Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1907-05-18

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 l 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
$65, 1000 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 1
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 grieved look, and said:
"Ah, my friend, these are untimely
hours"
l saw l was laboring under an unjust
suspicion.
II have only just come from the bank.
l had to dine at the Golden House and
afterward returned to finish up a bit Of
work"
"Ah, that is WE'LL" he cried. 1T is
then the Industrious and not the idle ap-
prentice meet?" referring to series Of
famous prints with which my room was
decorated, a gift from my father on my
departure.
nodded and passed on, saying to my
SELF Very Industrious, indeed. Not
many men have done such a nights work
as 1 have"
And that is how my fortune became
bound up with those Of the Aureataland
national debt.
CHAPTER ".
After the incidents above recorded,
things went on quietly enough for some
months. l had serious talk with Jones,
approaching him gravely for his outrage
GUS demeanor. He capitulated abjectly
ON being shown the cable, which was pro-
cured in the manner kindly indicated by
the President The latter had perhaps
been In too great hurry with his heavy
guns, for his hint of violence had rather
stirred than allayed Jones apprehensions.
II there were nothing to conceal, why
should his excellency not stick at murder
to hide it? However, 1 explained to him
the consideration of high policy, debating
inviolable secrecy, and justifying a some
what arbitrary way of dealing with
trusted official; and the marked gracious
ness with which Jones was received when
he met the President at the Ministry of
Finance on current business went far to
ODfAtSAotc hiS uAPtcdbdutf 'TeCOlleCLlOuS. L
further bound him to my fortunes by OBJ
tanning for him a rise of salary from the
directors, lin consequence of the favora-
bic report OF his conduct received from
Mr.. Martin"
Peaceful as matters seemed, / was not
altogether at ease. To begin with, the
new loan did not apparently at all i'm
prove the financial position of Aureata-
a M nloff
scene of the harbor works there was the
usual difficulty in paying salaries and
meeting current expenditure. The Presi-
dent did not invite my confidence as to
the disposal of his funds; indeed before
long l was alarmed to see a growing cold
ness in his manner, which l considered at
once ungrateful and menacing; and when
the half-year came round he firmly refus-
ed to disburse more than half the amount
OF interest due on the second loan, thus
forcing me to make an inroad on my re-
serve of $4,000. He gave me many good
reasons for this course of conduct. dwell
ing chiefly on the necessary unproductive-
ness of public works in their early stages,
and confidently promising full payment
with arrears next time. Nevertheless
began to see that 1 must face the posi-
that l had fondly hoped woul be avail
able for my own purposes for consid-
cradle time at least. Thus one thing and
another contributed to open breach be-
tween his excellency and myself, and al
though l never ceased to feel his charm
as a private companion, my distrust of
him as ruler, and l may add, as fellow
| cOnspirator, steadily deepened
Other influences were at this time at
work in the same direction. Rich in the
possession of my bonus" I had plunged
even more freely than before into the
| gaities of Nottingham, and where 1 was
welcome before l was now a doubly hon
ored guest. 1 became acquainted with
the Signorina, the lady to whom the Pres
ident had referred during his interview
with me; and my acquaintance with the
| Signorina was very rich in results.
This lady was, after the President per-
haps the best known person in Aureata-
land-best known, that is, by name and
| face and fame; for her antecedents and
| circumstances were wrapped in impene-
trable mystery. When 1 arrived in the
country the Signorina Christina Nugent
had appeared originally as a member Of
| an operate company, which had paid a
visit to our National Theater" from the
| United States. The company passed on
its not very brilliant way, but the Sixno-
| riana remained behind. 1t was said she
had taken a fancy to Whittingham, and,
being independent of her profession, had
| determined to make a sojourn there. At