Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-12-11
A Gentleman
Chauffeur;
A Story of the Purchase of
Mexican Oil Lands
BY P. A. Mitchell


Cutbbert Harrington, portly gen
tleman with mutton chop whiskers,
partly gray hair, tlorid complexion in
dicating high living and making fine
contrast with an azure polka dot neck
scarf, sat IN his private office in q sky
scraper not far from Wall street, New
York, opening his mail. He put the
letters in different baskets as he read
them till he came to ono that arrested
his earnest attention. He pondered
over it for some time, then tapped a
bell
"Tell Mr.. Ersklne l would like to
see him." he said to tho attendant who
entered
Mr.. Erskine, tail, slender man with
shirt collar so high that it seemed
to have pushed his hair back from his
forehead, entered with serious look
on his face. No one Of Mr. Harring-
toms subordinates ever entered his
presence without appearing to suppose
that he had been called for purpose
Of supreme Importance
"Mr. Erskine," said the magnate, ~
have letter from Mexico this morn
ing from Perkins saying that Manuel
Furtado Is very Ill and likely to die"
"Senor Furtado is dead" replied
brskine, with unheard OF daring, ven
turing to interrupt his chief.
"Deadl How do you know thatT
His death is mentioned in the morn
ing papers,
What! Furtado dead 1 didn't see
it. Let me have the paper"
A journal was produced and the item
pointed out.
"Erskine," said Harrington, turning
to his subordinate, this is crisis in
the oil industry of Mexico. Furtado
owned the most valuable petroleum
lands In that distracted country. There
Will be a race between some one sent
out by me and some one sent by Sir
Oliver Tisdales British combination to
buy these lands that belong to the
Burtado estate. 1t is well known that
the prospective heirs have wished
these lands sold, but Furtado would
sell nothing. General Grant said that
victory in war depends on getting
there first with the most men In this
case victory for us depends upon who
gets there first with the most money"
1--WE are nearer Mexico than Eng
land"
I'm this case we are at the same dis
lance. Joe Bllnker has kept me ad-
vised that John Landslide, the Tis.
dale manager here, has long been try
ing to get possession Of this property
He will send
The door opened, and a clerk en-
tered.
Joseph Blinker says that he has i'm.
pOrtant information for you, SIR"
Send him right in"
Mr.. Blinker was about twenty-five
years old, stupid looking, but close
observer would have remarked a
crafty eye. He was a spy of Mr.. Har.
rington's in Mr.. Handiside's employ.
What is It, joel" asked Mr.. Har.
rington eagerly
Joe instlnctively looked at the walls
and the ceiling for an eavesdropper,
then said:
"Mr. Landslide is leaving by train
this evening for Mexico"
1.-THE deuce you sayl How do you
know thatT
Il was directed to purchase his sleep
ing section and his ticket"
but how do you know they are fol
Mr. HandlsideT
II was directed to engage a cab to be
at his house at 3 O'Clock this after
noon"
How much of all this have you
donep
Bought the tickets"
How about the cab2" asked Mr..
Erskine
II have not yet ordered it."
"Mr Harrington" said Ersl1ine, may
/ have few moments conversation
with your"
eyes. Joe, wait outside"
When alone Mr.. Erslkine said: This
information gives us a. fine advantage.
We may possibly delay Mr.. Handiside
while some one leaves by the evening
train empowered to buy the Turtado
property"
How delay HandisideT
"Let Joe give me the order for the
cab. will manage the rest"
II think | see your point"
Whom will you sendT
"Whom will / send? Why, III go my
self! Whoever gets the Furtado prop |
erty will own what turns the scale OF
n monopoly Of the oil product Of Mexi-
co. The matter is altogether too i'm.
portant to trust to subordinate. Now
tell me how you propose to delay
Landslide"
The door was locked to avoid inter. |
ruption, and the two men went into Sc
cret conference.
Sue" said Hugh Erskine, who sur
prlsed his wife by going home TO
luncheon, 81 have a bit of work for
you this afternoon"
what is IT."
Erskine told his wife OF the rivalry
for the oil property in Mexico, unfold.
ed his plan to delay Landslide and ex.
planned how he wished her assistance.
Then he lunched and went to tho ga.
rage in the rear Of his house.
Carl" he said TO his chauffeur, II
wish you to take n note to man on