My Strangest Case

ave been discovered, with its tree-shaded high-road, its cluster of thatched cottages, its blacksmith's shop, rustic inn with the signboard on a high post before the

a man might live to be a hundred, undisturbe

However, on this peaceful Sunday morning it struck me as being delightful. There was an old-world quiet about it that was vastly soothing. The rooks cawed lazily in the elms before the church as if they knew it were Sunday morning and a day of rest. A dog lay extended in the middle of the road, basking in the sunshine, a thing whi

f I remember rightly, and the sound of their united voices fitted perfectly into the whole scheme, giving it the one touch that was lacking. As I strolled along I glanc

t? What good had he done in his world? Had he realized his life's ambition? Into many of the congregation now worshipping yonder he must have driven the three R's, possibly with the assistance of the faithful ferrule aforesaid, yet how many of them gave a thought to his memory! In this case the assertion that he "rested from his labours" was a trifle ambiguous. Consigning poor Erasmus to oblivion, I continued my walk. Presently my

MR. FAIRFAX?' SA

ving me her hand as she spoke. "It is kind indeed of

good news myself," I said. "

dead leaves from the flowers that grew upon it. To my thinking she was just what an honest English girl should be; straight-forward and gentle, looking the whole world in the

become of me," she said, "and he wi

ccompany you t

be remarked. He usually stays at home and walks up and down a path in the garden, br

Mr. C

Arch?ology as he can obtain. It is his one great study, and I am tha

st have made a great change

s life exactly to please one's self. They were in sore distress, and I

ermitted a better opportunity of judging later on. We crossed the little bridge, and passed along the high road for upwards of a mile, until we found ourselves standing at the entrance to one of the prettiest little country residences it has even been my lot to find. A drive, some thirty yards or so in length, led up to the house a

his sole occupation. He likes it because it is the only part of the garden in which he can

he worst ills that can happen to a man. It must be particularly ha

hinaman clings to the religion of his forefathers is proverbial, and I could not remember having ever heard that a Mandarin, or an official of high rank, had been converted to the Christian Faith. Even if he had, it struck me as being highly improbable that he would have been the possessor of such princely treasure, and even supposing that to be true, that he would, at his death, leave it to such a man as Kitwater. No, I fancied if we could only get at the truth of the story, we should find that it was

ddenly in his walk, and turning his sightless face in my direction. "It's wonderful ho

ter in the church

ng. In any case they are more fortunate than poor devils like Codd and myself. But I am keeping you standing, won't you sit down somewhere and tell me your news? I hav

that she recoiled a little from him in consequence. I thereupon set to work and told them of all that had happened since I had last seen them, described my lucky mee

"That man would outwit the Master of all Liars Himself. H

d quietly. "I know where he is, a

ith him yourself instead of down here. You are paid to conduct the case. How do

ssive, that his niece was about to protest.

liable fellow, and you may be sure that, having once set eyes on Mr. Hayle, he will not lose sight of him again. I sh

," he replied. "Until then I shall know n

journ to the house, as it was neatly lunch-time. We did so, and I was shown to a pretty bedroom to wash my hands. It was a charming apartment, redolent of the country, smelling of lavender, and after London, as fresh as a glimpse of a new life. I looked about me, took in the cleanliness of everything, and contrasted it with my own dingy apartments at Rickford's Hotel, where the view from the window was not of meadows and breezy

n to get notions like this in my head there is no knowing whe

vatory, filled with plants. It was a pretty little place and I could not refrain from exploring it. I am passionately fond of flowers, but my life at that time was not one that permitted me much leisure to indulge in my liking. As I stood now, however, in the charming place, among the rows of neatly-arranged pots,

penny," said Miss Kitwater's voice behind me, at the drawing-roo

it, but I honestly believe for the

must be," I said, making the first excuse that

Surely it would not b

d," I answered. "And yet I

e about it," she continued, as we r

most confirmed of old bachelors. I wonder you could not see tha

m not quite certain who it was, but I fancy it wa

fear my wife would have rather a lonely time of it if it were. I am ob

o," she continued. "Some time ago I came across an account, in a magazi

hing," I said. "I am sorry tha

hould you

alled upon me and asked me a lot of questions, after which he went away and wrote that article. Ever sin

