Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1902-07-19
Ny Stangest Case
BY GUY BOOTHBY.
Author of CDR. Kikola," "The Beautiful
White Devii,'' Pharos, The
Egyptian" Etc.
CHAPTER III.-CoNTINUED.
copyrighted. 1901, by Ward. Lock & Col

CHAPTER III.-CONTINUED.
He had scarcely gone before one of
my clerks entered the room and
handed me card. On it was printed
the name of Mr.. Edward Bayley, and
In the left-hand bottom corner was
the announcement that he was the
managing director of the Santa Cruz
Mining company of Forzoda in the
Argentine Republic.
''Show the gentleman in, Walters"
said
In a few minutes tall, handsome
man, irreproachably turned out, en-
tered the office. He seated himself in
a chair the clerk placed for him, put
his hat and umbrella on another, and
then turned to me.
MY card has made you familiar
with my name, Mr.. Fairfax" ne be-
gan, "and doubtless, if you are at all
familiar with mines and mining, you
are acquainted with the name of the
company I have the honor to repre-
sent?"
Il am very much afraid the min
Ing market does not possess very
much interest for me-" I replied. 81
have to work so hard for my money,
that when I have got it / prefer to
invest it in something a little more
reliable. May I inquire the nature
Of your business with me?'
Il have come to see you, Mr.. Fair
fax" he said, speaking very impress
siyely, and regarding me deliberately
I,a ~
subject. Before I explain what it is,
may [ ask that you will treat what
/ am about to tell you as purely con-
fdential?'
my business is invariably a conf
dental one" I answered for the Sec
ond time in two days. 81 venture to
think that this room has heard more
secrets than almost any other in
England. But though they say walls
have ears, I have never heard it said
that they have tongues"
at is sometimes a good thing that
they have not" he replied. "And
now let me tell you what business
has brought me here. In the first
place, if you do not already know it.,
| may say that the company I repre-
sent is an exceedingly wealthy one,
and, as our business lies long way
from Threadneedle street, if I may
SO put it, it is necessary for us to
trust very largely to the honesty of
our employees on the other side of
the world. Of course we make al;
sorts of Inquiries about them prior
to engaging their services, and it is
also needless to say that we keep
sharp eye on them when they have
entered our employ. Nevertheless, it
is quite possible, all precautions not
withstanding, for an INSCRIPTIONS
man to take advantage of us. AS
matter of fact, this is what has hap
pened, and what has also brought
me to you. For some considera bic
time past we have had our suspicious
that our manager at the mines has
been in league with a notorious ras-
cal in New York. In proof of this,
l migh- say that our returns have
shown decided falling off, while
our manager has, so we have lately
discovered, within the past year be-
come rich enough to purchase prop
erty to considerable extent in the
United States. Unfortunately for US,
owing to lack Of direct evidence.
we are unable to bring his defaica-
tons home to him, though of course
we are as certain of our facts as we
can well be of anything
81 think 1 understand" [ said.
your business with me is to endeav-