The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-09-22

"Yes," said he steadily, quite beyond
suspicion. You see, Mr.. Martin, In my
position l am compelled to be liberal.
The government cannot set other employ
ers the example of grinding men down by
low wages. However, reasons apart, there
is the fact. We cannot go on without
more money and may tell you. in con-
fidence, that the political situation makes
it imperative we should 60 on. Not only
my personal honor pledged, but the oppo-
sition, Mr.. Martin, led by the Colonel, is
making itself obnoxious-yes, l may say
very obnoxious"
1.-THE Colonel, sir" said /, with free
dom engendered of dining, sis beast"
WELL" said the President, with toll
Grant smile, 1.-The Colonel, unhappily for
the country, is no true patriot. But he
is powerful; he is rich; he is, under my
self alone, in command of the army. And,
moreover, 1 believe he stands well with
the Signorina. The situation, in fact,
is desperate. l must have money, MI.
Martin. Will your directors make me
new loan"
1 knew very well the fate that would
attend any such application. fhe dlrec-
tors were already decidedly uneasy about
their first loan; shareholders had asked
awkward questions, and the chairman had
found no small difficulty in showing that
the investment was likely to prove either
safe or remunerative. Again, only fort
night before, the government had made a
formal application to me on the same sub
ject. 1 cabled the directors, and recelv-
ed prompt reply in the single word'
"Tootsums," which in our code meant,
"Must absolutely and finally decline to
entertain any applications" l commune
Gated the contents of the cable to Senior
Don Antonio de la Casabianca, the min
lister of finance, who had, of course, COM
municated them in turn to the President.
l ventured to remind his excellency of
these facts. He had heard me with silent
attention.
II fear" 1 concluded, therefore, that
1t is impossible for me to be OF any assist
ance to your excellency."
He nodded, and gave a slight sigh.
Then, with an air of closing the subject,
he said:
II suppose the directors are past rea-
son. You occupy very responsible po-
sition here for so young man, Mr.. Mar
tin-not beyond your merits, l am sure.
They leave you a pretty free hand, don't
they?"
replied that as far as routine bust
ness went l did much as seemed good in
my own eyes.
"Routins business? including invest
ments, for instance?' he asked.
"Yes," said I investments in the or
binary course of business discounting
bills and putting money out on loan and
mortgage over here. l place the money,
and merely notify the people at home Of
what have DONE"
"a most proper confidence to repose in
you,'' the President was good enough to
say. confidence is the life of business );
you must trust a man. 1t would be alb
surd to make you send home the bills,
and deeds, and certificates, and what not
OF course, they wouldn't do that
Though this was a statement somehow
it also sounded like a question, so l an
swered:
"As rule they do me the compliment
of taking my word. The fact is, they are.
as your excellency says, obliged to trust
somebody"
Exactly as 1 thought. And you some
times have large sums to place.?
At this point, Notwithstanding my re-
spect for the President, l began to smell
a rat.
"Oh, no, SIR" l replied usually very
small. Our business is not so extensive
as we could wish"
whatever" said the President, look
ing me straight in the face, whatever
may be usual, at this moment you have
large sum-a very respectable sum-of
money in your safe at the bank, waiting
for investment"
"How do you know that?" 1 cried.
"Mr. Martin! 1t is no doubt my fault !;
l am too prone to ignore etiquette; but
you forget yourself"
l fastened to apologize, although 1 was
pretty certain the President was contem-
plating a queer transaction, if not fat
burglary.
"Ten thousand pardons, your excellen-
cy, for my most unbecoming tone, but
may l ask how you became possessed of
this information?'
Zones told me-" he said, simply.
As it would not have been polite to
express the surprise felt at Jones' sim
plicity in choosing such a confdant,
held my peace.
(To be continued.)