Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-07-19

4nieAF view was 10 De private
Exactly, SIR 1 replied 81 intend no
| dIsrespect to the minister of finance or to
your secretary, sir, but / am bound by
my orders
lou are an exemplary servant, Mr..
Martin. But l don't think | need trou-
bic you about it further Is it a cable?''
He smiled so wickedly at this question
that l saw he had penetrated my little
hction. However, only said:
"A letter, sir"
We'll, gentlemen" said he to the 9TH
ers. y think we may reassure Mr.. Mar
tin. Tell your directors this, Mr.. Mar
TIN. The government does not see any
need OF public notification, and none
will be made. l think we agree. gentle
men, that to acknowledge the necessity
OF any such action would be highly deroga-
tory. But assure them that the President
has stated to you, Mr.. Martin, personally,
with the concurrence of his advisers. that
he anticipates no difficulties in your be-
ing in position to remit the full amount
OF interest to them on the proper day"
may assure them, sir, that the inter
est will be punctually paid?"
Surely L expressed myself in a manner
you could understand" said he, with the
slightest emphasis on the you "Au-
reataland will meet her obligations. You
will receive all your due, Mr.. Martin.
That is so, gentlemen?"
Don Antonio acquiesced at once. John
ny Carr, l noticed, said nothing and
fldgeted rather uneasily in his chair. l
knew what the President meant. He
meant, If we don't pay, pay it out of
your reserve fund.- Alas, the reserve
fund was considerably diminished: l had
enough, and just enough left, to pay the
next installment if 1 paid none of my
own debts. felt very vicious as l saw
his excellency taking keen pleasure in the
consciousness of my difficulties, but of
course | could say nothing So I rose
and bowed myself out, feeling | had gain
ed nothing, except a very clear convic-
ton that l should not see the color of the
Presidents money on the next interest
day. True, l could just pay myself. But
what would happen next time? And if
he wouldn't pay, and l couldn't pay, the
game would be up. As to the original
loan, it is true l had no responsibility !:
but then, If no interest were paid. the
fact that l had applied a second loan.
my loan, in manner different from that
which my instructions authorized and nv
own reports represented, would be newt
ably discovered. And my acceptance of
the bonus, my dealings with the reserve
fund, all this would, | knew, look rather
queer to people who didn't know the cir
cumstances.
When l went back TO the bank, revoIy-
ing these things in my mind, | found
Jones employed in arranging the CORE
spondence. 1t was part of his duty to see
to the preservation and filing of all letters
arriving from Europe, and, strange to saw.
he delighted in the task. 1t was mart of
my duty to see he did this; so | sat down
and began to turn over the pile of letters
and messages which he had put on nv
desk they dated back two years; this sur
prised me, and l said:
Rather behindhand, aren't Won.
Jones?"
Eyes, sir, rather. Fact is. I've done
'em before, but as you've never initiated
'em, thought l ought to bring 'em to
your notice."
Quite right-very neglectful of me.
suppose they're all right?"
Yes, Sir. all right"
Then l won't trouble to go through
them"
They're all there, sir, except, of course,
the cable about the second loan, sir"
Except what?" l said.
The cable about the second loan" he
repeated.
l was glao to be reminded of this. for
of course | wished to remove that doom
ment before the bundle finally took its
place among the archives. Indeed
thought l had done So But WHY had
Jones removed it? Surely Jones was not
as skeptical as that?
''Ah, and where have you put that?"
why, sir, his excellency took that"
WHAT l cried.
Eyes, sir. Didn't mention it? Whv
the day after you and the President were
here that night, his excellency came down
in the afternoon. when you'd gone out to
the Piazza, and said he wanted it. He
said, sir, that you'd said it was to 90 TO
the ministry of finance. He was very af-
fable, sir, and told me that it was neces-
sary the original should be submitted to
the minister for his inspection and as he
was passing by he'd take it I'D himself.
Hasn't he given it back TO you, sir? He
said he would"
Slipped his memory, no doubt. All
right, Jones'"
May l go now, sir?" said Jones. Mrs
Jones wanted me to go with her"
l saw all now. That old villain had
stolen the cable. And his excellency's
words came back to my memory, II make
the most of my opportunities.