Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-11-27

IliuHV lHdNhS LUZ tHc ScI'l't yOu
have rendered me. 1t has helped me
more than l 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. "I am very glad
to have been useful to you"
When he had gone I sat down at
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 l had
been paid to find, and. what was
worse, had even terminated the in
tervicw myself. When realized
everything, l could have kicked my
self for my stupidity. Why should
I have suspected him, however? The
very boldness of his scheme carried
conviction with it! Certainly, Mr..
"
of my steel. and / began to realize
that, with such Il man to deal with,
the enterprise / had taken in hand
was likely to prove a bigger affair
than | had bargained for.
"IIavinc failed in both his attempts
to get me out of the way. his next
move will be to leave England with
10 dol ~ Ia IN
myself. "If only | knew in what part
of London he was staying, I'd ram
sack il for him. if had to visit every
house in order to do so. AS il is, he
has a 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
toom.
"Mr. Kitwater and Mr.. Codd to sec
you. sir"
"Show them in" I said, and mo-
ment later the blind man and his
companion were ushered into my
presence.
expression upon my face that l was
not pleased to see them.
"You must forgive me for troubling
you again so soon," said Kitwater,
as ne dropped into the chair had
placed for him, but you can under
stand that we are really anxious
about the affair. Your letter tells
us that you discovered that Hayle
was in London a short time since,
and that he had realized upon some
of the stones. Is it not possible for
YOU to discover some trace of his
whercab outs?"
II have not been able to do that
vet" | answered. 1T will be of in
tercst to YOU, however, to know that
he called upon me here in this room.
and occupied the chair YOU are now
sitting in, three days ago"
Kitwatcr clutchcd the arm of the
chair in question and his face went
as white as his beard.
"In this room three DAYS ago. and
sitting in your presence" he cried.
"Thcn YOU know where he is, and
can take us to him?"
Il regret that such a thing is out
of nv power" 7 answered. "The
man came into and left this room
without being hindered by me-"
Kitwater sprang to his feet with
an oath that struck me as COMM
rather oddly from the lips of a mis-
eionarv.
81 coe II all Won ore in leapue
with him" he cried. his face suffuscd
with passion. you are siding with
him AGAINST us. By God YOU are, and
III have YOU punished for it. You
hoodwinked MS, YOU sold us. You've
taken our money. and now you've
gone over and are acting for the
enemy"
| opened the drawer Of nv table
and took ont the envelope he had
,riven me when he had called. For a
reason of nv own I had not banked
the note it contained.
Excuse me. Mr.. Kitwater." 7 said
speaking as calmly as could, but
there seems to be a little misunder
standing. l have not sold you, and
] have not zone over to the enemy
There is the money Won gave me
and will not charge you anything
for the little trouble ! have bee!
put to. That should convince you o.
my INTEGRITY. Now perhaps YOU will