The Washington times., 1908-12-13
CHAPTER Y.
THE MAN OF MILLIONS.

h" TARR SPENCER-wboever he
may be?" Jim had said, never
connecting the name with that
Of a certain p. s. Spencer-fa-
miliarly called 'Pete'-whom he had
known some years before in Chicago,
when he was greener than at present
The United States Government, how
ever, has longer memory, and on this
very morning the gentleman in question
was discussing some Of his Pete" trans
actions with a chief postohice inspec-
tor at the Iatter's lair I'm the dingy old
Government building across from City
Han Park
II was Mr. Starr Spencer's wont TO
have people come to see him. and his
luxurious suite of offices in d towering
sNyscraper farther down Broadway we're
almost always hlled with waiting
throngs-bankers Of position. brokers Of
the better class, politicians Of wide in
fluence-au eager TO catch but a word
with him, for Mr. Starr Spencer was
these days becoming quite d parsonage
in the financial district.
Landing in New York unknown and
uuheraldeJ some three or four years
before, he had scored one dazzling, hair
raising coup after another. until he
caused even the old-timers to sit up
and open their eyes.
Where he got the money to put
through his various deals no one seem
ed to know; but ii was evident that
he was troubled by no lack OF funds
He organized and put upon a solvent
basis the American Matchbox Trust,
the FeIlOwe's AImOr-plate Combination,
and the international Soda Company.
In fact, il became an axiom that
whatever he took up. was bound 20 sue
ceed.
Just at present ne was devotinE his
energy to the formation Of the Universal
Jewel Company. a bnlion-dollar con-
Germ of wide charter. but whose prin-
cipai scope. so It was understood, would
be 70 compete with the existing Dia-
mcnd trust. by the exploitation Of fresh
felds and sources of supply.
4 titanic undertaking, and one-if the
resources snd strategy OF that famous
South African crowd be cOnsi Tered
see m.ngiy toredoomed to failure; but so
great was the prestige Of starr Spen-
Ger, and 50 alluring were the returns
promised, that the buying public wait
ed on tiP-tOe for the shares to be placed
upon the market.
Even now, a bank president from
Omaha, a United States Senator from
California. and q noted Boston capital
IS were at his Office, seeking some as
surauCe that they. would be granted a
substantial ground floor interest in the
venture
Yes the one-tme Pete" Spencer had
become considerable OF a figure in the
world Of finance.
But that symbolic old gentleman of
the hatchet face, long goatee, and anti
quated swsllowtaH coat, whom the car
toonists love to depict, is no respecter
o. person or OF the claims Of private
business: and when the presence of the
man Of millions was demanded at the
dingy Government building, he came as
submissively as you or l.
Mr.. Spencer" began the brusk little
Inspector. pausing to adjust his glasses.
and glance through a typewritten re-
port upon his desk, Mr.. Spencer. what
do you know of the Santa Teresa gold
mine2'
The iin2ncier gave a slight start, and
his eyes family narrowed.
THE Santa Teresa gold mine?" he re-
peated guardedly.
Yes; OF Durango, Mexico
"Ah?" with a nod Of refreshed recol-
lection. The Santa Teresa Of Durango?
Why. 1 know nothing about it,
Yet you were one OF the organizers
and principal stockholders of the COM
pany formed out in Chicago to develop
this property"
'Ah, was u" Mr.. starr Spencer
seemed 20 be feeling his way. perhaps.
But ana he smiled, that has been so
long ago / could not just at first COM
prehend why the name should sound so
familiar TO me-"
-Four years, I believe" commented
the Inspector dryly.
Possibly. But a lot of water has
run under my bridge In the past four
years, AIR. Inspector
The hnancier dropped suddenly his air
OF wary caution and assumed tone OF
engaging frankness rs he went on:
Shall 1 tell you what I remember
Of my connection with this Santa Teresa
proiect7'