The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-11-01
DETECTIVE ZAMBRA'S STORY

DLlEUllfE LhMDI(h y OIUIl
On certain morning recently haC
just set my people their allotted task:
for the day when the telephone bell il
my private room sounded. Placing my
ear to the instrument received the usua
query
Are you Zambra's ?"
'Yes," l replied. "Who are you?"
Burt's, Queen Victoria street." the an
sEer came. Mr.. Burt wishes to see Mr.
Zambra at once, if he is disengaged."
"You are speaking to Mr. Zambra," ]
replied; 81 will come on immediately
In ten minutes a quick, hansome de
posted me st the door Of the millionaire
financier.
l knew John Burt well by repute. Mr.
Burt was self-made man, and he had
made himself-so il was whispered about
in the eity-toa great extent at other
peoples expense. In early life he hsd
gone out to Asia Minor, where, after
working in an oil factory for years, be
had taken to prospecting for oil on his
own account. Right and left he Struck
it. but, being a shrewd man, possessed Of
enough technical knowledge to be aware
that the mineral fluid often dries up as
rapidly as it is found, he did not run his
oil wells himself
The first one be disposed of to a small
company with such success that he came
to England, and he settled down in the
city as professional promoter of oil
companies. Whatever might be the ulti-
mate fate of the schemes started, John
Burt himself throye and prospered until
he was accounted the richest man in the
city. Through retaining the management
Of the companies IN his own hands, he
knew just when to buy or sell the shares
and it was notorious that it was rather
from his share dealings and speculations
than from bona fide profit on oil that he
had amassed his wealth.
The millionaire's Offices were on the
top floor of one Of those huge caravansa-
ries near the Mansion House, which are
let out in fats.
Thinking it probable that Mr.. Burt
might not wish my identity to be disclos-
ed to his employees l sent in my card
sealed up in an envelope The clerk who
took it, returned Immediately and led
me through the line of desks to door
opening into an inner room, where gen
tleman sat writing.
For a moment | imagined myself to be
in the presence Mr.. Burt, but q second
glance, and the clerks uninterrupted pro-
gress toward a further door at the other
end of the room, told me that had not
yet reached the sanctum.
Following my guide across the ante
chamber, without attracting more than a
careless look from its tenant, gray hair
ed, rather bulky man ofsixty, was final
ly ushered through green baize door
into the smallest and coziest room of the
suite.
The short, pursy, warm looking indi-
vidual who rose to greet me was familiar
enough. had seen John Burt many
times and in many places, but had ney-
er seen him.. looking quite as he looked
to-day. His usually horid complexion
was mottled and flabby, and his haggard
eyes suggested series ofsleepless nights.
'Sit down, Mr.. ZImbra, sit down." he
said in a voice which trembled with
nervous excitement 81 am pleased to
make your acquaintance, apart from the
matter in hand. Tell me-" ne went on,
with startling abruptness, do you be-
lieye in thought reading p
IF your question has any bearing on
the business upon which you wish me to
advise you, it would be better if you gave
me the particulars first" said.
Perhaps you are right" he said.
@well, it is like this; As you are aware,
l am largely interested in number of oil
companies carrying on operations in
Asiaiie Turkey. l make a good deal Of
money by huying and selling shares of
these companies in a speculative way for
the rise or fall. For instance, if get a
cable from one of my local managers to
the effect that good output may be ex-
peoted for a certain company, buy those
shares on the Stock Exchange If, on
the other hand, hear that poor return
Is to follow by next mail, l sell the shares
instead. You follow me SO far?"
Perfectly"
swell the trouble about which want
to consult you is this: For the last two
months M private information has been
got at and made use Of to such an extent
that the value to myself has been large
ly discounted-in some cases nullified al
together. One of the cleanest cliques in
Chapel Court is either regularly forestal-
ling every move | contemplate, or is act
ing simultaneously on identical lines in
snch large amounts that the cream of
my market is stolen; and, in fact, if it
goes on may as well shut up shop for
good and all"
"Am l to understand that you confde
this information to no one2s asked.
Not living soul" replied Mr., Burt.
@What is to hinder some person in the
telegraph Office from using the cAbled
news for his own messages ?"
"The messages are received in cipher.
! alone possess the key said the troub-
led millionaire. "Idon't even use one Of
the ordinary commercial codes My
daughter, who is clever at that sort Of
thing, made a special one for me, and