The Washington herald., 1908-03-08
CHAPTER XI.
samuel statham Wake. confe..lon,

CHAPTER XII
samuel Statham Makes Confession.
When Rolfe entered old Sans presence
he saw that something was amiss.
Was it possible that his employer knew
his secret-the secret of his visit 10 Crom-
well road on the previous night? Per-
haps ne did. The suggestion crossed his
mind. and he stood breathless for few
seconds.
4 thought you had left for Servia,
Rolfe,'' exclaimed the old man. in his
thin, weak voice. He had seated himself
at the writing table prior 10 his secre-
tarys appearance. and had tried TO as
sumo a businessIike air. But his face
was unusually drawn and haggard
Il missed the train last night" was the
young mans reply. Tt is useless to leave
till tonight as / can then catch the
Orient express from Paris tomorrow
morning. Therefore. / thvaght I'd call TO
see IL you have any further Instructions -
The old man grunted. His keen eyes
were fixed upon the others face. The
explanation was an unsatisfactory one.
Samuel Statham, as became a great
financieT had a wonderful knack Of
knowing all that passed. He had his
spies and secret agents in every capital,
and was always well informed of every
financial move in progress. To INN. early
information often meant profits Of many
thousands. and that information was in
deed paid for generously.
In London. too. his spies were ever at
work. Queer. mysterious persons OF both
snfra -, De Il
and were admitted 10 private audience OF
the king Of the financial world Rolfe
knew them TO be his secret agents, and,
further, that his employers knowledge
OF his own movements was often wider
than he had ever dreamed.
No man In the whole city OF London
was more shrewd or more cunning than
Old sam StsIham- II was TO the interest
OF Statham Brothers to be So Indeed.
he had once remarked 70 his secretary
that no secret. however carefully kept.
was safe from his agents. and that he
could discover without difficulty anything
he wanted 10 know
Had he discovered the truth regarding
The strange disappearance of the doctor
and his daughter?
Why did you lose the train last night,
Rolfe?" asked the great fnancier- You
did not so TO Charing Cross" he added.
Rolfe held his breath again Yes as he
had feared. his departure had been watch
ed for.
"I-well. 1t was too late. and so I didn't
attempt TO catch the train''
Why too late?" asked Statham. re-
provingly. in matter Of business-and
especially Of the magnitude OF yours al
this mOment-One should never be be-
midland Your arrival in Belgrade
twenty-fOur hours late may mean a loss
Of about twenty thousand TO the firm
Il hope not sir" Rolfe exclaimed
quickly. II trust that the business Will
go through all right II did my best 70
catch the train,
Your best, Why. you had half a day
in which TO pack and get TO Charing
Cross
7 quite admit that. but I was prevent
ed"
by what?" asked Statham fixing his
eyes upon the young man before him
By matter of private business.
'Yes-a woman, You may as well ad-
nit IL, Rolfe, for I know all about il.
You can't deceive me. you know"
The others face went ghastly white.
much 10 Statham's surprise The latter
saw that he had unconsciously touched a
point which had filled his secretary with
either shame or fear. and made a mental
note Of il.
Il don't deny II. sir" he faltered. much
confused. He had no idea that his en-
pioyer had any knowledge Of Maud.
Well-you're an idiot" he said. very
plainly. You'll never get on in the
world If you're tied TO q woman's shoe
strings. depend upon it. Girls are the
ruin Of young men like you. When a
mo fc Frr.,
soon as he becomes the slave OF a pretty
face, then he's g lost soul both 20 him
self and to those who employ him Take
the advice OF an old man, Rolfe," he add
ed. not unkindly. Cast off the trammels.
and be free 10 go hither and thither.
When was your age. believed In what
men call love. BAH Live as long as
have, and watch human nature as have
watched ii. and you'll come TO the same
conclusion as have arrived at"
And what is that?" asked Rolfe. for
such conversation was altogether IN
usual
That woman is mans ruin always
that the more beautiful the woman the
more complete the ruin" he answered. in
the hard unsympathetic way which he
sometimes did when ne wished TO en-
phasize a point.
n.iliar with old Sans eccentricifies- one
of which was that he must never be
contradicted. His amazing prosperity had
induced an overbearing ego,ism. Ii was
better TO make no reply
Al heart the old man was beside him.
self with delight that his secretary had
not left London, but ii was his policy
rever 10 betray pleasure at anything. He
seldom bestowed a single word of praise
upon any one He was silent when sat
isfied, and bitterly sarcastic when not
pleased
Il do not think. sir. that whatever
you may have heard concerning the lady
in question Is TO her detriment" he could
not refrain from renarking.
All that l have heard is very favor
able. admit. Understand that / say
nothing against the lady. What object
to is the principle OF a young man being
In, love. Why court unhappiness? You'll
meet with sufficient Of II In the world. ]
can assure you Look at mo- Should ]
be what am If had saddled myself