Mexico weekly ledger., 1891-10-01

and began to take Off his gloves, which :.
were of the two button variety, and elab- l
orately stitched on the backs. l
81 am in New York to stay some '
time" he continued, "and l wish a
house. The hotel. you comprehend, is
excellent, but not-not-not"- He !
made a gesture with his right hand. on s.
the finger of which was a large and !
beautiful ring. /.
"Not enough elbow room" Tom sug-
eested. "No, l suppose not. But, by
the way, I'm not a real estate agent IN
a lawyer"
81 comprehend. But I am a stranger
here; l find the customs unfamiliar,
thought, if 1 get some II to act for me,
it is more ~expedient and quicker. ipay
each month so much, all is done and L
make no mistake. Am | clear
81 understand what You mean,' said
Tom. ~endeavoring to disguise has excite
ment by rubbing his chin and looking
ont of the window. by George"
thought he to himself, IF this fellows
as rich as thew say, | may make money
out of him. Wonder how five thousand
a year would strike him? Courage, my
bovt Now or never! You would like
me to take entire charge of your hnsl-
ness affairs while you are here::' he cGn-
timed aloud. SWELL, | suppose some
snch arrangement could be made. But
there'd be "a great deal of work connected
with it, and prices are high i'll New
York, you know" He looked up at his
visitor with a smile.
81 shall hope there will be no dis
agreement about that" said the count,
with a slight inclination of the head. Il
shall submit to your demands; but had
intended offering you ten thousand dol
lars'-
stTen thousand a year. exclaimed
Tom, surprised into a jubilant tone. III
a moment his warm Irish imagination
had built a hundred castles in the air.
Pardon me; l would not expect yon
TO accept that said the count, graFely.
Il had hoped to induce you to give your
time almost wholly to my affairs, and IT
ten thousand dollars Il month, paid
monthly in advance, will secure your
services the arrangement viii Sratlfy
me-"
Tom turned his chair round 50 as to
face his interlocutor squarely, andlooEed
at him several moments in silence. do
You seriously propose, Count de Lisie,"
he said at length, "to offer to pay me a
salary at the rate of one hundred and
twenty thousand dollars a year.
The count inclined his head without
speaking.
We'll" said Tom, TIN afraid shall
have to decline it."
!. 81 should be sorry for that. May
i ask Why
, ssTll tell you just what's III my mind.
Such a sum is unfleard Of. In my pro
2 fession I've made it q rule never to &c
I ANYTHING that would make me feel IN
q OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES to look myself In
the face. You can get any Legitimate
business done for ten thousand d year; a
] any rate, I'd do anything that didn
hurt my conscience for that, Or half o
a it. But ten thousand a month mean
q that you are after something that is no
legitimate, and I must tell you tina
t you've come to the wrong place for 1t:
The count listened to this speech yer.
a attentively and il evidently pleased him
Il see I have not been misinforme
d about you" he said. 81 am glad 20
# have SO frankly spoken. When you know
=, me better you will withdraw your refet
il ton on my motives. Intend no crime
II nothing that your conscience OF you
wife would not approve. Mr.. Bannich
Iwish you to remain entirely i~ndepend
q ent. You will be at liberty to terminal
N our agreement without warning, at tn
m moment when 1 suggest anything tina
you may disapprove. But you mu;
meanwhile let me be judge of the valu
rs of your service. An honest man is NJ
to easy to find, even in New York; and
to is therefore valuable. You will haF
ID the management of large interests an
to the offer l make you is not more than
fair commission"
he Il can't believe itr' calculated Tor
4 81 meant beg your pardon-it seen
as If there must be something behind.
It may be a fool, no doubt-in fact, that
he a matter of course. [ always have been
IT, "Come, Mr.. Bannick, let us not was
lie time" said the count, unbuttoninS b
i'd coat and taking out his pocketboo
us This is the twenty-ffth day of Octobe
nc By the twenty-ffth of November "
tic will know me we'll enough to kno
WIlclESE YOU utSiiC ouI ISi<htAoIS ~ ~
ar tinue or not. Meanwhile l give y
nd your salary for that first month. Ne
month, if you be not content, we pa
III Is that rightff'
ece 81 have been a poor man most OF L
its life" said Tom, clearing his throat a
The looking steadfastly at the other. Il
ar no use binding the fact that you q
ing making me q wonderful proposition. /
The not ordinary business, and [ can't {
lid, count for it. II I had saved your l
and you wanted to reward me for it y
ILL couldn't do more. Such an amount
ort money isn't a salary; it's a fortune.
rry can't earn it; it would be a gift, no
lin payment. But if you are buying OF
my services. and not my soul, I'll acct
has it. I'll make my services as valuable
elf. I can"
levi! "If you have not saved my life, ?
,irl! haps you may some time have done
some one q good act for which you w
pine never recompensed," remarked the cot
gently. "And / perhaps take this me-
ano of ~discharging an obligation confer
hts, upon me by some one whom | was II
the BILE to reward at the time. We III
- make use of each other in this way.
It it besides your services I gain your frie
the ship I shall be still your debtor"
the The somewhat formal n of t
ket, speech did not detract from its evid
4 up sincerity. The count took ten c
h at thousand-dollar bank notes from
hen pocketbook and laid them on the de
observing, 81 cashed a check at the b
aid. Just now-if the notes will ~n.
the venience you. Some ti,ra ~as yone
81, I. make a REGENT dlso draw up a
r~-.=ase you my power Of attornt
low and, il you like, n embodying {
agreement. And now" he added, as
silk to prevent Tom from giving express
to the feelings that were swelling in
His heart, s'let us return to what was s.
, to ing. / have seen a house that will S
God me. want you to secure it for me.
art whereabouts is the houseF:' inqui
ard, Tom.
the The count described its location.
"Why that's the Harry Trent hors
en- Tom exclaimed. Its a good house
g a don't suppose there's a better in tor
nee, but no INT has ever lived in it. Do
med know why"