Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-03-11
CHAPTER III-(Continued.)

CHAPTER III-(Continued.)
"Have you any idea where the man
went after he robbed you?"
"He crossed the province of Yunnan
into Burmah," he replied. "After that
he made his way through Rangoon. and
shipped on board the steamer jenna
dar for London"
when did the Jemadar reach Lon
don?"
Son the 23d of June" he answered.
"We have made inquiries upon that
point"
1 made a note of this. and then con
tinued my inquiries.
"One other question: said. while
we are on the subject, what do you
suppose would be the total value of
the treasure of which he robbed you?"
"That is very difficult to say" Kit
water replied, and then turned to his
companion and held out his hand. The
other took it and tapped upon the palm
with the tips of his fingers in a sort of
acknowledgement fashion that l had
never seen used before.
''My friend says that there were 90
stones, all rubies, and sapphires; they
were of exquisite luster and extraor-
binary size. Possibly they might have
been worth anything from e170,ooo
to G250,O00."
I opened my Eyes on hearing this.
We're the men telling me the truth, L
asked myself, or were they trying to
interest me in the case by exaggerat-
ing the value of the treasure?
What you say is almost incompre-
hensible," / continued. 81 trust you
will forgive me, out can you substan-
tiate what you say"
"When we say that we + willing to
pay your expenses in advance if you
will try to find the man, / think we are
giving you very good proof of our
bona fides,' he remarked. Il am
afraid we cannot give you any other,
seeing, as 1 have said, that we are both
poor men. If you are prepared TO take
up our case, we shall be under a life
long gratitude to you, but if you can
not, we must endeavor to find some one
else who will undertake the task"
SIT is impossible for me to decide
o whether / can take it up or not"
I said, leaning back in my chair and
looking at them both as l spoke. 81
must have time to think it over; there
are a hundred and one things to be
considered before I can give you a di-
rect reply"
There was silence for a few mo.
ments, and then Kitwater, who had
been holding his usual mysterious
communications with his friend, said:
"When do you think you will be able
TO let us have IN answer?"
'"That depends upon a variety OF
circumstances" I replied. SIT is q
matter difficult to average. In the first
place there is no knowing where the
man is at present; he may be in Lon
don; lie may be in America; he may be
in any other portion of the globe. Ii
might cost 500 to find him, it might
cost $4,000. You must see for your
selves how. uncertain it all is"
SIN that case we should be prepared
to give security for the first-named
amount, or pay you half in advance
Kitwater replied. 81 hope you do not
think, Mr.. Fairfax, that we are endeav.
oring to play you false? You can see
for yourself that our injuries are per
manent, and, as far as they go, are al
least evidence concerning the truth Of
our story. You al also see for your
self how this man has behaved to-
wards us. He has robbed us of all we
hold valuable, and to his act of treach,
cry we owe the mutilations we have
suffered. Can you wonder that we are
anxious to find him?"
ST do not wonder at that at ALL"
said. "My only feeling is that mus
regard it as an entirely business mat
ter"
"We cannot blame YOU" Kitwatel
replied. "Yet you must surely under
stand our anxiety for a definite ant
immediate answer. The man has had
considerable start of us already, an
he has doubtless disposed of the jew
els ere this. At whatever price he solt
them, he must now be in possession o
a considerable fortune, which right,
belongs to us. We are not vindictiy,
men; all we ask is for our own"
"I quite agree with you there" I re
piled. "The only question in my min'