Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-09


reaching Madrid. / noticed great change
in his der1eanor as he referred to the law;
he began to patronize me, as though what
remained was his affair. He meant to take
the case straight into the Spanish courts.
An action for trespass would lie, with all
the pains and penalties. The people who
had Jumped the mine must be elected
summarily and properly punished.
I'll let them see. That's my business.
Mac, 1 don't know that 1 need detain you
now, if you are anxious TO go home"
He pompous and sef-satisfed
that felt inclined to take him at his word
But the detective instinct was strong in
me, and 1 wanted to see the thing through.
1 was soon avenged on Brishtsmith. He
had met with a disheartening check at the
very outset. 1t was necessary for him to
| produce the original contracts made. and
they were nowhere to be found. After
long and exhaustive search through nearly
| all the notarial archives in Madrid, they
were found at last in the Office of Messrs.
| Bernabeu and Sandoval. But the nofaries
| fatty refused to surrender them or even to
| give an attested copy, as Br1ghtsmlths
name did not appear in the contracts. He
| then appealed to the British chancery for
protection, and was told by pert attache
| that our minister would not interfere with
| the course of Spanish law. Next he tried
! to get an injunction against the persons
| unknown who were wrongfully working La
| Escondida. But he could not name them,
| and was again denied. With all this. he
was perpetually worried to fulfill small
| formalities, vexed with incessant delays
| and almost childish difficulties. so that at
| last he was all but driven mad.
! watched him, quietly amused, for
| fortnight nearly, going my own road,
which was not his, following my own de-
vices, which interested me and Kept me
| fully employed, knowing all the time that
| he would come to me some day on his
| knees seeking help and sympathy.
When he did l was ready for him.
This is the most eXasperaeing country,
he cried. II seem to make no progress at
all. What you laughing at!
II laugh when 1 think what would have
| become OF you if had gone home when
you suggested it,
"Why, what sort Of use have you been?'
Come up to my room, Harry; I'll show
you something. 1 keep it under lock and
| key
There said. five minutes later. as 1
threw him heavy bundle of papers,
those are the contracts. How's thai, UNI
p.re?''
He looked at me open mouthed, with his
little round eyes protruding.
want more?" l went on. Read this"
| I put a printed document into his hand:
| Spanish of the "Compania Anonyma de la
Nina Bien Escondida," which was shortly
to be fioated in Madrid and Paris with
capital of 1O,00O,0JO ron. or f2D0,O00, and
which was to work the very property that
Harry Brightsmth sought to save for his
clients.
They have gone over your head, Harry.
This is Raskelfs doing; he is here in Mad
him. He has jockeyed you completely.
You are too late, my friend, and will lose
every silver unless"
ut is the rankest robbery" he cried, ig
noring my provso. 1.-The vilest swindle.
In England it would mean the Mansion
House,
This is Spain, my dear sir, and you
haven't a leg to stand on But you
may save something good deal-on one
condition. Indeed, 1 have already agreed
to it on your account. Wait and hear
what have to tell you
This was my explanation:
1t CHANGED that soon after our arrival in
Madrid, when my friend being en-
tangled in the reshes OF Spanish law, and
1 found myself much alone, l lounging
one day in the Puerta del Sol. This sun
gate is the general rendezvous for all
lcafers at high noon, who come here like
| lizards to bask and lay in caloric.
1t was crowded now, but not so densely
that 1 did not see and instantly recognize
a face l knew.
The last time I had met with it was in
the Llanura de las Serras It's owner then
was dressed as a peasant in brown cloth
and polainas (gaiters); now he wore a long
Spanish cloak and a tall hat. But it was
the capataZ, the overseer or head man of
the mule train; of that. l had no doubt
My memory for faces was strong and gen.
orally unfailing.
He was not alone. The man who walked
by his side was short, squat, coarsely
built, hed-haired - Enthusiastically English
He wore rough suit of "dittoes" stained
and frayed. and he had the air of being
much out at the elbows, while his SLOUGH
ing uncertain gait spoke plainly of drink
l had not forgotten Raskelf, the abscond-
ing engineer. from whom the Llanura prop
erty had been first obtained Could this be
he? 1t was wild shot of mine, but not
impossible. In any case, the first man, the
capataz interested me sufficiently to make
me follow him. Surely something import
ant had brought him all the way from An
dalusia to Madrid.
walk of half an hour from the Puerta
del Sol down the Gale Alcala and on
brought me to the gates of an ancient and