, yours must be a very trying life, and also an extremely dangerous one. I a

probably than yo

ls, are visible. The greater part of your time is spent among desperate men who are without hope, and to w

ow that my heart i

o you think when he was so rude to you just now, that I could not see that you pitied him, a

milate that kind heart with the re

nt into a thieves' den in Chicago unaccompanied, and after a terrible struggle in which

in the meadow I had seen from the window; to her poultry, pigs, and the pigeons who came fluttering about her, confident that they would come to no harm. Meanwhile her uncle had resumed his restless pacing up and down the path on which I had first seen him, Codd had returned to his archaeological studies, and I was alone with Miss Kitwater. We were standing alone together, I remember, at the gate that separated the garden

ke, "I want, if you will allow me, to have a serious talk with you. I could not have a

ed, "and if I can be of any use to you I hope you wi

to speak to you," she said, sinking her voice a

at abou

of the whole affair," she said, looking intently at me as she spo

ir pursuit of this man Hayle? And what chanc

eir success," she returned, "as

I said. "Indeed I should not be surprised if the susp

been suspi

cely fail to

ill tell me wh

n, if I am abrupt, or if I spea

gh. "I want to know your exact thoughts, and th

seen or heard of your uncle and Mr. Codd until they stopped me on Ludgate Hill. They were and practically are strangers

tand. Now what ar

father ever speak to you of his bro

see that I had touched upon something painful. This, at le

always understood that he was somewhat of a scapegrace, and in consequence could never se

a moment befo

question," I answered. "As I read it, you are more afraid of

bsorbing, that I dare not think what would happen if he came into actual contact with Hayle. Now that I have replied to

than you. They may have been honestly come by, or they may not. So far as the present case is concerned that fact is immaterial. There is still, however, one vital point we have to consider. If the gems in question belong equally to the three men, each is entitled to his proper share, either of the stones or of the amounts realized by the sale. That share, as you already know, would amount to a considerable sum of money. Your uncle, I take it, has not a penny-piece in the world, and his companion is in the same destitute condit

than let my father's brother commit a crime," she

for the sake of a man whom it was certainly impossible to love, and for that reason even to respect. I looked at her with an admiration in my face

ration. Some day, Miss Kitwater, you may marry, and in that case your husband might

red and hesitated

g what I consider to be my duty. And now that we have discussed all this, Mr. Fairfax, what do you think we had better do? I understood you to say to my un

ld endeavour to get your uncle's and Codd's share of the treasure fro

nsuccessful in obtaining

e other way," I replied, "but somehow

d fair in the face. "I fancy you know that I

ou mind shaking han

ly that I have scarcely known what to do. I have lain awake at night, turning it over and over in my mind, and trying to convince myself as to what wa

avy brass tray, and the silver jugs and teapot, and thought of my own cracked earthenware vessel, then reposing in a cupboard in my office, and in which I brewed my cup of tea every afternoon, I smiled to myself. I felt that I should never use it again without recalling this meal. After that I wondered whether it would ever be my good fortune to sit in this garden again, and to sip my Orange Pekoe from the same dainty service. The thought that I might not do so was, strangely enough, an unpleasant one, and I put it from me with all promptness. During the meal, Kitwater scarcely uttered a word.

ion. Can you realize what it is like to feel shut up in the dark, waiting and longin

ut of the question. It could n

can see no dif

stroy any chance of my even getting on the

ed a he

in his voice. "But I know that I shal

more terrible by reas

and if I can help you, you shall have your tr

have my treasure back again I'll be satisfied, and so will Codd. In the meantime I'll wait here

her reappearance in the garden, an

ll write immediately I reach Paris, a

Kitwater answered, an

ect evening, and the sun was setting in the west in a mass of crimson and gold. At first we talked of various comm

e bridge to which I have elsewhere referred. "It is only a small matter. Somehow, however, I feel

d at me i

ed, "I thought we had

answered. "Yet it is sufficiently important to warrant my spea

drawing lines with her umbrella upon the

ed. "What I want to be certain of is, w

her of us," she answered. "You are

with words. I am going to be candid once

informed me that this

your servant," I said. "It is you

"And now here we are at the church. If you walk quickly you will be just

. "Perhaps when I return from Paris you will pe

you," she answered. "Now, good-by

I watched her making her way along the avenue toward

e very little of that young lady's society