The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-12-11
WITH INTEREST TO
DATE
CONTINUED from Preceding Page.)

tract; he had even turned work away
so that his plant might be ready for
the rush, with the result that many of
his men were idle and he was running
far below capacity. But he had his
eye upon those English bonuses. When
his associates rather timidly called his
attention to the present state of af-
fairs he handled them roughly and as
sured them bitingly that he knew his
business. Nevertheless he wished 1t
was time to submit the bid that bad
lain for month upon his desk. The
magnitude Of the figures was getting
on his nerves.
On the 10th Of May he received a ca
blegram in his own official cipher
which, translated. read:
Meet Sir Thomas Drummond. chairman
Royal Barrata bridge commission. arriv-
Ing Cunard liner Campania 18th. stopping
Waldorf. Arrange personally Barrata con-
tract. Caution.
The cablegram was unsigned. but its
address. "At-Wylie." betrayed not only
its destination. but also the identity Of
its sender. Mr.. Jackson Wylie became
tremendously excited. The last word
conjured up bewildering possibilities.
He was about to consult his associates
when 1t struck him that the greatest
caution he could possibly observe
would consist in holding his own
tongue. They had seen tit to criticise
his handling of the matter thus far;
hence he decided to tell them nothing
until he had first seen Sir Thomas
Drummond. He imagined he might
then have something electrifying to
say. He had dealt from the bottom"
too often, he had closed too many
bridge contracts in his time. to mis-
take the meaning of this visit or of
that last word Caution"
1t was hard work to hold in, howev-
er, and he was at a high state of ten
sion when on the morning of the 18th
day of May he strolled into the Wal
dorf-Astoria and inquired at the desk
for Sir Thomas Drummond
There was no Sir Thomas stopping
at the hotel. although a MFR. 7. Drum
mond from London had arrived on the
previous afternoon. Mr.. Jackson Wy
lie placed the heel of his right shoe
upon the favorite corn of his other ex-
He must be getting into his dotage, he
decided. or else the idea of So 900 900
job ratified him.
AT the rear desk he had his card
blown up through the tube to Mr.. 7.
Drummond" and d few moments later
was invited to take the elevator.
Arriving at the sixth floor. he needed |
no page to guide him. Boots pointed |
his way to the apartment of the dis |
tinguished visitor as plainly as a let !
tered signboard-boots of all descrip- |
tions-hunting boots, riding boots. |
street shoes. low shoes. pumps, san
dals. black ones and tan ones. all In |
a row outside the door. Evidently Sir |
Thomas Drummond Travelled in style
and had come prepared for emergen-
cies. Nothing was missing from the
collection unless perhaps pair Of
rubber hip boots.
A stoop shouldered old man with
marked accent and port wine nose
showed him into a parlor. where the
first object upon which Mr.. Wylie's
active eyes alighted was a mass of
blue prints on the center table. He
|
on them himself He likewise noted a
hatbox and a great. shapeless Eng
lish bag. both plastered crafty with
hotel and steamship labels from every
quarter of the world. 1t was plain to
be seen that Sir Thomas was a globe
trotter.
Mr.. Drummond begs you to be
seated" the valet announced, with
what seemed an intentional accent on
the Mr." then moved silently out
Mr.. Wylie remarked to himself upon
the value of discreet servants. They
were very valuable, very hard to get
This must be some lifelong servitor OF
his lordship's family.
There was no occasion to inquire the
identity of the tall. forid Englishman
in tweeds who entered moment lat
er, a bundle Of estimates in his hand.
.Sir Thomas Drummond. Chairman of
the Royal Barrata Bridge Commits
sion" was written all over him In
large type.
His lordship did not go to the trouble
of welcoming his visitor. but scanned
him sharply through his glasses.
You are Mr.. Jackson Wylie, Sr., he
demanded abruptly.
THAT is my name"
Owner of the Atlantic Bridge COM
pany of Newark, N. J.?'
THE same"
You received cablegram from
your son In LondonT'
Yes, your iordship."
Sir Thomas made gesture as II to :
forego the title. I
LET me see it"
Mr.. wyle produced the cablegram, !
and Drummond scanned 1t hastily. r
Evidently the identification was COM !
plete. /
Does any one besides your son and q
yourself know the contents OF this
messageT' 9
Not soul" S
you have not told any one Of my t
coming?" S
NO sir"
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