The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-05-23
My Strangest Case
BY GUY BoorHBY.
Author of cdr. KikoIa," "The Beautiful
White Devil "Pharos, The
Egyptian" Etc.
Copyrighted, 1901, by Ward, Lock q Col
PART II.-CoNT1NUED.


Without more ado, like men who
were drunk with the finest wines, they
followed him along the passage and
up the steps into the open air. They
were just in time to see the sun set
ting blood-red behind the jungle. His
beauty, however, had no effect upon
them. In all probability they were re-
CARELESS of him altogether, for with
almost simultaneous signs of relief
they threw themselves down upon the
hag-stones of the courtyard, and set
to work, with feverish earnestness, to
overhaul the booty they had procured.
All three were good judges of stones,
and very brief examinat ton was suf-
flclent, even in the feeble evening light,
to enable them to see that they were
not only gems of the first water, but
also stones of such size as is seld ON
seen in these unregenerate days.
Its the biggest scoop on EARTH"
said Hayle, unconsciously echoing the
expression Kitwater had used to him
In Singapore. whats better, there
are hundreds more like them down be-
low I'll tell you what it is, my friends,
were just the richest men on this
earth at the present moment, and
don't you forget it!''
In his excitement he shook hands
wildly with his companions. His i'll
.humor had vanished like breath off a
razor, and now he was on the best of
terms not only with himself, but also
with the world in general.
"If l know anything about stones
there are at least 100000 worth in
this little parcel" he said, enthusiasts
'tically, "and, what is more, there is a
million or perhaps two millions to be
had for the trouble of looking for
them. What do you say if we go be.
low again?"
mo! MOI" said Kitwater, cts toe
late. We'd better be getting back tc
the camp as soon as may be-"
Every WE'LL" Hayle replied, reluct
antly.
They accordingly picked up theil
dron bars and replaced the stone thai
covered the entrance to the subter
ranean passage.
81 don't like leaving it, said Hayle
sit don't seem to me to be safe, some
how. Think what there is down there
Doesn't it strike you that it would b,
better to fill our pockets while we've
the chance? Who knows what nigh
happen before we can come again Q
Nonsense" said Kitwater. "Wh,
do you think is going to rob us o
it? What's the use of worrying
about it? In the morning We'll com,
back and fill our bags, and then clcal
out of the place for civilization as i
the devil and all were after us. Jus
think, my lads, what there will be tt
divide"
ga million apiece, at least" sale
Hayle rapturously, and then in al
awed voice he added, as if he were
discounted by his own significance
81 never thought to be worth quar-
ter of that. Somehow it doesn'1
seem as if it can be real"
cts quite real,' said Mr.. Codd, a.
he sprinkled some dry dust round the
crack of the stone to give it an ap
pearance of not having been dis
turbed. "Theres no doubt of it,"
When he had finished they picked
up their tools and set off on their re
turn journey to the camp. The sur
had disappeared behind the jungle
when they left the courtyard of the
Three Elephants Heads and ascend
ed the stone steps towards the inner
moat. They crossed the bridge, and
entered the QUEER city in silence
The place was very dreary at that
hour of the day, and to Codd, who
was of an imaginative turn of mind
1T seemed as if faces out of the long
deserted past were watching him
from every house. His companions,
however, were scarcely so impress
sionable. They were gloating over
the treasure they had won for them
selves, and one, at least, was specu-
!atin2 as to how he skculd spend his