Crittenden press., 1902-03-13

ern history would have been aston
ished at the extent Of his learning.
lie. was never so happy as when bur-
rowing amongst ancient records, and
10 was mainly due TO his learning in
the first place, and to n some what sim
gular accident in the second. that the
trio were now foregathered in Singa-
pore. His personal appearance was a
peculiar one. His height was scarce
ly more than four feet six inches. His
face was round, and at a distance APP
peared almost boyish. IL was only
when one came to look into it more
closely that IL was seen TO be scored
by numberless small lines. Moreover,
IL was unadorned by either beard or
mustache. His hair was gray, and was
worn somewhat longer than is usual.
He could speak huently almost every
language OF the east, and had been
imprisoned by the Russians for seal
ing in prohibited waters, had been tor
tured by the Chinese on the Yangtse,
and, to his own unextinguishable dis
grace. fiogged by the French in Ton
uun. Not the least curious trait in
his character was the affection he en-
tertained for Kitwater. The pair had
been together for years. had quarreled
repeatedly, but had never separated.
The record OF their doings would form
an interesting hook. but for want Of
space cannot be more than referred
10 here. Hayle had been their part
ner in not a few Of their curious un-
dertakings. for his courage and re-
source made him valuable ally.
though how far they trusted each
other IL is impossible to say.
Breakfast over they adjourned to
the yeranda. where the inevitable
cigars made their appearance.
Now let's hear what you've got TO
say 20 me?" Hayle began.
"Not here" Kitwater replied. "There
are too many listeners. Come down
TO the harbor."
SO saying he led his companions TO
the water side. where he chartered .
native boat for an hours sail Then,
when they were out OF earshot Of the
land, he bade Hayle pay attention to
what he had 10 say.
First and foremost you must under
stand" he said, "that it's all due TO
Coddy here. We heard something oft
from an old Siamese in Hanoi. but we
never put much trust In II. Then
Coddy began 10 look around. TO hunt
up some OF the musty records. and
after awhile he began 10 think that
there might be something in the story
after all. You see it's this way: You
know Sengkor-Wat?"
"Seugkor how much?"
"Sengkor-Wat--the old ruin at the
back OF Burmah, near the Chinese
border. Such a place as you never
dreamt OF. Tumble-down palaces,
temples. and all that sort OF thing
lying out there all alone in the Jungle"
1--WE seen Amber" said Hayle. with
the air OF a man who makes a remark
that cannot be lightly turned aside.
after that l don't want any more
ruined cities. I've got no use for
them"
''No. but you've got a use for other
things, haven't you? You can use ru-
bies as big as pigeons eggs, | suppose.
You've got a use for sapphires. the
like OF which mortal man never set
eyes on before"
That's certainly So" Hayle replied.
"But what has this Sengkor-wat to do
with it?"
Everything in the world" Kitwa-
ter replied. That's where those ru-
bies are, and, what's more, that's
where we are going to find them"
"Are you joking, or is this sober
earnest?"
He looked from Kitwater to Codd.
The little man thus appealed TO nodded
his head. He agreed with all his COM
panion said.
"It's quite true" said he. after a
pause. "Rubies, sapphires and gold
enough 20 make us all millionaires
times over"
"Bravo for Sengkor-Wat. thenl" said
Hayle. "But how do you know all this ?"
1--WE told you already that Coddy
found 81 out" Kitwater replied.
Looking over his old records he dis
covered something that put him on
the track. Then l happened TO re-
member that, years ago, when was in
Hanoi. an old man had told me n won
derful story about a treasure cham
ber in n ruined city in the Burmese
Jungle. A Freuchman who visited the
place. and had written a book about IL,
mentions the fact that there Is a
legend amongst the natives that vast
treasure is buried I'm the ruins, but
only one man, so far as we can dis
cover, seems to have taken the trouble
to have looked for IT,"
"But how big are the ruins?"
"Bigger than London, so Coddy
says!"
Coddy nodded his head in confirma-
tion OF this fact. But still Hayle
seemed incredulous,
And you are going 10 search all
that area? 1t strikes me that you
will be an old man by the time you
find the treasure, Kitwater."
"Don't you believe IL. We've got
something better to go upon than
that. There was an old Chinese trav-