Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-02-25
swered. Then he added repretfullv.

sWered. linen ne added, regretfully:
"a regular toff-he was-free with
his rhino as could be, and dressed up
to the mines. He chncked his 'arf
coverings about as if they were dirt.
he did,"
ut is sad to think that, through
your folly, no more of them will find
themselves into your pocket" said.
you should have done the trick last
night, and you would now be in the
full enjoyment of your wealth. AS it
is you have had all your
trouble for nothing. Now, that's
all want to say to you, so you
can go and join your amiable com
panions as soon as you like. Just
one word of advice, however, before
you depart. Don't go near ST. Mar
tins church tonight, and, when you
want to kick another unoffending
citizen to death, be sure of your man
before you commence operations"
AS l said this / rang the bell and
told Wilson to show him out, which
he did.
"Now," said to myself after he
had gone. this looks like developing
into an affair after my own heart.
am most anxious to discover who
my mysterious enemy can be. It
might be Grobellar, but fancy he is
still in Berlin. There's Tremasty,
but don't think he would dare ven
ture to England. No, when l come
to think of it, this business does not
seem to belong to either of them"
took from my pocket the watch
which was to have played such an
important part in the drama and
/ consulted it. 1t was just half-past
eleven, therefore I had exactly half
an hour to get to the rendezvous. I
called Wilson and congratulated him
on the success which had attended
our efforts of that evening.
cts good thing you came out of
It so well, sir" he said. '.They were
nasty pair of chaps, and would
have thought as much Of outing
you as they would of drinking a pot
of ale."
"But thank goodness, they didn't
succeed" replied. "As the saying
goes, "a miss has never killed man
yet And now, Wilson, you'd better
be off home to bed. Turn out the gas
before you go. Good night"
"Good night, SIR" he answered,
and then put. on my hat and left
the Office.
I found when I stepped into the
street that the character of the
night had changed. Thick clouds
obscured the sky, and a few drops OF
rain were falling. At first l felt in
clined to take cab, but on second
thoughts 1 changed my mind, and
| putting up my umbrella strobe along
in the direction of St. Martins
| church.
The theaters were over by this
time, and the streets were beginning
to grow empty. I passed the Gaiety
where middle-aged gentleman, de-
cidedly intoxicated, was engaged in a
noisy alteration with policeman,
who was threatening to take him to
Bow street if he did not go quietly
home, and at last approached the
spot for which was making. I took
up my position on the darker side of
Holyweu street, and waited. So far
I seemed to have the thoroughfarc
| to myself, but had still some three
| or four minutes to wait.
At last midnight sounded, and as ]
heard it l concealed myself more
carefully in my doorway and
watched. was not to be kept long
in suspense, for the new day was
scarcely three minutes old when a
hanson drove up to the other side
of the church, and man alighted.
He paid off the man and wished him
good night, and then came along the
roadway at the back of the church.
From where stood could SEQ his
figure distinctly, but was not able
to distinguish his face. He was
dressed in q black cloak, and wore a
deer-stalker hat upon his head. That
he was the man wanted felt sure,
for what would anyone else be doing
there at such an hour? That he was
surprised at not finding his bravoes
awaiting him was very certain, for
he looked up the street, down the
street, peered into Holywell street,
where, thank goodness, he did not
see me. then along the Strand in a
westerly direction, and afterwards
came and took up his position within
half dozen PAGES of where I was
hidden. Presently he took cigar
case from his pocket, opened it, Sc
lected weed, and struck match to
light it. The fame illumined his face
SO that I could see it distinctly. If
had not had myself well under con-
troll, 1 believe should have uttered
an exclamation Of surprise that could
not have failed to, attract attention.
The man who had set those rascals
on to try and get rid of me was
none other than Mr.. Edward BayleY,
the managing director of the Santa
Cruz Mining company of the Argen-
tine Republic!
Here was surprise indeed! What
on earth did it all mean?
ITO be continuedl
or es~er cNS>ASNN
\ fA n,,wn Sh~R 0.,.>>