The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-09-29
CHAPTER II.-(Continued.)

"Yes, continued the President, owing
to the recent sales of your real property
in this country (sales, due, l fear, to a
want of confidence in my administrator
you have at this moment sum OF 500,
600 in the bank safe. Now (don't inter
rupt me, please) the experience of busy
life teaches me that commercial reputa
ton and probity depend on results, moi
on methods. Your directors have pre-
JUDGE against me and my government
That prejudices you, with your superior
opportunities for judgment, cannot share
You will serve your employers best by
doing for them what they haven't the
sense and courage to do for themselves
l propose that you should assume the re
sponsibiiity of lending me this money. The
transaction will rebound to the profit OF
the bank. 1t shall Also" he added, slow
ly, rebound to your profit"
l began to see my way. But there were
difficulties.
What am I to tell the directors?"
asked
you will make the usual return Of
Investments and debts outstanding-mort
gages--loans on approved security-bui
you know better than I do"
False returns, your excellency means!
'They will no doubt be formally mac
curate." the President admitted.
what if they ask for proofs?" said l.
Sufficient unto the day." said the
President.
You have rather surprised me. sir"
said, "but l am most anxious to oblige
opA tn rd tho u,o1fo nf IL
reataland. There are, however, two points
which occur to me. First, how am I to
be insured against not getting my inter
est? That l must have"
Quite So" he interrupted. And the
second point l can anticipate. 1t is,
what token of my gratitude for your time
lY assistance can l prevail on you to &C
cept?"
"Your excellency's knowledge of human
nature is surprising"
Kindly give me your attention, Mr..
Martin, and | will try to satisfy both
your very reasonable requirements. You
have 100000; those you will hand over
to me, receiving in return government
per cent bonds for that amount. [ will
then hand back to you $4,000: $4,000
you will retain as security for your in
terest; in the event of any failure on the
part of Aureataland to meet her obliga-
lions honorably, you will pay the inter
est on the whole 100000 out of that
sum. That secures you for more than
two years against absolute failure of in
terest, which in reality you need not fear.
Till the money is wanted, you will have
the use of it. The remaining $4,000 l
shall beg of you to accept as your COM
mission, or rather as token of my es-
TEEN. $4,000 absolutely-S45,OOO as
long as the Aureataland pays interest
You must admit l deal with you as one
gentleman with another, Mr.. Martin. In
the result, your directors get their inter
est, l get my loan, you get your bonus.
We are all benefited, no one is hurt! All
this is effected at the cost of a harmless
stratagem."
| was full of admiration. The scheme
was very neat, and, as far as the Presi-
dent and myself were concerned, he had
been no more than just in pointing out
its advantages. AS for the directors, they
would probably get their interest; any
how, they would get it for two years.
There was risk, of course; a demand for
evidence of my alleged investments or a
sudden order to realize heavy sum at
short notice would bring the house about
my ears. But l did not anticipate this.
well, Mr.. Martini" said the President,
do you agree?'
l still hesitated. The President rose
and put his hand on my shoulder.
Better say YES. l might take it, YOU
know, and cause you to disappear-be
lieve me, with reluctance, Mr.. Martin. 1t
is true 1 shouldn't like this course. 1t
would perhaps make my position here un-
tenable. But not having the money would
certainly make it untenable.",
I saw the force of this argument, and
said:
II can refuse your excellency nothing
'Then take your hat and come along
to the bank" said he.
This was sharp work.
'Your excellency does not mean to take
the money now-to-night? l exclaimed
mot to take, Mr.. Martin-to receive i,
from you. We have made our bargain
What is the objection to carrying it out
promptly"
But I must have the bonds. They
must be prepared, sir"
'They are here" he said, taking q
bundle from the drawer of a writing ia
BILE. 100000 per cent stock, signed
by myself, and countersigned by Don An
tonic. Take your hat and come along
l did as l was bid.