Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-03-11

whole AFFAIR.""
IF you wish it, will" / said,
slowly. "You have promised to per-
nit me to be candid, and i am going
to take advantage of that permits
sion. In my own mind l do not be-
I lieve the story they tell. l do not
believe that they were ever mission
! aries, though we have convincing
| proofs that they have been in the
hands of the Chinese. That Hayle
betrayed them l have not the least
/ doubt, it seems consistent with his
| character, but where they obtained
the jewels, that are practically the
keystones to the whole affair, / have
no more notion than you. They may
have been honestly come by, or they
may not. So far as the present case
is concerned that fact is immaterial.
There is still, however, one vital
! point we have to consider. If the
| gems in question belong equally to
the three men, each is entitled to his
proper share, either Of the stones or
of the amounts realized by the sale.
That share, as you already know,
would amount to considerable sum
(. of money. Your uncle, take it, has
not penny-piece in the world, and
| his companion is in the same desti-
i tute condition. Now we will suppose
that find Hayle for them, and they
1 meet. Does it not seem to you quite
possible that your uncle's rage might
lead him to do something desperate,
in order to revenge himself upon the
other? But if he could command
himself he would probably get his
money? If, on the other hand, they
do not meet, then what is to be
done? Forgive me, Miss Kitwater,
for prying into your private affairs,
but in my opinion it is manifestly
unfair that you should have to sup
port these two men for the rest of
their existences."
"You surely must see that would
/ rather do that than let my fathers
brother commit crime" she re-
turned, more earnestly than she had
yet spoken.
The position was decidedly an awk-
ward one. 1t was some proof of the
| girls sterling qualities that she
should be prepared to make such q
sacrifice for the sake of man whom
1t was certainly impossible love,
and for that reason even to respect.
| looked ut her with an admiration
in my face that I did not attempt to
conceal. said nothing by way Of
praise. however. 1t would have been
an insult to her to have even limited
at such a thing.
Pardon me-" / said at last, "but
there is one thing that must be
taken into considera ton. Some day,
Miss Kitwater, you may marry, and
in that case your husband might not
care about the arrangement you
have made. Such things have hap
/ pened before now"
She blushed rosy red and hesi-
| tated before she replied.
II do not consider it very likely
that I shall ever marry" she an
swered. .And even if l did / should
certainly not marry man who
would object to my doing what I
consider to be my duty. And now
that we have discussed all this, Mr..
Fairfax, what do you think we had
better do? l understood you to say
to my uncle that you intend leaving
| for. Paris tomorrow morning, in orr
der to continue your search for the
man Hayle. Surprising you find him,
what will you do then?n
I'm such a case" l said, slowly,
| looking at her all the time, 81 should
endeavor to get your uncle's and
1 Codd's share of the treasure from
| him. If am successful, then shall
let him go where he pleases.'
"And surprising you are unsuccess-
full in obtaining the money or -the
gems?"
.'Then I must endeavor to think of
some other way" l replied, "but
somehow do not think l shall be
unsuccessful"
"Nor do l." she answered, looking
me full and fair in the face. ~ fan.
cy you know that believe in you
most implicitly, Mr.. Fairfax.
"In that case, do you mind shaking
hands upon it?" said.
II will do so with much pleasure"
she answered. "You cannot imagine
what a weight you have lifted off my
mind. I have been SO depressed
about it lately that have scarcely
| known what TO do. have lain
awake at night, turning it oyer and
over in my mind, and trying to CON
vince myself as to what was best to
be. done. Then my uncle told me
| you were coming down here, and ]
resolved to put the case before you
as have done and to ask your opin-
ion."
She gave me her little hand, and
took 1t and held it in my own. Then
I released it and we strobe back
along the garden-path together with
out another word. The afternoon
was well advanced by this time, and
| when we reached the summer-house
where Codd was still reading. we
| found that little wicker tea-table
had been brought out from the house
and that chairs had been placed for
us round it. To my thinking there
is nothing that becomes pretty
woman more than. the mere common
place act of pouring out tea. 1t was
certainly so in this case. When
looked at the white. cloth upon the
table, the heavy brass tray, and the
| silver Jugs and teapot. and thought