Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-12-11

friend as we'll. I found him q most
agreeable companion, witty con-
nationalist, and a born raconteur.
He seemed to have visited every part
Of the known globe; had been a
sailor, . revolutionist in South
America, q blackbirder in the Pacific,
had seen something Of whit he
called the "pig-tsil trade" TO Borneo.
some very queer life in India, that Is
to say, in the comparatively un-
known native states, and had come
within an ace Of having been shot by
The French during the war in NADIA
gascnr.
I'm point Of fact" ne said. 1T may
soy that I have travelled from Dan
to Beersheba, and, until struck
this present vein of good fortune.
had found all barren. Some day, II
I can summon up sufficient courage,
I shall At out an expedition and re-
turn to the place whence the stones
came, and get some more. but not
Just at present. Events have been
a little too exciting there of late to
let us consider IL . healthy country.
BY the way, have you heard from
our friend, Kitwater, YETI"
1T have" I answered, land his re-
ply is by no means satisfactory."
81 understand you TO mean that he
will not entertain my offer?"
nodded my head.
HE must have all or nothing he
declares. That is the wording Of the
telegram I received"
"Well, he knows his own affairs
best. The difference is a large one,
and will materially affect his in
come. Will you take creme de minthe-
kummel or cognac?"
"Cognac, thank you," replied, and
that was the end of the matter.
During the remainder of the even
ing not another word was said upon
the subject. We chatted upon a vari-
ETY. of topics, but neither the mat
ter of the precious stones nor even
Kitwater's name was once men
toned. l could not help fancying,
however, that the man was consider
ably disappointed at the monaco
ceptance of his preposterous offer.
He had made a move on the board,
and had lost it. I knew him we'll
enough, however, by this Tina to feel
sure that he had by no means de-
SPARED yet of winning the game.
Men of Gideon Hayle's stamp are
hard to beat.
Now" he said, when we had
smoked our cigarettes, and after he
had consulted his watch, "thc
night is still young. What do you say
il we pay a visit to q theater-the
IIippodrome. for instance. We might
while away an hour there very pleas
antly. II you feel so disposed"
I willingly consented, and we &C.
cordingly left the restaurant. Once
we were in the street Hayle called .
cab. gave the man his instructions,
and we entered 1t. Chatting pleas.
nntly, and still smoking, we passed
along the brilliantly illuminated
boulevards. bestowed little, if any,
attention on the direction in which
we were proceeding. Indeed, it would
have been difficult to have done SO.
for never during the evening had
Hayls been so agreeable. A more
charming companion no man could
have desired. 1t was only on chanc-
ing to look out the window that
discovered we were no longer In the
gayly-lighted thoroughfares, but
we're entering another and dingier
part of the town.
What is the matter with the
( driver?" I asked. Doesn't he know
what he is about? This is not the
way TO the Hippodrome! He must
have misunderstood what you said to
him. Shall hail him and point out
his mistaken"
NO, don't think it is necessary
for you to do that" he replied
Doubtless he will be on the right
track in few minutes. He prob.
ably thinks II he gives us q longe,
ride he will be able to charge q pro.
portionately larger fee at the end
The Partisan cabby Is very like hi.
London brother"
He then proceeded to describe &c
me an exceedingly funny adventure
that had befallen him once in Chi
cago. The recital lasted some min
utes, and all the time we were still
pursuing our way in direction ex
actly opposite to that which | knew
we should be following. At last
could stand it no longer.
THE mans obviously an IDIOT"
said, land I am going to tell him so.
II shouldn't do that, Mr.. Fairfax,
said Hayle, in a different voice to thai
which he had previously addressed
me. II had my own reasons for no,
telling you before, hut the matter ha.
already been arranged. The man il
only carrying out my instructions"
What do you mean by already ar
ranged?" I asked, not without som,
alarm.
II mean that you are my prisoner
Mr.. Fairfax" he said "You see, 70,
are rather a difficult person to dea
with, II I may pay you such a com
pliment, and one has to adopt heroic
measures in order to cope with you.
Then you have been humbuggine
me all this time" cried; "but you'v,
let tho cat out of the bag a little toe
soon. I think I'll bid you good-by."
was about to rise from my sea
and open the door, but he stopped me
In his hand ne held revolver, the mux
zle Of which was in unpleasant roxim
ity to my head.
ct must ask vou "a ha oood eu m ~,