The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-06-17
Ny Strangest Case
BY GUY BooTHBY.
Author Of CDR. Kikola,'' "The Beautiful
White Devii,'' "Pharos. The
Egyptian" Etc.
CHAPTER III.-CoNr1NuED.
copyrighted, 1901. by Ward. Lock & Col


lie had scarcely gone before one of
fny clerks entered the room and
handed me a card. On it was printed
the name of Mr.. Edward Bayley, and
In the left-hand bottom corner was
the announcement that he was the
managing director of the Santa Cruz
Mining company of Forzoda in the
Argentine Republic.
"Show the gentleman in, Walters"
said.
In a few minutes a tall, handsome
man, irreproachably turned out, en-
tered the office. He seated himself in
a chair the clerk placed for him, put
his hat and umbrella on another, and
then turned to me.
my card has made you familiar
with, my name, Mr.. Fairfax" he be-
gan, and doubtless, if you are at all
familiar with mines and mining, you
are acquainted with the name of the
company I have the honor to repre-
sent?"
II I'm very much afraid the min
Ang market does not possess very
much interest for me-" I replied. 81
thave to work so hard for my money,
that when 1 have got it I prefer to
invest it in something a little more
reliable. May I inquire the nature
of your business with me?"
II have come to see you, Mr.. Fair
Tax" he, said, speaking very impress.
sively, and regarding me deliberately
as he did so, "on rather a delicate
subject. Before I explain what it is
may l ask that you will treat what
i am about to tell you as purely con
fdential?"
my business is invariably a conf.
dental one," / answered for the sec
ond time in two days. II venture te
think that this room has heard more
secrets than almost any other il
England. But though they say walls
have ears, I have never heard it sale
that they have tongues"
cit is sometimes a good thing tina
they have not" he replied. "Ant
now let me tell you what business
has brought me here. In the frs
place, if you do not already know it
/ may say that the company 1 repre-
sent is an exceedingly wealthy one
and, as our business lies a long wa,
from Threadneedle street, if I ma,
$50 put it, it is necessary for us tt
trust very largely to the honesty o
our employees on the other side o
the world. OF course we make al
sorts of Inquiries about them prio
to engaging their services, and it i
also needless to say that we keep
sharp eye on them when they hav
entered u employ. NevWtheless,
DIS quite possible, all precautions not
withstanding, for an unscrupulou
man to take advantage of us. AS
matter of fact, this is what has hap
pened, and what has also brough
me to you. For some considerabl
time past we have had u suspicion
that our manager at the mines ha
been in league with a notorious ras
cal in New York. In proof of this
4 might say that our returns hav
shown a decided falling off, Will
our manager has, so we have latel
discovered, within the past ear be
come rich enough to purchase prop
erty to a considerable extent in tn
United States. Unfortunately for us
owing to a lack Of direct evidence
we are unable to bring his defalca
tions home to him, though of cours
we are as certain of our facts as w
can well be Of anything"
81 think l understand" I sale
.Your business with me is to endeaI