Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1902-07-18

me- that for some time past you have
ascertained the gravest suspicious
concerning the manager of your
mines in the Argentine. he said that
information had reached your ears
to the effect that the man in ques-
ton was in league with a notorious
swindler in New York, and, though
you could not bring any proved
charge against him, you were equal,
~ certain that he was robbing you
in order to- fill his own pockets. He
appeared to be most anxious to per-.
suade me to go to tho republic 81
once in order that might inquire
into matters and report to you. I
was to be away three months, and
was to be paid e 5000 and my ex,
penses for my trouble" S==.
my good sir, this is really pre-.
posterous," the old gentleman Re.
turned. II can positively assure you
that there is not a word of truth in
his assertion. Our Manager inss the
Argentine is an old and valued
friend, and would stake my life on
his fidelity. Nothing would induced
us to think even of sending deteo
tive out to spy upon him." ~@ !
II am beginning to believe that I,
should like to meet Mr.. Bayley
again." remarked. HE has q fine
imagination, and, from what you tell
me, it seems that I should have
looked q fool had L. gone out TO
4
1T would have been exceedingly
inconvenient not only for you, but
also for U.S." said the manager. II
shall report this matter at the board
meeting to-day. We must endeavor
to discover who this man is, and also
his reasons for acting a. he has done.
Should we hear anything further
upon the subject, we will at once
communicate with YOU"
Il should be glad if you will do
So" replied. II should like to get!
this matter cleared up as soon 'as'
possible. There may be something
behind it that we do not under-'
stand"
I thanked him for the interview,
and then took my departure, more
puzzled by it than I had been by any
thing for a long time. When T
reached my Office took the card
from q drawer, which Mr.. Edward
Bayley had sent to me, and dis
patched it by special messenger to
the Office of the famous mining COM
pany. That afternoon another sur
prise was in store for me. Shortly
after lunch, and when I was in tho
middle of letter to Kitwater, .
message was received through tho
telephone to the effect that the man.
aging director Of tho Santa Cruz Min
ing company, whom had seen that
morning, was on his way to call upon
mo.
Something has evidently come to
light reflected. "Perhaps tho
mystery ! surrounding Mr.. Edward
Bayley is about to be cleared up, for
Ismust confess do not like the look
Of it."
"A quarter of an hour later tho
manager was ushered into my pres
ence. j.;
"Good afternoon, Mr.. Fairfax" he
said. II have come to ask you, If
you will permit me, . few questions,
and also TO- tell you that think we
have discovered who it is that is mas
querading as the occupant OF my
position. You gave mo this morning
rough description Of the individual
who called upon you. Can you recall
anything particular ebQYt hi 1p:
pearance? Any strange mark, for in
stance. Anything by which We
should be able to swear to his iden-
tity?" QH4Aast*a1l:41R1l5
II would swear to his identity any
where, without mark" I replied.
"But since you do mention it., !. re-
member that he had q small tri-
angular scar upon his left cheek"
Then it IL the same man after all"
said the manager. "That is certain
" extraordinary. When our seere-.
tary spoke to me about him after
you, had left had my doubts; now,
however, they are quite removed.
Why he should have called upon you
in such guise is question l can
not for the life of me answer with
any sort of satisfaction"
Perhaps you will be- little more
explicit" I said. ''You have not told
me yet how it is that you have been
able to locate the gentleman in ques-
ton. This morning you must re-
member you had no sort of remem-
brance of him. =.
I'm that case you must forgive me-"
he replied. "As a matter of fact /
was SO much carried away by my ex-
element that I could think of moth
ing else. However, have promised
you the story, and you shall have it.
Some years ago, eight or ten per-
.haps,~ we had q young man working
for us in the Argentine as~an over
seer: He was in many respects a
brilliant young fellow, and would
doubtless have done well for himself
in time, had he been able to go
straight. Unfortunately. however,
he did not do no Ha went from had