Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-04-15

Noud that want TO speak 10 you.
she said, sinking her voice little, as
if she were afraid they might hear.
and what about them?"
81 want to be loyal to them. and
yet want to know what you think
of the whole affair."" she said, look
ing intently at me as she spoke.
Believe me, l have good and sutti-
Gent reasons for my request"
Il am to tell exactly what think
about their pursuit of this man
Hayle? And what chances of sue
cess l think they possess?" l said.
II am not thinking. so much of
their success" she returned, las of
the real nature of their case
Il believe 1 understand what is
passing in your mind" I said. In
deed ! should not be surprised if the
suspicion you entertain is not the
same as | have myself"
"Iou have been suspicious, then?"
II could scarcely fail to be-" ! re-
piled.
Perhaps you will tell me what you
suspect?"
''Will you forgive me, in my turn,
if am abrupt, or if l speak my mind
little too plainly?"
You could not do that" she an
swered with sigh. 81 want to know
your exact thoughts, and then I
shall be able to form my own CON
clusions."
Well" 1 said, before 7 begin,
may | put one or two questions to
you? You will. of course, remember
that | had never seen or heard of
your uncle and Mr.. Codd until they
stopped me on Ludgate Hill They
were and practically are strangers
to me. l have heard their story of
their treasure, but / have not heard
what anyone else has to say upon
the subject"
81 think | understand. Now what
are your euestions?"
"In the first place, did your late
father ever speak to you of his
brother as being a missionary in
China?"
She shook her head, and from the
look upon her face I could see that
had touched upon something pair
full. This, at least, was one of the
things that had struck her as sus-
picious.
IF he were missionary, I am
quite sure my father did not know
it," she said. in fact 1 always un-
derstood that he was somewhat of
scapegrace, and in consequence could
never settle down to anything. That
is your first, now what is your sec
ond question, Mr.. Fairfax"
1 paused for q momene before I
replied.
MY second partakes more of the
nature of an assertion than a ques-
tion," I answered "As / read it,
you are more afraid of what may
happen should the two men meet
than anything else"
''Yes, that is just what I am
afraid Of" she replied. My uncle's
temper is so violent, and his desire
for revenge SO absorbing, that dare
not think what would happen if he
came into actual contact with Hayle.
Now that l have replied to your
questions, will you give me the an
swer l want? That is to say will
you tell me what you think of the
whole AFFAIR.""
IF you wish it, I WILL" I said,
slowly. "You have promised to per-
NIT me to be candid, and am going
to take advantage of that permits
sion. In my own mind I do not be-
lieve the story they tell. 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 I 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, I 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-
tute condition. Now we will suppose
that find Hayle for them, and they
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 I would
rather do that than let my fathers
brother commit a crimeo she re-