Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-20

tne coverings were withdrawn and the
contents of the receptacles stood re-
| vealed. Two were filed with uncut
gems, rubies and sapphires, others
contained bar gold. and yet more con-
tanned gems, to which it was scarcely
possible in such a light. to assign a
name. One thing al least was ascertain.
SO vast was the treasure that the
three men stood tongue-tied with
| amazement at their good fortune. In
their widest dreams they had never
imagined such luck. and now that this
vast treasure lay at their finger-ends.
TO De handled. to be made sure of,
they were unable to realize the extent
of their future happiness. Hayle dived
his hands into a bowl of uncut rubies,
and having collected as many as he
could hold in each fist, turned to his
companions.
Look here" he cried, "it's the Bank
of England in each hand
His voice ended in a choke. Then
kitwater took up the tale.
81 must get out of this or shall go
mad" he muttered, hoarsely. Come,
let us go back to the light. If Idon't
l shall die
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
fag-stones of the courtyard, and set
to work. with feverish earnestness, to
overhaul the booty they had procured.
All three We're good judges of stones,
and very brief examination was suf-
ficient, 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 seldom
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. III tell you what it is, my friends,
We're 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 ill
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 E 100000 worth in
this little parcel" be said, enthusiast
tically, land, 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! Not" said Kitwater, "it's too
late. We'd better be getting back to
the camp as soon as may be-"
Every WELL" Hayle replied, reluct-
antly.
They accordingly picked up their
iron bars and replaced the stone that
covered the entrance to the subter-
ranean passage.
81 don't like leaving it," said HayIe,
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 be
better to fill our pockets while we'v,
the chance? Who knows what might
happen before we can come again 2"
Nonsense" said Kitwater. "Who
do you think is going to rob us of
it? What's the use of worrying
about it? In the morning we'll come
back and fill our bags, and then clear
out of the place for civilization as if
the devil and all were after us. Just
think, my lads, what there will be to
divide"
"a million apiece, at least" said
Hayle rapturously, and then in an
awed voice he added, as if he were
discounted by his own significance,
II never thought to be worth quar-
ter of that. Somehow it doesn't
seem as if it can be real"
Its quite real" said Mr.. Codd, as
he sprinkled some dry dust round the
crack of the stone to give it an ap-
pearance of not having been dis
turbed. "There's 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 sun
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 outer 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,
it 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 We're gloating over
the treasure they had won for them
selves, and one, at least, was specu-
lating as to how he should spend his
share. Suddenly Hayle, who was
looking down side street, uttered
an exclamation of surprise.
did you see that?" he INQUIRED of