The Prescott daily news., 1908-09-19
My Promotion.
tOriginal.] ]

When Alice Coale told me that she was engaged to Tom Martin 1 felt q sickening sensation about the heart that could only come to young per son. l might feel bitter disappoint- ment today, but it would not be of the same kind. Alice looked at me sur prised "Why, what's the matter, John?" she said
 Nothing" l replied, endeavoring to Tom mightnt turn out good enough for you-thats all."
 "Oh, that's all. is it? Well, don't worry about that. A fellow as smart, as popular, as trustworthy, as Tom is good enough for a far better girl than l. Mother says she'd rather trust to his judgment in business mat ters than to that of older heads"
 "Oh, I only meant he wasn't good enough for you"
 You numbering, good natured stupid, John." she said, taking my hand and pressing 1t caressingly. You will al- ways be my dearest friend"
 That was very kind of her.
 A few months later l was startled are spoken under the breath for a brief period before they become pub lie property. It was that Tom Martin had been borrowing money from any one who would lend 1t to him. Then heard that he had disappeared. Fol lowing closely on this came the news that Mrs. Coale had given him all her money for investment and he had either sunk 1t or taken 1t with him Since he had paid none of his debts it was presumed that ne had taken it with him.
 Detectives visited his room and took away every scrap of paper they could find there though Tom before leaving had left nothing to show where he had gone. He had borrowed a book of me- and I went to his room to see if I could find it. It was lying on his table, and I carried it home with me That evening I took it up and opened it. Between the cover and the title page was a library card on which were entries of several books taken out within few weeks. The book he had borrowed from me was Australian Sketches" 1 wondered what kind of literature he had been taking from the library. Curiosity, mingled with feeling that I might gather some clew with reference to his acts, led me the next day to take the card to the library ot nlo bn ho been reading. What was my astonish- ment to find that one was upon Gen. tral America, three upon Honduras and a fifth on the rubber industry of that state.
 After some thought these were my deductions: Tom had at first thought of going to Australia, but had changed to Central America. He had selected Honduras and when he got there would Inve-t the money he had taken in either the rubber trade or a rubber forest. More likely the latter, since it would give him better chance to hide from the world.
 The day after 1 reached these con- clusions I started for Florida and from there sailed for Honduras. Landing at Puerto Cabello l went into the in- terior. l made inquiries for an Amer ican who had come to Honduras to negotiate for rubber tract. The state is not large one, and any one going there with money would not re- main unnoticed by its people. Of course it would be useless to inquire for one by the name of Martin. for the skulker was doubtless using an as- sumed name.
 It was just two weeks to day when 1 learned of man answering Mar fins descrintion w ho wna dickarinp for