The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-09-29
the matter more regular"

that official, cant make a matter regular,
l don't know what can. Let him sleep on.
Isn't his signature on the bonds enough"
What could l do? I made one more
weak objection:
What shall we tell Jones?"
"What shall we tell Jones?" he echoed.
Really, Mr.. Martin, you must use your
discretion as to what you tell your en-
ployes. You can hardly expect me to tell
Jones anything, beyond that it's fine
morning."
We had now reached the bank, which
stood in Liberty street, turning out OF
the Piazza. took out my key, unlocked
the door, and we entered together. We
passed into my inner sanctum, where the
safe stood.
whats it in?" asked the President.
United States bonds, and bills on
New York and London" replied.
Good" said he. Let mo look"
l unlocked the safe and took out the
securities. He examined them carefully,
placing each after due scrutiny in small
handbag, in which he had brought down
the bonds 1 was to receive. I stood by,
holding a shaded candle. At this mo-
ment voice cried from the door:
IF you move you're dead men y
l started and looked up. The Presi-
dent looked up without starting. There
was dear old Jones, descending from his
upper chamber, where he and Mrs. Jones
resided. He was clad only in his night
shirt, and was leveling a formidable gun
full at the august head of his excellency.
"Ah, Mr.. JONES'" said the latter, Its
a fine morning."
1.-The President !" cried Jones: "and
Mr.. Martin! Why, what on earth, gen.
tlemen-?"
The President gently waved one hand
toward me, as if to say, 'Mr. Martin will
explain" and went on placing his securi-
ties in the bag. In the face Of this crisis
my hesitation left me.
"Mr. Martin received a cable from Eu-
rope, JONES'" said the President, in
structing him to advance a sum of money
to me-"
"Cable? said Jones. where is it?"
1--WE must have left it at the Golden
House. 1 saw it was on the table just
before we started. Though I presume
Mr.. Jones has no right"
"None at ALL" 1 said briskly.
yet, as a matter of concession, Mr..
morrow
"Strictly as matter of concession per-
haps 1 will, though 1 am bound to say
that am surprised at your manner, Mr..
JONES'"
Jones looked sadly puzzled.
Its all irregular, sir" said he.
Hardly more so than your costume J"
said the President, pleasantly.
Jones being thus made aware of the
havoc the draught was playing with his
airy covering, hastily closed the door,
and said to me appealingly:
Its all right, sir, l suppose?
Perfectly right" said I.
"But highly CONFIDENTIAL added the
President. "And you will put me under
a personal obligation, Mr.. Jones, and at
the same time fulfill your duty to your
employers, if you preserve silence till the
transaction is officially announced. A
man who serves me does not regret it."
Here he was making the most of an
other opportunity this time.
Enough of this" 1 said. Il will go
over the matter in the morning."
His excellency walked up to Jones and
looked hard at him.
"Silent men prosper best, and live long
est, Mr.. Jones'"
Jones looked into his steely eyes, and
suddenly fell all of tremble
The President was satisfied. He abb
ruptly pushed him out of the room. and
we heard his stumbling steps going up
III
me, and said with apparent annoyance:
You leave a great deal to me, Mr..
Martin"
He had certainly done more than tell
Jones it was a fine morning. But l was
too much troubled to thank him. was
thinking of the cable. The President d.
vined my thoughts, and said:
II must prepare that cable"
"Yes," l replied; that would reas-
sure him. But 1 haven't had much prac-
tice in that sort of thing, and 1 don't
quite know"
The President scrubbed few words on
bit of paper, and said:
Take that to the postoffice, and they'll
give you the proper form; 1 will fill it
up"
Certainly some things 60 easily if the
head of the State is your fellow criminal.
'And now, Mr.. Martin, it grows late,
1 have my securities; you have your
bonds. We have won over Jones. All
goes we'll. Aureataland is saved, You
have made your fortune, for there lie
your $4,000. And, in fine, am much
obliged to you. l will not trouble you
to attend me on my return. Good night,
Mr.. Martin"
He went out, and threw myself down
in my office chair, and sat gazing at the
bonds he had left me. wondered wheth-
er he had merely made a tool of me
whether | could trust him; whether l had
done well to rely on his promises. And
yet there lay my reward; and I soon
arose, put the government bonds and the
$4,000 in securities in the safe, locked
up everything, and went home to my lodg-
ings. As l went in it was broad day
light, for the clock had gone five, and
met Father Jacques sallying forth. He
had already breakfasted, and was on his
way to administer early consolation to
the flower women in the Piazza. He
stopped me with a grieved look, and said !:
'Ah, nay friend, these are untimely
hours"
saw I was laboring under an unjust
suspicion.