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


the taffrail was sallow-faced, dark
eyed. much-sunburnt man of medium
height and military bearing, whose spare,
rather shrunken frame and lack-lustre
eve showed that his health had suffered
from prolonged residence in the shiny"
east.
|. Lionel Macnaghten-Innes, was that
man. and / may be permitted to preface
the adventures that will be hereafter
set forth by a few brief words about
myself
Some twenty years previous | had join
ed the staff corps from an infantry regi-
ment in India. A natural taste for
languages had helped me in passing the
higher standard: / was fluent in Hin
dustani and Persian, had fair knowl-
edge Of Arabic and a smattering OF
Hindee. These requirements had gained
me a civil billet. / entered the police
department., and was presently occupied
almost entirely with Thuggee and Da-
coity.
may lay claim to considerable sue
cess in police work. In one recent case
/ was able to bring home grave and
mysterious crime of poisoning by Da-
tura to its perpetrators, and for TINS
had received the thanks of government.
Then. Just when / was on the high road
TO speedy advancement, on the very
threshold of a brilliant future, my
health broke down. A long illness fol-
lowed the completion of the case above
mentioned, with its incessant labors
and keen anxieties. i was now on my
way home to recruit, but with seri-
Gus warning from the doctors that 1T
would be perilous to my life to return
to India.
To be forced into retirement on Il
scanty pension when well this side of
40, having given ones best years and
energies to work strenuous and all-suf-
ficing in itself, but seemingly impossl-
BILE to find elsewhere, was bitter blow
to a man who still felt himself fit for
something. | had no prospect, no hope
of finding suitable employment IN Eng
land, so at least | thought in my then
respondent condition. My active career,
as / believed, had terminated abruptly;
/ was too poor to marry; L had no
living relations, / could have no home
but my clubs and a back room off
st. James st. There was nothing before
me but to vegetate in obscurity without
hope or horizon, disappointed and use
less, until / faded rapidly into, prema-
ture old age.
AS / brooded thus moodily, taking no
interest in the hustle and scuffle around,
/ was frequently challenged to run
ashore with the rest.
But had no heart for it. I knew Glib
raltar "like my pocket" / had been
quartered there with my regiment In
early days; the place was full of ghosts.
/ did not wish to be reminded of joyous
times in the heyday Of youth now when
/ was so keenly conscious Of the failure
/ had made in life.
Yet, went, and almost Immediately
tumbied upon an old friend. 1t was Har-
nv Brightsmith, whom / had not seen
since we were lads at school together.
He was now grown into a puffy, round
checked consequential little man, with
the self-satisfied air Of one accustomed
10 give advice to others. He was part
ner in the highly respectable firm OF
Black and Brightsmith, solicitors, OF
Gresham street.
AS we walked up waterproof street to
gether he explained this unexpected
meeting.
Il came out a couple Of days ago." ne
said "by the mail steamer, meaning t.
travel to some beastly place inland. Blu
/ have been stopped here by telegram
from my partner with some curious
news. I'm fairly beat: and don't know
what is best to do
rs it businessT
eyes: on account Of some clients o
ours; heirs of the late Sir William NC
I<illop. He went rather blindly into
mining speculation in these parts (quit
without consulting us, you understand)
Now it's all in tangle. The heirs ar
minors unable to act for themselves
and even we can make nothing. OF II
So we decided that one of us ought t
come out and look after the property
Black couldn't, or wouldn't, and 1t fel
to my share, worse luck"
Lets hear about it. Where is tn
mine exactly, and what is the trouble!
'Its q lead mine in some mountain
40 or SO miles from here. The neares
town is Gale Marbella."
Il know ton the coast, half way t
Magala." g.
"lrhe mine was brought to Sir WilliaI
McKilop's notice by mining exper
and / believe the scheme looked e
tremely rosy. j find report among n
papers that the ore was very plennf'
md very rich. 1t could be worked cas-
lv. labor was cheap, the stuff could |
cot down without difficulty and shIppe
on the open sea beach. Sir William toe
TO the thing, paid a large sum for tlr
rights, and just as he was looking IL
returns, died Then when we went I'M
the business, as representing the ben
ficiaries under the will, we could not 81
our way. We've been IL months trylI
to straighten it up, and have done Ju
nothing at all, There is hitch after hitc
We can get no information, no replies
orr letter The engineers who broug
the thing to McKillop cannot be found
Were they the real vendors"
''No; the property belonged
Spanish nobeman, a certain Marqt
de Almendral. He is somewhere in ii
d-forsaken country, / suppose, b
the contracts were made with the EN-
neers, who took the lead in everything
and you can't come down on the c
gineers?"
Cant find them, l tell you. You e
IDENTIFY don't know much about mini