inevitable"
He held too many cards for me. I