Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-02-25

far as possible retire to rest pune
tually ut the usual moment. After
dinner in those days, things have
changed since then somewhat, / in
variably smoked cigar, and when
the. evening was fine went for
stroll, returning between nine and
ten and retiring to rest, unless had
anything to attend to, punctually at
II. On this particular occasion, the
night being fine, though rather. close,
Lit my cigar in the hall and stepped
out into the street exactly as the
clock was striking eight. 1 had lot
to think of, and felt just in the
humor for walk. London at all
hours is fascinating study to me,
and however much l see of her, /
never tire of watching her moods.
After left my hotel strolled along
the embankment SO far as the houses
of parliament, passed the abbey,
made my way down Victoria street,
and then by way of Grosvenor place
to Hyde Park corner. Opposite APPS
ley house paused to look about me.
/ had my reasons for so doing, for
ever since l had left the riverside I
had entertained the notion that
was being followed. When 1 had
crossed the road at the houses of
parliament, two meh, apparently of
the loaier class, had crossed too.
They had followed me up Victoria
street, and now, us stood outside.
the duke of Wellington's residence, I
could see them moving about on the
other side of the way. What their
Intentions We're could not say, but
that their object was to spy upon my
movements / was quite convinced.
In order to assure myself of this
fact resolved to lay little trap
for them. Passing down Piccadilly
at sharp pace, l turned into Berke-
ley street, some 20 yards or so ahead
of them. Crossing the road shell
tered myself in a doorway and wait
ed. had not been there very long
before l observed that they had
turned the corner and were coming
along in hot pursuit. That they did
not notice me in my hiding-place is
evident from the fact that they
passed on the other side of the
street. and, doubtless thinking that
they had missed me, commenced to
run. l thereupon quilted my friend
ly doorway, returned to Piccadilly,
hailed cab, and drove back to my
hotel. AS / went turned the mat
ter over in my mind. With the ex-
ception of the present case l had
nothing important on hand, so that
l could think of no one who would
be likely to set n watch upon me.
That | did not suspect Hayle would
only be natural under the circum-
stances, as 1 did not know then that
he had been the witness of Kitwater
and Codd's visit to my Office that aft
ernoon, and felt convinced in my
own mind that he was unaware that
they were in England. 1t was most
natural, therefore, that should not
in any way associate him with the
plot.
The following day was spent for
the greater part in making further
inquiries in Hatton Garden, and
among the various Dutch merchants
then in London. The story the senior
partner of Messrs. Jacob and Bulen-
thall had told me had proved to be
correct, and there could be no sort
of doubt that Hayle had realized
very large sum of money by the
transaction. What was more, dis
covered that he had been seen in
London within the previous "a hours.
This was most important point,
and 1t encouraged me to persevere in
my search. One thing, however, was
remarkable. One or two of the mer-
chants to whom Hayle had disposed
of his stones had seen more of him
than Messrs. Jacob and Bulenthall.
Two had dined with him at certain
popular restaurant in Regent street,
and had visited theater with him
afterwards. In neither case, how
ever, had they discovered his name
or where he lived. This secret he
guarded most religiously, and the
fact that he did so afforded addition
al food for reflection. If he imagined
his old companions to be dead, why
should he be so anxious that his own
identity, and his place of residence,
should remain q secret? If they
We're safely out of the way, no one
could possibly know of his connec-
ton with them, and in that case he
might, if he pleased, purchase man
sion in Park Lane and flourish his
wealth before the eyes of the world,
for any harm it might do him. Yet
here he was, exciting mistrust by his
secrecy. and leading a hole-and-
corner sort of life when, as have
said, there was not the slightest
necessity for it. Little by little
was beginning to derive the impress
sion that the first notion of Mr..
Hayle was an erroneous one, and
that there was more in him than
supposed. This sentiment was des-
tined to be strengthened, and in the
very near future, by two remarkable
discoveries.
That evening I again went for
walk. Feeling fairly confident, how
ever, that the men who had followed
me before would. do SO again, I took
certain precautions before I set out.
One of my subordinates, a man re-
Variable for his strength, was or
dered to be at the corner. of my
street at half-past eight. He was to
wait there until. I emerged from my
hotel, himself remaining as far as
possible out OF sight, On this occa-
sion I had planned. my route DELHI