Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-02-21
MY Strangest Case
BY GUY BOOTHBY.
AGhc- Of DIR. NIKOLA,' 1.-THE WHITE DEVIL"
s.pHARos, THE EGYPTIAN Etc.
copyrighted. 1901, by Ward. Lock q Co
BY GUY BOOTHBY.

we are unable to bring his defalca-
lions home to him, though of course
we are as certain of our facts as we
can we'll be of anything"
81 think / understand" / said.
"Your business with me is to endeay.
or to induce me to go 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 1
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 most serious one
for us, and every days delay is add
ing to it. May I ask what your
terms would be, and when would you
be prepared to start?"
Your offer is a most liberal one"
l said. unfortunately, however, 1
fear there is a considerable difficulty
IN the way of my accepting it,
"A difficulty" he exclaimed, rais-
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-" l 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 I prom
ised to undertake another piece of
business which, while not being SO
remunerative, perhaps, as that you
are now putting before me, means q
very great deal to those who are, for
the time being, my employers"
Would it be impertinent on INV
part to ask at what time yesterday
afternoon you arrived at this mo-
mentous decision?"
Shortly after four O'clock" I 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.
Bear me, how very vexing, to be
sure!" he observed. 'sThis is certain
ly another instance of the contrari-
ness of fate
How so?" I asked.
Because it was my intention to
have called upon you shortly after
lunch yesterday on this matter" he
answered. unfortunately I was pre-
vented at the last moment. Had I
been able to get here, might have
forestalled your more successful
client. Are you quite sure, Mr.. Fair
fax, that it is out of the question
for you Ito undertake what we
want?''
If it is necessary for me to go at
once, fear it isl answered. "But
if it would be of any use to you, 1
could send You most trustworthy
subordinate; one who would be quite
capable of undertaking the work,
and who would give you every salts
faction"
II fear that would not be the same
thing" he said. MY firm have such
implicit faith in you that they would
not entertain the idea Of anyone
else going. Now think, Mr.. Fairfax,
for moment. If you are prepared
to go, I, in my turn, on behalf of my
company, am prepared to offer you
your expenses and sum of $4,000.
You need not be away more than
three months at longest, so that you
see our offer is at the rate of ESQ.,
900 year. 1t is princely remunera-
ton"
l looked at him closely. 1t was
plain that he was in earnest-in
deadly earnest, so it seemed Even
a defaulting manager would scarcely
seem to warrant SO much zeal.
II am very much fattered by your
offer" l said; land believe me,
most truly appreciate the generosity
of your company; but, as said be-
fore, if it is necessary for me to go
at once. that is to say. before have
completed my present case, then I
have no option but to most reluc-.
family decline"
Perhaps you will think it over"
he continued, "and let me know, say
tomorrow"
mo amount of thinking it over
will induce me to alter my decision"
I replied. 'You must see for your.
self that I have no right to accept
retainer from one party and then
throw them over in order to favor
another. That would not only be
dishonorable action on my part, but
would be bad from business point
of view. No. Mr.. Bayley, am ex-
ceedingly sorry, but have no option
but to act as am doing"
'.In that case I must wish you
very good morning." he remarked,
and took up his hat and umbrella. I
could see, however, that he was still
reluctant to go.
Good morning. I answered. 81
hope your affairs in the Argentine
may brighten before very long"
He shook his head gloolnily, and
then left the office without another
word.
When he had gone answered some
letters, gave some instructions to my
managing clerk, and then donned my
hat and set off for the office of the
shipping company that had brought
Gideon Hayle to England.
Unfortunately it transpired that
they were not in position to do