Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-04-02

81 via, across Northern Albania, to
san Giovanni di Medua, on the Aa-
riAtic. A grand scheme that's been
talRe6 Of for years, and which the
SultAn has always prevented by re-
fusink to allow the line to pass
through Turkish territory.
Our lstorv isl added Adams, chat
his majesty has at last signed all
trade granting permission, and that
within month or so the whole con.
cession will be given over to an Eng
lish group of whom am the represen
tative. | saw that the scheme ap.
pealed to him from the very first. He
recognized that there was money in
1t. for such a line would tap the
whole trade Of the Balkans, and by n
junction near the Iron Gates of the
Danube, take the trade OF Roumania,
Hungary, and Southwestern Russia to
the Adriatic instead Of as at present
into the Back sea.
For the past week I've met Bar
clay nearly every day. He suggested
that. as the railway would be mat
ter of millions, he should approach old
Sam Statham and ask him to lend
us his support"
Does he know Statham?"
Slightly. But 1 at once declined
to allow him to speak about the
scheme
"Why?"
Because old Sam, with the aid IT
his spies an1 informants in diplomatic
circles, could In three days satisfy
himself whether our story was true or
false. 1t would have given the whole
story away at once So made an ex-
cuse for continued secrecy"
"Quite right We must not court
failure by allowing any inquiry to De
prematurely made said Lyle. Make
the project a secret one, and speak
Of it with bated breath. Hint at diplo-
matte difficulties between Turkey and
England, if the truth we're known"
That's just what l have done, and
he's completely misled. 1 explained
that Germany would try and bring
pressure upon the Sultan to withdraw
the trade as soon as it were known
that the railway had fallen into Brit
ish hands. And he believed me i'm
plicitly!"
HE had no suspicion of whom you
really are?"
Certainly not. He believes that
I've never met Statham, but that |
have the greatest admiration for his
financial stability, and his excellent
personal qualities, Adams replied:
''He knows me as Jean Adams If
Paris, rs they do here in these flats
man who has extensive business re-
lations in the near east, and there
fore we'll in wit the pasbas of the
sublime porte and the officials Of the
Yildiz. l tell you, Lyle, the young
fellow believes in me-
Because you're such a confound-
eddy clever actor, Adams. You'd de.
ceive the cutest business man in Lon
don, with your wonderful documents,
your rosy prospectuses, and your tales
of fortune ready to be picked up If
only few thousands are invested.
You've thoroughly fascinated young
Max Barclay, who, believing that
you've, obtained very valuable con-
cession, is seized with laudable de-
sire to share the profits and to obtain
a lucrative occupation as a director Of
the company in question"
"Once he has fallen entirely in our
power. the rest will be easy" answer
ed the adventurer. II mean to have
my revenge, and you receive thirty
thousand as your share
l But what form Is this revenge OF
yours to take?" the hunchback in
quired "You have never told me
that"
at is my own affair."" answered Ad-
ans, leaning back against the man.
tleshelf.
"Well, 1 think between friends
there should not be any distrust."
Lyle remarked you don't think
I'd give you away, do you It's to my
interest to assist you and obtain the
thirty thousand
And you will, If you stick to me, y
Adams answered
But I'd like to know your main OBJ.
ject."
"You know that already"
Go be Continued.)