The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1902-05-06
My Strangest Case
BY GUY BOOTHBY.
Author of ''Dr. Ki<ola,'' "The Beautiful
White Devil PharOs, The
Egyptian" Etc.
LCOpyriehted, 1901, by Ward, Lock & Col
CHAPTER V.-CoNr1NUED.

CHAPTER V.-CONTINUED.
When he had gone 1 sat down at
my desk to think. 1 had had good
many surprises in my life, but 1 don't
know that 1 had ever been more as
tonished than I was that afternoon.
II only 1 had been aware of Hayle's
identity when he had called upon me
two mornings before, how simply
everything might have been ar
ranged AS a matter of fact 1 had
been talking with the very man had
been paid to find, and, what was
worse, had even terminated the in
terview myself. When 1 realized
everything, I could have kicked my
self for my stupidity. Why should
/ have suspected him, however? The
very boldness of his scheme carried
conviction with it! Certainly, Mr..
Gideon Hayle was a foeman worthy
of my steel, and I began to realize
that, with such man to deal with,
the enterprise 1 had taken in hand
was likely to prove a bigger affair
than had bargained for.
Having failed in both his attempts
to get me out of the way, his next
move will be to leave England with
as little delay as possible" 1 said to
myself. eff only knew in what part
of London he was staying, I'd ran
sack it for him, if had to visit every
house in order to do so. AS it is, he
has a thousand different ways of es-
cape, and unless luck favors me 1
shall be unable to prevent him from
taking his departure"
At that moment there was a tap
at the door and my clerk entered the
room.
'Mr. Kitwater and Mr.. Codd to see
you, sir.''
"Show them in" said, and mo-
ment later the blind man and his
companion were ushered into my
presence.
Codd must pJBf aEff1 y difEaicEeeit that at I was
not pleased to see them.
you must forgive me for troubling
you again so soon,' said Kitwater,
as he dropped into the chair l had
placed for him, "but you can under
stand that we are really anxious
about the affair. Your letter tells
US that you discovered that Hayle
was in London a short time since,
and that he had realized upon some
of the stones. Is it not possible for
you to discover some trace of his
whereabouts?"
81 have not been able to do that
yet" I answered. ct will be of in
terest to you, however, to know that
he called upon me here in this room,
and occupied the chair you are now
sitting in, three days ago"
Kitwaterj clutched the arm of the
chair in question and his face went
as white as his beard.
I'm this room three days ago, and
sitting in your presence" he cried.
'Then you know where he is, and
can take us to him?"
''I regret that such a thing is out
of my power" 1 answered. 1.-THE
man came into and left this room
without being hindered by me-"
Kitwater sprang to his feet with
an oath that struck me as coming
rather oddly from the lips of mis-
sionary.
81 see it ali. You are in league
with him." he cried, his face suffused
with passion. You are siding with
him against us. BY God you are, and
I'll have you punished for it. You
hoodwinked us, you sold us. You've
taken our money, and now you've gone
over and are acting for the enemy"
] opened the drawer of my table
and took out the envelope he had
given me when he had called. For a
reason of my own l had not banked
the note it contained.
Excuse me, Mr.. Kitwater." | said,
speaking as calmly as l could, but
there seems to be a little misunder-
standing. I have not sold you. and
1 have not gone over to the enemy.
There is the money you gave me.
and I will not charge you anything
for the little trouble l have been
put to. That should convince you of
my integrity. Now perhaps you will
leave my Office, and let me wash nv
hands of the whole affair"
1 noticed that little Codd placed
his hand upon the others arm. 1t
travelled down until their hands met.
I saw that the blind man was MAX
ing an effort to recover his com.
pOsure, and l felt sure that he re-
GREETED ever having lost it. A mo-
ment later Codd came across the
room to my table, and, taking up a
piece of paper, wrote upon it the
following words:
"Kitwater is sorry, am sure. Try
to forgive him. Remember what he
las suffered through Hayle."