Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-11-06

10 De nanuIeu. 40 ht Ia tde sure o.
they were unable 20 realize the extcu
Of their future happiness. Hayle dive
his hands into bowl of uncut rub't
and having collected as many as h,
could hold in each fist, turned to his
companions.
Look here" he cried, cts the Bank
Of England in each hand"
His voice ended in choke. Then
Kitwater took up the tale.
81 must get out Of this or shall &c
mad" he muttered, hoarsely. "Come
let us go back to the light. If don't
/ 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
we're 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 were good judges of stones,
and a very brief animation was suf.
ficient, even in the fe eble 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.
ats the biggest scoop on earth"
said Hayle, unconsciously echoing the
expression Kitwater had used to him
in Singapore. "What's better, there
are hundreds more like them down be.
low. I'll 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 i'll"
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 bcs, of
terms not only with himself, but also
with the world in general.
IF know anything about stones
there are at least c 100000 worth in
this little parcel" he said. enthusiasts
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 60 be-
low again?"
NO! MOI" said Kitwater, cts too
late. We'd better be getting back to
the camp as soon as may be-"
Every WE'LL" Hayle replied, reluct-
antly.
They accordingly picked up their
iron bars and replaced the stone that
covered the entrance to the subter-
ranean passage.
II don't like leaving it," said Hayle,
cit don't see m to me TO he sa fe. some
how. Think what there is down there
Doesn't it strike you that it would be
better TO fill our pockets while we've
the chance? Who knows what might
happen before we can come again."
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 il
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 IL he were
discounted by his own significance,
II never thought to be worth a quar-
ter OF that. Somehow il 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 il an ap-
pearance Of not having been dis
turhed. "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 he
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
'''NA VI tiit ddN, anu 10 AOuu, W no
was of an imaginative turn of mind,
it seemed as il 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-
lating as to how he should spend his
share. Suddenly Hayle, who was
looking down a side street, uttered
an exclamation of surprise
did you see that?" he inquired of
kitwater. Then, without waiting for
a reply, he dived into the nearest
ruin and disappeared from view.
What on earth is the matter with
him?" inquired Ktwater Of Codd.
Has he gone mad?"
Codd only shook his head. Hale's
doings were more often than not an
enigma to him. Presently, however,
the runaway made his appearance
before them. His face was flushed
and he breathed heavily. Apparent
ly he had been running, and for some
distance.
Don't you see him?" he inquired
OF his companions, in some surprise.
"See who?" asked Kitwater, with
elevated eyebrows. "Who do YOU
think you save"
"A man." Hayle replied. "I am
ready to take my oath I saw him
cross that narrow street back yonder."
"Was il one of nmr own men dn rnn