Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1902-07-02
My Strangest Case
BY GUY BOOTHBY.
Author of "Dr. KikoIa,' - The Beautiful
White Devil" Pharos, The
Egyptian" Etc.
Copyrighted, 1901, - ward, Lock 4 Col
CHAPTER IX.-CoNrryurp.

At last | reached the British out
post of Nampomg, on the Burmah-
Chinese border, where the officers
took me in and played the part OF
the good Samaritan. When | was
we'll enough TO ts-avcl | made my
way down TO Rangoon, where. still
believing my late companions to be
dead, shipped Tor England"
AS Mr.. George Bcrtram," | said.
quietly. why under an assumed
name, when, according to your story,
you had nothing to fcar?"
because | had good and sufficient
reason for so doing" he replied.
you must remember that had
quarter Of a millions worth of pre-
cious stones in my possession, and.
well, TO put it bluntly. up to that
time had been living what YOU
might call makc-shift sort of life.
For the future | told myself | was
going to he rich man That being
90, ! wanted to start with a clean
sheet. You can scarcely blame met"
did not answer him on this point.
but continued my crosS-cxamination.
iou reached London. and sold
some Of the stones there. later on
yo" disposed of some more in Am
sterdam- Why did you refuse the
dealers your name and address,"
Once more he was quite equal to
the occasion.
because if had told them. every
body would have to know it. and.
10 be perfectly frank with YOU. |
could not feel quite certain that Kit
water and Codd were really dead"
by that ! am to presume that YOU
INTENDED, if possible to sNvindle them
out of their Sharc?' | asked. not a
little surprised by his admission.
Once more, to be frank with YOU.
did. | have no desire to be rude.
but ] rather fancy you would have
done the same had you been sim
ilarly situated. | mover was much
of success in the moral business"
] could well believe this. but | did
mot tell him so.
when did you first become aware
that they were in London?"
On the day that they landed" he
answered. II watched every ship
that came in from Rangoon. and at
last had the doubtful satisfaction of
seeing my two old friends pass out
of the dock-gatcs. Poor beppars
fhey had indeed had hard time
of it"
Then YOU could pity them? Even
while you were robbing them?"
why not?" he answered. There
was no reason because had the
stones that | should not feel sorry
for the pain they had suffered.
had 10 remember how near I'd been
TO it myself"
This speech sounded Very pretty
though somewhat illogical.
And pray how did you know that
they had called in my assistance?"
J"cause 1 kept my eyes on them.
knew Mr.. Kitwater Of old. YOU see.
i watched them go into your Office
and come oct from shop on the
OSher side Of the stree. "
Jhe whole mystery was now ex-
Fsained. What an amount Of trouble
Z should have been spared had only
known this before
You did not approve then, Of my
being imported into the casc?"
distinctly di-approvcd." he an
severed II knew your reputation. Of
'eourse and began 10 see that If
yo9 sook mp their case for them I
should in an probability have to
climb down"
III is doubtless for that reason
you called upon me. representing
yoIr-clf 10 bee Mr.. BayIcv. mauaoir0
director Of that South American
Mining company? ! can now quite
understand your motive. you want
81 10 get ur out of fhc way .p or
dee that ] might not hunt YOU? Is
fbut not 500"
~You hit the nail upon the head
exactly. But you we're virtuous and
would not swallow tine baf.. ~ would
have -upifed matters from ms
point of view If you had should
moi hate been compelled 10 waste my
money upon those two rourh.. nor
would you have spent am exceedingly
uncomfortable quarter of am hour In
chat doorway 100 IIolrwcU street,"
lhie was news indeed So be had
bern aware of my presence there
put thc que ion 90 him
.Db. Yes. ] knew you we're there"
bc said with laugh. "Aud ] can tell
yoe j did not like the situation one
biL As a mattel OF fact. ] found
fha5 - required ail my nerve 20 pre-.
tea that DID not know it Every
asnt 1 expected you 20 come out