Crittenden press., 1902-03-13

AM -tONiiNNEbs
Hayle accompanied them into the
bar, and was a witness OF the Satisfac-
tion the landlord endeavored, from
business motives. to conceal. In due
course he followed them 10 the small.
stifiing rooms In the yard at the back,
and observed that they we're placed
on either side OF himself. He had al
ready taken the precaution OF rapping
upon the walls in order to discover
their thickness. and TO find out wheth-
er the sound Of chinking money
was 10 be heard through them.
81 must remember that thirty-seven
and siXpence and two Mexican dollars
are all | have In the world" he said TO
himself 1T would be bad business
Co allow them to suppose that had
more. until find out what they want"
-The last time was here was with
Stellman." said the taller OF the men,
when they met again in the courtyard.
"H, had got n concession from the
Dutcb. so he said. to work portion OF
the West Coast for she'll. lie wanted
me- 20 20 In with him"
"And you couldn't see your way
20 It?"
ave seen two Dutch jails," said the
other; "and have no use for them"
"And what happened TO Stellman?"
asked Hayle. but without any appar-
ent interest. He was thinking OF some
thing else az the time.
"They got his money, his boat and
His shell. with three pearls that would
have made your mouth water" replied
the other.
"And StellmAn?"
"Oh. they buried him at Sourabaya
He took the cholera. so they said, but
have heard since that he died OF star
vatiou. They don't feed you too well
In Dutch islls. especially when you've
got a concession and n consul"
The speaker looked up at his com
panion as he said this, and the other,
who, as have already said, was not
interested In the unfortunate Stell-
man, or had probably heard the tale
before, nodded his head In the direc-
tion OF the room where the smaller
man was engaged on his toilet, 10 the
accompaniment OF splaShing water.
The movement OF the head was as sig
niicant as the nod Of the famous lord
OF Burleigh.
"Just the same as ever" the other
replied. Always pushing his nose into
old papers and documents. until you'd
think he'd make himself III. Lord,
what man he would have been for the
British museuml There's not his
equal on ancient Asia in the world"
"And this particular business?"
"Ah. YOU shall hear all about Il In
the proper time. ThAt'll be tomorrow
morning, / reckon. In the meantime
you can go 60 bed, and content your
self with the knowledge that all being
well, you're going 20 play a hand in
the biggest scoop that ever / or any
body else have tackled"
Mr. Kitwater, for such was the name
OF the gentleman, began his prepara-
tions for the night, vigorously curslng
the mosquitoes as he did so. He was
a fine-looking man, with a powerful.
though somewhat humorous cast of
countenance. His eyes were large and
not unkindly. His head was a good
one from chronological point Of view,
but was marred by the possession of
enormous ears which stood out on
either side Of his head like those OF
bat. He wore a close-cropped beard,
and he was famous for his strength,
which indeed was that OF giant.
"Hayle, II can sum il up Alright. Is
just the same as ever" he said, as he
arranged the mosquito netting OF his
bed. "He doesn't trust me, and don't
trust him. But he'll be none the less
use full for that. Let him try to play
me false, and, by the Lord Harry, he'll
not live 10 do IL again"
With this amiable sentime mt Mr.. Kit
water prepared himself for slumber.
Next morning they met at break
fast. All three were somewhat silent.
1t was as IL the weight of the matter
which was that day TO be discussed
pressed upon their spirits. The small
est Of the trio, Septimus Codd by name,
who was habitually taciturn, spoke
scarcely word. He was strange
>little man, n nineteenth century vii
lain in a sense. He was rogue and