February 17, 1916. 
LAND AND WATER 
Chaya, a iiomancc of the South Seas-i 
tiated by Joseph Simpion, R.H.A. 
Macquart looked blighted, the blood had left his face, leaving it a dingy yellow. 
a horse and a diamond horse-shoe in his cravat. " Bobby's 
on some sure enough lay ; he's been tryin' to get Curlewis into 
it. I heard a chap sayin' Cur had told him all about it, a gold 
mine hid somewhere up north. Bobby has been goin' about 
the last few days with a crazy-lookin' guy that's got the loca- 
tion of the mine, a chap with the hair growin' through his hat 
an' his ten toes stickin' through his boots." 
Captain Hull, who had obtained a whiskey, stood wth it 
in his hand, waiting to hear more, but the conversation turned 
away from Tillman to horses, and, finishing his drink, the 
Captain went to the telephone-box in the corner, took the 
directory, and turned its pages laboriously till he found what 
he wanted. Then, with the address of Curlewis and Screed 
in his mind, he started off. 
Certain that the crazy-looking guy referred to by the 
horsey man was Macquart, he was now more convinced than 
ever that something was up, and quite determined to be in it 
or to spoil everything. 
He reached Curlewis' office, went upstairs, gave his name 
to the clerk, and in a few minutes was admitted to the inner 
office and sanctum of the firm,where Curlewis was standing with 
his back to the stove, with his hands in his pockets, talking 
to Screed who was seated at his desk. 
Hull, hat in hand, made a scrape, half turned to see that 
the door was shut, and then spoke. 
" Which of you gentlemen is Mr. Curlewis," said he. 
" I've somethin' to say to Mr. Curlewis and it won't bear 
repeatin' before anyone else." 
" My name is Curlewis," replied the chief of the firm, 
" and you can say whatever you Uke here. This is Mr. Screed, 
my partner — sit down." 
" Well, now," said the Captain, taking the seat pointed 
out to him and placing his hat on the floor. " Did you by 
any chance in the last day o • two come across a guy by the 
name of Macquart. I'm not askin' to be inquisitive. I have 
my meanin'." 
" I take you," replied Curlewis, " and I can give you an 
answer straight. I have during the last day or two come 
across a guy by the name of Macquart — What about 
him ? " 
" Ah. there's the rub," said Hull. " I'm not askin' to 
be inquisitive, but did this chap lay any proposal before you 
with regard to money or mines or such like ? " 
" You may take it from me that he did," said Curlewis ; 
" a very big proposal — what more ? 
The Captain was silent for a moment. Then ue said : 
