Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-02-28
Case

DO / understand you to say that
gentleman from this office called
upon you?"
Eyes, a, Mr.. Bayley, tall, good
looking man, of between SO and 40
years of age
The old gentleman stared, as well
he might.
But there is no Mr.. Bayley here .
he said. eve have no one of that
name in our employ. fear the man,
whoever he was, must have been
playinga trick upon you. 1 sincere
ly trust he has done no damage.
Might l ask whatlhe called upon you
about ?'
He called on me on behalf OF your
company" answered. HE informed
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 q notorious
swindler in New York, and, though
you could not bring any proved
charge against him, you were equal
ly 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 the republic at
once in order that I might inquire
into matters and report to you. I
was to be away three months, and
was to be paid $4,000 and my ex-
penses for my trouble"
My good sir, this is really pre-
posterous,' the old gentleman re-
turned. II can positively assure you
that there is not word of truth in
his assertion. Our manager in the
Argentine is an old and valued
friend, and / would stake my life on
his fidelity. Nothing would induce
us to think even of sending detec-
tive out to spy upon him"
II am beginning to believe that !
should like to meet Mr.. Bayley
again." / remarked. HE has a fine
imagination, and, from what you tell
me, it seems that I should have
looked a fool had I gone out to
South America on such an Grand"
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 as he has done.
Should we hear anything further
upon the subject, we will at once
communicate with you"
II 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"
l thanked him for the interview,
and then took my departure, more
puzzled by it than l had been by any
thing for long time. When I
reached my Office took the card
from 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 was in the
middle of letter to Kitwater, a
message was received through the
telephone to the effect that the man.
aging director of the Santa Cruz Min
ing company, whom had seen that
morning, was on his way to call upon
me.
Something has evidently come to
light" / reflected. Perhaps the
mystery surrounding Mr.. Edward
Bayley is about to be cleared up, for
must confess do not like the look
of it,
A quarter of an hour later the
manager was ushered into my pres
ence.
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 I think we
have discovered who it is that is mas
querading as the occupant Of my
position. You gave me this morning
rough description of the individual
who called upon you. Can yousrecall
anything particular about his APP
pearance? Any strange mark, for in
stance. Anything by which we
should be able to swear to his iden-
tity?"
II would swear to his identity any
where, without mark" I replied.
"But since. you do mention it, re-
member that he had small tri-
angular scar upon his left cheek"
"Then it is the same man after ALL"
said the manager. "That is certain
ly extraordinary. When our secre-
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 a guise is a question l can
not for the life Of me answer with
any sort of satisfaction
Perhaps you will be little more
explicit, 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 sbTt OF remem-
brance of him.
In that case you must forgive me;1
he replied AS a matter of fact I
was SO much carried away by my ex-
citement that 1 could think of moth
ing else. However; 1 have promised
you the story, and. you shall have it.
Some years ago, eight or ten per-
hapS, we had a Young man working