Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-04-21
BY WILLIAM LIE QUEUx

about the corners of his mouth there
played an expression evil.
my decision does not require any
reconsideration" said the young fell
low after a pause. II shall remain in
London
"And lose the chance of a lifetime
eh?" exclaimed Adam, as though
perfectly unconcerned.
II have some important private
matters to attend to-
II, too. used to have when l was
your age"
They do not concern lady" Max
said quickly. ut is purely personal
matter"
"Of business? Why, you'd make as
much in an hour over this railway
business as you'd make in twenty
years here in London" Adam de-
clared. Besides you want change.
Come out to the Bosphorus It's
charming beside the Sweet Waters"
Gall sounds very delightful; but
even though may let the chance Of
fortune slip through my fingers.
cannot leave London at present"
! "But why?'
"a purely private matter" was his
reply, for he did not wish to tell this
than ANYTHING concerning this strange
disappearance Of the doctor and the
grave suspicious of Charlie Rolfe. 81
can tell you nothing more than that. !"
We'll, I'm sure the lady, if she
knew that it was in your interests to
go to Turkey, would urge you to co.
declared Adam. "She would never
keep you here if she knew that yoa
could pull off such deal as l have
put before you"
"She does know"
ooh! And what does she say?"
"She suggested that l should go
with you.'
"Then why not Gomez"
Because, as I've already told you,
it is impossible am kept in London
by something which concerns the
welfare of a very dear friend" Max
answered. "You must put it before
somebody else. I suppose the affair
cannot waltz
II don't want to put it before any.
body else. If we do business, want
you and I to share profits"
Very good of you, I'm sure; but
at present l am quite unable to leave
London
Max was wondering for the first
time why this man was so pressing
Ii the thing was a really good one
as it undoubtedly was, according to
the friend he had consulted in the
City-then there could not be any
lack OF persons ready to go into the
venture, Was it sheer luck that led
this man Adam to offer to take him
into it, Or had the man some ulterior
motive? Max Barclay was no fool
He had sown his wild oats in London
and knew the ways of men He had
met many city shark, and had been
the poorer in pocket through the
meeting. But about this man Adam
was something which had always
fascinated him. The pair had been
drawn together by some indescrible
but mutual attraction, and the con
cession by the Sultan which must re
suit in great profits was now within
his reach. Nevertheless, he felt that
in the present circumstances it was
impossible to leave London. Before
doing so he was DESTROYS of solving
the problem of the disappearance Of
Doctor Petrovitch, and clearing uI
the question of whether or not there
had been foul play.
Rolfe's denial OF the previous day
had complicated matters even further
He was convinced. now that he had
reflected calmly. that his friend was
concealing something from him
some fact which had an important
bearing upon the astounding affair
Was Charlie playing a straight
game? After long consideration he
had come again to the conclusion that
he was not!
In his ear was the voice of the
tempter Jean Adam. Fortune awaited
him in that sunlit city of white domes
and minarets beside the Bosphorus-
the city of yelled women and OF
mystery he had always hoped to visit
Would he not spare fourteen days
travel there, and obtain it?
1t was great temptation. The
concession for that railway would in
deed have been a temptation to any
man. Did nit the first Baron Hirsch
lay the foundation of his huge fortune
by similar trade of his Majesty the
Sultan?
The man seated in the deep arm