The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-09-01

She nodded.
mot often enough" she declared.
II just love getting about. Last week
we had a perfectly horrible trip,
though. We started off for. Belfast
quite Unexpectedly, and hated every
minute of it,
never word His companion was al
ready chattering on about something
else Peter crossed the hall few
minutes later, to speak to an acquaint-
ance, slipped out to the telephone booth
and spoke to his servant.
"A bag and a change" he ordered,
"at Euston Station at IL o'clock, in
time for the Irish mail. Your mistress
will be home as usual
An hour later the dinner party broke
up. Early the next morning, Peter
crossed the Irish Channel He return
ed the following day and crossed again
within a few hours. In five days the
affair was finished, except for the de-
movement
Peter assembled in the lift to Mr.. Hes
eltine- Wrigge's Office the following
Thursday. calm and unruffled as usual,
but nevertheless a little exultant 1t
was barely half an hour ago since he
had become finally prepared for this in
terview He was looking forward to it
now with feelings of undiluted salts
faction. Mr. Heseltinc- Wrigge was in,
he was told, and he was at once admit
ted to his presence. The hnancier
greeted him with a somewhat curious
smile.
Say, this IS very nice of you to look
me up again." he exclaimed. Still
worrying about that loan, eh?"
Peter shook his head
mo, I'm not worrying about that
any more" he answered. accepting one
of his hosts cigars. The fact of it
is that il it were not for me, you would
be the one who would have to do the
worrying"
Mr.. Heseltine- Wrigge stopped short
in the act of lighting his cigar.
I'm not quite on" he remarked
Whats the trouble?"
There is no trouble, fortunately"
Peter replied. Only a little disappoint-
ment for our friends the Count Ven
Hern and Mai. Kosuth. ! have brought
you some information which | think
will put an end to that affair of the
loan"
Mr.. Heseltine- Wrigge sat quite still
for a moment. His brows were knit
ted, he showed no signs of nervous
ness.
Go right on" he said.
THE security upon which you were
going to advance million and half
10 the Turkish government" Peter con-
tinued, consisted of two Dread
noughts and a cruiser, being built to
the order OF that country by MessrS
Shepherd & Hargreaves, at Belfast.
Quite right Mr.. Heseltine-Wrigge
admitted, quietly Il have been up and
seen the boats. l have seen the ship
builders, too
did YOU happen to mention to the
latter" Peter inquired. that you were
advancing money upon those vessels
Certainly not" Mr.. Heseltine-
Wrigge replied. "Kosuth wouldn't
hear of such a thing. If the papers got
wind of it. there's be the devil to pay.
All the same | have got an assignment
from the Turkish government
Not worth the paper its written on
Peter declared, blandly.
Mr. Heseltine-V rigge rose INSTEAD
lily to his feet. He was a strong, silent
man, but there was a queer look about
his mouth.
What the devil do you mean" he
demanded
Briefly. this" Peter explained The
first payment. when these ships were
laid down, was made not by Turkey
but BY an emissary of the German gov
eminent. who arranged the whole al
fair in Constantinople. The second
payment was due ten months ago. and
not a penny has been paid. Notice was
given to the late government twice and
absolutely ignored. According to the
charter, therefore. these ships reverted
to the shipbuilding company. who re-
tanned possession of the first payment
as indemnity against loss. The Count
Won Hern's position was this. He rep
resents the German government. You
were to find million and a half Of
money with the ships as security. You
also have a contract from the Count
Won Hern to take those ships off your
hands provided the interest on the loan
became overdue, a state OF affairs
which can assure you would have
happened within the next twelve
months. Practically, therefore, you
were made use of as an independent
fnancier to provide the money with
which the Turkish government broad
ly speaking, have sold the. ships to
Germany. You see, according to the
charter of the shipbuilding company,
these vessels cannot be sold to any
foreign government without the con-
sent of Downing Street. That is the
reason why the affair had to be con-
Quoted in such a roundabout manner"
"All this is beyond me-" Mr.. Hesel-
tine Wrigge said, hoarsely. II don't
care a d-n who has the ships in the
end so long as | get my money"
But you would not get your money
Peter pointed out, because there will
be no ships. l have had the shrewdcst
lawyers in the world at work upon the
and there is not the slightest
doubt that these vessels are. or rather
were. the entire property of Messrs.
Shepherd & Hargreaves. To-day they |
belong to ME. | have bought them and !
paid 10000 pounds deposit. | can
show you the receipt and all the pa
pers"
Mr.. Heseltine- Wrigge said only one
word, but that word was profane.
Il am sorry, of course, that you have
lost the business" Peter concluded, but
surely it's better than losing your
Mr.. Heseltine-Wrigge struck the ia
bic fercely with his fist. There was
A gray and unfamiliar look about his
face
"D-n II the moneys gone !" he de-