The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-08-09

neverl "You would like me 10 take entir'
charge Of your business affairs while vol
are here!" he continued aloud. "Well.
suppose some such arrangement could os
made But there'd De a great deal OF wors
connected with it, and prices are high IL
New York, you know" He looked up a
his visitor with smile.
81 shall hope there will be no disagree
ment about that" said the count, with
slight inclination of the head. II shall
submit to your demands; but l had in
tended offering yon sl0,00O"-
Ten thousand year," exclaimed Tom
surprised into jubilant tone. In mo
ment his warm Irish Imagination had Dull
hundred castles in the air.
Pardon me, would not expect you z
accept that" said the count gravely. :"
had hoped to induce you 10 give your TIME
almost wholly TO my affairs, and II SlO,OO'
month, paid monthly in advance, VIII So
cure your services, the arrangement VII
crafty me.'
his interlocutor squarely, ana looked a
him several moments in silence. "Do yol
seriously propose, Count de Lisle," he sale
at length, Ito offer to pay me salary a
the rate of Sl20, 900 q yearW
The count inclined his head without
speaking.
"Well,' said Tom, "rm afraid 1 shall
nave 10 Oecl ne It.
~ should be sorry for that. May l ask
whynp
"rll tell you just what's in my mind
Such sum is unheard of. In my profession
I've made il q rule never to do anything
that would make me feel uncomfortable
ashamed TO look myself in the face. Iou
can get any legitimate business done fol-
ten thousand a year; at any rate, I'd do
anything that didn't hurt my conscience
for that or half Of It. But ten thousand q
month means that you are after something
that is not legitimate. and L must tell you
that you've come to the wrong place for it. VI
The count listened to this speech very at
tentively and it evidently pleased him.
81 see have not been mIsinformed abou,
YOU" he said. 81 am glad you have SC
frankly spoken. When you know me bet
ter you will withdraw your reflection on
my motives. / intend no crime; nothing
that your conscience or your wife would
not approve. Mr.. Bannick, l wish you TO
remain entirely Independent. You will be
at liberty 10 terminate our agreement
without warning, at the moment when
suggest anything that you may disapprove.
But you must meanwhile let NE be judge
OF the value of your service. An honest
man is not easy to find, even in New York
and Re is therefore valuable. You will
have the management of large interests
and the offer L make you is not more than
fair commission"
II can't believe itr' calculated Tom.
81 meant beg your pardon-it seems as
if there must be something behind. l may
be fool, no doubt-in fact, that's matter
of course. l always have been"
Come, Mr. Bannick, let US not waste
time" said the count, unbuttoning his coat
and taking out his pocketbook. This Is
the 18th day Of October. By the 18th Of
November you will know me well enough
to know whether you desire our relations
your salary for that first month. Next
month, if you be not content, we part. Is
that right.'
81 have been a poor man most Of my
life" said Tom, clearing his throat and
looking steadfastly at the other. 'It's no
use binding the fact that you are making
me wonderful proposition. It's not ordi-
If had saved your life and you wanted
to reward me for il, you couldn't do more.
Such an amount of money isn't salary;
it's fortune. l can't earn it; it would be
a gift, not payment. But If you are buy
Ing only my services, and not my soul, rll
accept it. I'll make my services as valu-
able as | CAM
''If you have not saved my life, perhaps
you may some time have done for some one
compensed," remarked the count gently.
land l perhaps take this means of dis
charging an obligation conferred upon me
by some one whom l was unable to reward
at the time. We must make use of each
other in this way. II besides your services
l gain your friendship l shall be still your
debtor.r
The somewhat formal manner of this
speech did not detract from its evident
eli ran Il
dollar bank notes from his pocketbook and
laid them on the desk, observing, 81 cashed
a check on the bank just now-if the notes
will not inconvenience you. Some time to-
day YOU can make a receipt, aud also draw
up paper to give you my power OF attor-
ney, and, If you like, one embodyiug our
agreement. And now" he added, as If TO
prevent Tom from giving expression to the
feelings that were swelling in his heart
'let US return to what was saying. have
seen house That will sui me. l want YOU
to secure it for me-"
Whereabouts is. the house.n inquired
Tom.
The count described its location.
why that's the Harry Trent houserr
Tom exclaimed. Its a good house,
don't suppose there's better in town; but
no one has ever lived in il. Do you know
whyE'
sits situation pleased me, and IL seemed
to have-what you call elbow room"
"The owner, the man who built it, Harry
Trent, was murdered there two or three
years ago. 1t was a famous case was
in it myself. 1t gave the house a
bad name. Do you care for that sort of
thing."
mo" answered the count simply az
think I have heard Of that man." he added,
after pause. "Was he not a merchant Of
diamonds !n
THAT was the man. Tall, fresh looking,
with white hair. An agreeable fellow, I
believe.n
Eyes, 1 have met him. Was he not in
Paris in 1862 Yes, the emperor was said
to do some business with him. And he
the counsel!"
AZ appeared for the prisoner"
''The man who murdered him, who was
he!'
"Well, my conviction was then and is
now, that the prisoner was not the man
who murdered him. Appearances were
against him, but believe he was innocent
His name was kepple Darke, an artist"
Ibid you prove 1t to the iuryl"
"No,n said Tom with sigh; "they
found him guilty in the second degree
He was sentenced to Imprisonment for
life. They might as well have hanged
him."
''Why do you say thats If he is inno-
cent, it is always still possible that he may
be found SO; ana then, since he still lives,
It can be made good to him.
at will never be much good to him, poor
boyi He was killed in a railway smash as
they were taking him to Sing Sing. He's
out of the question. But I'd like mighty
well to get on the trail Of the real MUIR
lerer. That would be worth while still"
"Have you suspicious on the real onea''
AZ can't say have. Nobody seems to
have been benefited by mis- death. His
widow, TO be sure, got his fortune; but
she must have mad the use Of il while he