Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-03-18

managing director OF the Santa Cruz
Mining company of Forzoda in the
Argentine Republic.
"Show the gentleman in, Walters"
I said.
In few minutes a tail. handsome
man. irreproachably turned out, en-
tered the Office. He seated himself in
a chair the clerk placed Tor 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, land doubtless, if you are at all
familiar with mines and mining, you
are acquainted with the name of the
company / have the honor to repre-
sent?"
Il am very much afraid the min
ing market does not possess very
much interest for me-" / replied II
have to work so hard for my money,
that when l have got it l prefer to
invest it in something little more
reliable. May I inquire the nature
of your business with me?"
81 have come to see you, Mr.. Fair
fax" he said, speaking very impress
sively, and regarding me deliberately
as he did so, "on rather delicate
subject. Before 1 explain what it is,
may l ask that you will treat what
l am about to tell you as purely con-
tidential?"
my business is invariably conf
dental one" l answered for the sec
ond time in two days. II venture to
think that this room has heard more
secrets than almost any other in
England. But though they say walls
have ears, have never heard it said
that they have tongues"
1T is sometimes a good thing that
they have not" he replied "And
now let me tell you what business
has brought me here. In the first
place, if you do not already know it,
! may say that the company I repre-
sent is an exceedingly wealthy one,
and, as our business lies long way
from Threadneedle street, if l may
SO put it, it is necessary for us to
trust very largely to the honesty of
our employees on the other side of
the world. OF course we make all!
sorts of inquiries about them prior
to engaging their services. and it is
also needless to say that we keep q
sharp eye on them when they have
entered our employ. Nevertheless, it
is quite possible, all precautions not
withstanding, for an INSCRIPTIONS
man to take advantage of us. AS a
matter of fact, this is what has hap
pened, and what has also brought
| me to you. For some considera BILE
time past we have had our suspicious
that our manager at the mines has
been in league with notorious ras-
cal in New York. In proof of this,
L might say that our returns have
shown decided falling off, while
our manager has, so we have lately
discovered, within the past year be-
come rich enough to purchase prop
erty to considerable extent in the
United States. Unfortunately for US,
| owing to a lack of direct evidence,
we are unable to bring his defalca-
tons home to him, though of course
we are as certain of our facts as we
can we'll be of anything"
Il think I understand" I said.
| Your business with me is to endeav-
or to induce me to 60 out to the
Argentine and make inquiries on
| your behalf with the idea of bring
ing this man to book. Is that not
| sop
'"That is my errand," he replied,
gravely. "If you care to undertake
the task, we, on our side-and I
speak as the mouthpiece of the COM
pany-will be prepared to pay you
very high terms for your services; in
point of fact, almost what you may
ask in reason. The matter, as you
may suppose, is a most serious one
for us, and every days delay is add
ing to it. May 1 ask what your
terms would be, and when would you
be prepared to start?"
Your offer is most liberal one,"
l said. Unfortunately, however, I
fear there is considerable difficulty
In the way of my accepting it."
"a difficulty" he exclaimed, rails
ing his eyebrows as if in astonish-
ment. But surely that obstacle can
be removed. Especially for an offer
of such magnitude as we are pre-
pared to make you"
Excuse me-" 1 said, somewhat
tartly, "but, however great the in
ducement may be, never break faith
with my clients. The fact of the
matter is, only yesterday / prom
ised to undertake another piece of
business which, while not being SO
remunerative, perhaps, as that you
are now putting before me, means a
very great deal to those who are, for
the time being, my employers"
Would it be impertinent on nv
part to ask at what time yesterday
afternoon you arrived at this mo-
mentous decision?"
Shortly after four o'clock" an
swered, but not without little won
derment as to his reason for putting
the question. For my own part | did
not see what it had to do with the
matter in hand.
Dear me, how very vexing, to be
sure" he observed "This is certain