Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1902-08-02

Should we hear anything further
upon the subject, we will at once
communicate with you"
81 should be glad if you will do
So" I replied. 81 should like to get
this matter cleared up as soon as
possible. There may be something
behind it that we do not under
stand.''
T 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 L
reached my office I took the card
from a 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 the
middle of a 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 I had seen that
morning, was on his way to call upon
me.
Something has evidently come to
light" I reflected. perhaps the
mystery surrounding Mr.. Edward
Bayley is about to be cleared up, for
I must confess I 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. 81 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
a rough description of the individual
who called upon you. Can you recall
anything particular about his ap-
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 a mark" l replied.
''But since you do mention it, 1 re-
member that he had a 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 I had my doubts; now,
however, they are quite removed.
Why he should have called upon you
in such a guise is a question I can
not for the lie 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."
"In that case you must forgive me-"
he replied. GAS a matter of fact l
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 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 so. He went from bad
to worse. At last he was caught in
a fragrant piece of dishonesty, and
was Immediately discharged. When
[ tell you that that young man had
a mark such as you desc'..bed upon
his cheek, you may be able to derive
some idea of what follows"
might it not be a pure coinci-
dence?" I replied.
mot in this case, I fancy" he an
swered "What makes me the more
inclined to believe that it is the same
individual, is the fact that our Sec
rotary met him in Leadenhall street
only few days ago. He looked old
er, but had evidently prospered in
the world. AS matter of fact,
Warner described him as being ir-
reproachably dressed and turned
out. l trust his good fortune was
honestly come by; but I must own,
from what I know of him, that I
have my doubts"
but what possible reason could
this individual have for calling upon
me, and why should he have made
me such an offer as I have described
to you?"
The director shook his head. The
question was evidently beyond him.
Il can assign no sort of reason for
it," he said, unless he has some hope
OF being able to get you out of Eng
land for a time"
II don't see how that could benefit
him." I replied. 81 am connected
with no case in which he has any
sort of interest"
"You never can tell" the old gen.
tleman replied. 'From what know
OF him, Gideon Hayle was always"
Gideon what?" I cried, springing
to my feet. s'Did I understand you