Evening star., 1924-03-22
tcontinued from Yesterdays Starr

SConunueo from 1esteroayS STAR
Not much. sir, except that it's in
South America" answered Styler. But
I'll know more before 10 o'clock tomor-
row, If there's reference library in
this town "
well. know sufficient to keep US
going tonight" remarked Smith.
Guiana is biffish tract of country
on the northeast corner of South
America It's divided up--so far as
tween Great Britain. Holland and
France, so there's British Guiana
and French Guiana. Now, George
town is the capit&l of British Guiana
some Importance. But We're not con-
cerned with Georgetown Styler. ex-
cept in SO far as it's the port at
which Pollock expects to take on
concerned with is French Guiana
from whence that somebody's to be
brought. Do you guess why French
Guiana concerns us"
AT present--no." replied Styler.
Then I'll tell you. We're concerned
with IL. and the mysterious somebody
who's to be brought from it, because
French Guiana, Styler, is the colony
channel yonder send their convicts--
the long-term lot OF 'em, at any rate.
So that--do you see?"
THE somebody is probably a French
CONVICT exclaimed SVyleE.
Precisely. my SON. A French con-
VIct-and. presumably, one who has
been sentenced for some very grave
offense | remember sufficient on this
point to tell YOU that at one time the
French government tried the expert
ment of penal colonies in this Guiana
territory: il didn't answer, but they
still send convictS there. 10 Cayenne.
and to some of the adjacent islands,
the famous Capt. preyfus was confined
on the notorious Devils Island there.
Now. bearing al; these things in mind
Styer. ] work il out like thlS-thiS
somebody IS a French ronvict--
Might be an Euglishman convicted
In France" suggested Styler.
Excellent notion. Styl,r-so he
might, or may be. Anyway, "A convict
confined in French Guiana. who has
old associates here in England that can
afford TO do SOM thing for his release.
I'm Imagining that kestercn was one
of them. that Tickell is possibly an
body over there, probably in George
town. who can work this mans escape;
that he or they have been in communi-
cation with the men on this side and
that Pollock Is mere go-between.
on my mind. The first is: How far is
kesteven's ; murder. if at all, connected
with this plot? The second is: Has
Samuel Fegge. alias Septimus PhilcoH,
anything to do with it? The third is:
How much more about II does capt
Pollock know than he has told you or
me? The first two of these matters
We can leave at present; they'll infalli-
lily be worked out in time. The th'rd
we must somehow tackle at once
StNler considered this in silence for
awhile.
he said at last. Pollock admitted to
us that all he was TO get out of the
Job was five hundred pounds.
"Exactly'' said Smith. I'm on the
same line of thought, Styler. And I'll
act on II tomorrow"
In pursuance Of this resolve. Smith
was at the telegraph office as soon as
Il opened next morning, and by nVe
wire to Darrell Tress asking him if he
would authorize him. Smith, to lay out
a couple of hundred pounds in reia
tion to the kesteven affair. DarreiFs
answer, delivered to Smith as he and
Styler sat at breakfast, was character
istic. Smith could lay out a couple of
thousand If he liked: he. Darrell was
only too delighted TO hear that he was
at work.
"An excellent thing. Styler. to have
young man of great possessions be-
hind YOU" remarked Smith dryly, as
he handed Darrelrs telegram to his
our mariner friend to some purpose
So far as 1 could judge from what l
saw of Capt. Pollock last night. l
should say that he's the sort of man
half bird in the hand is worth dozen
In the bush. Well try him, anyway"
\ visit to local banker, the ex-
chance of telegram with Smiths own
bankers in London. placed a couple of
crisp hundred-pound notes in his hands
long before noon And with noon came
Cart. Pollock, alert and ready to carry
out his share of the. transaction. He
showed no surprise when Smith and
Stvler conducted him to a quiet corner
of the smoking room of their hotel and
bestowed hospitality upon him in the
form of rum and cigars. But his sur
prise was deep and long and continuous
when Smith. with legal lucidity and
thoroughness. told him the plain truth,
md his f"ce grew longer and longer. as
he realized that his chance of earning
five hundred pounds for a compare
lively easy job was slipping. nay, had
already slipped away. His rum grew
cold. his cigar went out, he looked at
these two lnpch-too-smari gentlemen
with something very like disgust
My luck"' he said with sudden de-
spair. Il was a-gon' to buy the little
hundred well!-I always felt there
was something undeniably risky in that
business. Ali off. IS it? Then 1 may
as we'll bid you good day
Not yet, captain" said Smith. t'Take
. fresh cigar, replenish your glass
and look at these articles"
He held the two bank notes under Pol
heck's eyes. and the sea captain started.
want 10 know" continued smith
Come. now, you're not bound to any
of these people. Tell us all you know
every detail-aoout this affair. and
when you've done you can pick those
notes up. See!''
He laid the bank notes on the table
and set a tumbler on them. And Styler,
watching Capt. Pollock with keen
gaze, saw his eyes glisten.
We'll gentlemen" said he. evidently
Sreat1y relieved, that's a fair offer,
and I'll take it.. But don't you be dis
appointed if 1 don't seem to be able to
truth, anyhow"
''Thatli do" remarked Smith. That's
all we want"
well, then, twas this here way"
in Georgetown, which is about four
months ago. stranger that sort OF
cultivated my acquaintance at GER
tain tavern asked me if I'd like to
earn five hundred pound. Naturally, I
said / would--if the job was all square.
Then he said it was to help in the
escape of an Englishman who'd been
wrongfuIly convicted in France and
sent to this French convict settlement
at Cayenne-for life"
For lifer' exclaimed Smith.
For life, sir. a commercial offense
fraud O. some sort.nothing nothing in the
wise | wouldn't ha' touched the mat
ter. even if il was wrongful convic-
ton. which il might be and again 1t
rnightn't. However, being what this
man said it was, and an Englshman
being concerned. and Cayenne being an
other name for HE'LL agreed. Then we
went into details. This man said that
there was powerful and influential
folks here in England as would find the
money necessary, which was three
thousand. / was to act as go-between,
and carry that money in gold back to
GEORGETOWN He wanted to know some
place here where I could meet the