Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-11-20


the loafer class, had crossed too.
They had followed me up Victoria
street, and now, 90 I stood outside
the duke Of Wellington's residence, I
could see them moving about on the
other side Of tho way. What their
intentions were l could not say, but
that their object was TO spy upon my
movements was quite convinced.
In order to assure myself Of this
fact l resolved TO lay q little trap
Tor them. Passing down Piccadilly
At q sharp pace, I turned into Berke-
ley street, some 20 yards or so ahead
Of them. Crossing the road l shell
exaed myself In a doorway and watt
I'd. had not been there very long
before observed that they had
turned the corner and were coming
along in hot pursuit. That they did
not notice mo in my hiding place is
evident from the fact that they
passed on the other side of the
street, and. doubtless thinking that
Shsy had missed mel commenced to
run. thereupon qutted my friend
~ doorway, returned to Piccadilly,
hailed Q cab, and drove back to my
hotel. As l went I turned the mat
Ger over in my mind. With the ex-
ception Of the present case I had
nothing important on hand, so that
] could think Of no one who would
be likely to set watch upon me.
That did not suspect Hayle would
only be natural under the circum-
stances, as did not know then that
ne had been the witness Of Kitwater
and Colds visit to my Office that aft
ernoon, and / felt convinced in my
own mind that he was unaware that
they were in England. 1t was most
natural, therefore, that I should not
in any way associate him with the
plot.
The following day was spent for
the greater part in making further
inquiries in Hatton Garden, and
among theevarious Dutch merchants
then in London. The story the senior
partner of Messrs. Jacob and Bulen-
thall had told me had proved 10 be
correct. and there could be no sort
of doubt that Hayle had realized
very large sum of money by the
transaction. What was more, dis
covered that he had been seen in
London within the previous "a hours.
This was most important point,
and it encouraged me to persevere in
my search. One thing, however, was
remarkable. Ono or two of the mer-
chants to whom Hayle had disposed
of his stones had seen more of him
than Messrs. jacob and Bulenthall.
Two had dined with him at a certain
popular restaurant in Regent street,
and had visited theater with him
afterwards. In neither case, how
ever, had they discovered his name
or where he lived. This secret he
guarded most religiously, and the
fact that he did so afforded addition
his old companions to be dead, why
should he be Sc anxious that his own
identity, and his place of residence,
should remain a secret? If they
were safely out of the way, no one
could possibly know Of his connec-
ton with them, and in that case he
Eight, If he pleased, purchase a man.
sion IN Park Lane and flourish his
wealth before the eyes of the world,
for any harm it might do him. Yet
here he was. exciting mistrust by his
secrecy, ard leading a hole-and-
corner sort Of life when, as / have
said, there was not the slightest
necessity for it. Little by little 1
was beginning to derive the impress
sion that the first notion of Mr..
Hayle was an erroneous one, and
that there was more in him than /
supposed. This sentiment was des.
tined 10 be strengthened, and in the
very near future, by two remarka BILE
discoveries.
That evening I again went for q
walk. Feeling fairly confident, how
ever, that the men who had followed
me before would do so again, I took
certain precautions before l set out
One Of my subordinates, a man re-
markable for his strength, was or
dered to be at the corner of my
street at half-past eight. He was to
wait there until emerged from my
hotel, himself remaining as far as
possible out Of sight. On this occa-
sion 1 had planned my route DELHI
srately. I made my way in the first
place along the Strand as far as
Trafalgar square, down Cockspur
street by way of the Haymarket to
Regent street, then on by Langham
place to that vast network of streets
that lies between Oxford street and
the Euston road
| had some time before this found
out that l was being followed again.
The two men who had logged my
steps on the previous night were do
ing 30 again, though the reason for
their action was no more apparent
However. ! had laid my plans most
carefully, and hoped, If all went well,
to be able to satisfy myself upon this
point. l had plenty of enemies,
knew, as a man of my profession
must Of necessity have, but | could
not think Of one who would pry upon
my movements like this At last the
time came for action. Turning into
q side street. slackened my pace in
order to give my pursuers time to
come up. Apart from ourselves the
street was quite deserted, and, IL
they intended doing me harm, was
quite dark enough to favor their
plans. / could see as we'll as hear