The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-10

guessed that he was consumed with re-
gret that the London market was closed
to him.
"Ah, yes, London! 1t is very different
In this beggarly country, where you
can't get coins together to boil teapot,
let alone work a mine. Why, major
He leaned over and whispered with
drink-pregnated breath right into my
ear:
Il have a project worth millions in the
hollow of my hand-millions to any one
who will plank down few paltry thou
sands. But l cannot squeeze out a mar
avedi here from the man it would benefit
most"
rs he fool?"
''All that, and pauper to boot. As
proud at Lucifer of hos little, his ruined
castle, his rocks and stones; which are
worth nothing to him now, but which |
can turn into silver and gold. He has a
mine that will pay 100, 200, 500 percent.
1t pays even now if you scratch the
ground with toothpick. Put up proper
machinery, steam power, a line of rails,
the man would be an arch-milliOnaire"
He was, Of course, speaking of the
Marquis de Almendral. But | gave no
sign that l knew it, and we soon parted,
and l thought it no high price for the
information received.
Next day l made inquiries about the
marquis, and, much to my surprise
heard nothing to his discredit Although
greatly impoverished. he still held, his
head high, as an hidalgO; a grandee,
whom no one would accuse of direct
completely in a nefarious fraud.
| l made up my mind, therefore, to ap-
proach him. to put the whole case plain
/ ly before him, seeking whatever eXpla-
nation he might offer of the breach Of
! the McKillop contract, and the dishon-
est working of the mine.
He received me with the stately cOur-
| tesy that sits so well upon men of his
stamp. | found an old man, spare Of
| frame, still erect, and with keen black
eyes under bushy black eyebrows. in
sharp contrast with his snow-white hair.
Believe me. Senior MO, | know moth
| ing Of ths-the true state of the case
| was kept from me. / was assured that
! the contracts had lapsed with the death
of Sir McKillop and that was free to
make new. | was on the point of doing
so. But NADIA. 1t is nothing Fair, deal
ing first PundOnory caballedOsidad.
They are the rule with Spanish gentle
men"
All difficulties soon vanished when
| was met in such a spirit. The marquis
| himself secured me the contracts, and
declared that he wished to abide by
them He it was who gave me Ras-
| kelfs prospectus for the new company
a scheme that had originated in that
| PERIL but INSCRIPTIONS train. 1t was
| Raskelf all through who had checked
and countered. Black and Brightsmith
at every point. who had made an i'm
proper use of the influence the marquis
still welded in high places, and inter
posed the delays that retarded Bright
smiths progress.
| was glad to know when, some months
later, the "Bien Escondida" was floated
in London under the most respectable
conditions, that certain number OF
founders and preference shares were
allotted to the Marquis de Almendral
who thus benefited far more substantial
ly than he could have done with Raskelf
That villain soon afterwards drank
himself to death; and I returned to Eng
land, encouraged by Harry Brightsmitf
to hope for more work of similar kind
1t came in abundance, far a field per
haps, but always interesting as / hope t.
show.