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

| lmpllclt 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 Geo.
600 year. 1t is princcly remunera-
ton"
looked at him closely. 1t was
/ plain that he was in earnest--in
deadly earnest, so it seemed. Even
q defaulting manager would scarcely
seem to warrant so much zeal.
II am very much battered by your
offer" 1 said; land believe me,
most truly appreciate the generosity
of your company; but, as l said be-
fore. if it is necessary for me to go
Mt once. that is to say, before / have
completed my present case, then
have no option but to most reluc-
family decline"
perhaps you will think it over"
| he continued, land let me know, say
| Tomorrow"
No amount of thinking it over
will induce me to alter my decision"
/ replied. "You must see for your
self that I have no right to accept a
retainer from one party and then
\ throw them over in order to favor
I another. That would not only be a
dishonorable action on my part. but
would be bad from business point
of view. No, Mr.. Bayley. I am ex-
ceedingly sorry, but have no option
but to act as / am doing"
I'm that case / must wish you a
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." answered. 81
hope your affairs in the Argentine
may brighten before very long"
He shook his head gloomily, 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 nv
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
very much in the way of helping me.
Mr.. Bertram had certainly travelled
home in one of their steamers, so the
manager informed me. boat that
as rule did not carry passengers.
He had landed at the docks, and from
that moment they had neither seen
nor heard anything of him. 1 in
| quired for the steamer, only to learn
| that she was now somewhere on her
way between Singapore and Hong
Kong. This was decidedly disap-
pointing, but as most of the cases in
which I-have been ultimately success
full have had unpromising beginnings,
did not take it too seriously to
heart. Leaving the shipping office, I
next turned my attention to Hatton
Garden, where Iiealled upon Messrs.
Jacob and Bulenthall, one of the
largest firms in the gem trade. We
had had many dealings together in
the past, and ss had had the good
fortune on one occasion to do them
signal service, I knew that thew
would now do nll that they could for
me in return.
Good day, Mr.. Fairfax" said the
chief partner, rs I entered his snug
little sanctum, which leads out of the
main Office. What can 1 have the
pleasure of doing for you?"
81 am in search of some informa-
tion," I replied, "and I think you
may be able to help me.''
II will do all that is in nv power
to render you assistance" he re-
turned, as he wiped his glasses and
placed them on his somewhat leshy
nose. What is the information you
require? Has there been another big
robbery of stones, and you think it
possible that some of them may have
come into our hands?"
There certainly has been a rob.
berry," replied, land the stones NAV
have been offered to you, but not in
| the way you mean. The fact of the
matter is, want to discover whether
or not large consignment of uncut
rubies and sapphirest of great value
have been placed upon the market
within the last two months"
Uncut rubies and sapphires are
being continually placed upon the
market" he observed, leaning back
in his chair and rafting his keys.
But not such stones as those am
looking for" / said, and furnished
him with the rough weights that had
been supplied to me.
This is interesting--decidedly in
teresting," he remarked. Especial
ly since it serves to offer an explana-
ton on certain matter which we
have been interested in for some lit
tie time past. On the 10th of last
month, gentleman called upon us
here, who stated that he had lately
returned from the far east. He had
had, so he declared, the good fortune
to discover valuable mine, the To-
cality of which he was most careful
not to disclose. He thereupon
shnWpI y