Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-09-01
A Gentleman
Chauffeur
A Story Of the Purchase OF
Mexican Oil Lands

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Cuthbert Harrington. portly gen.
tleman with mutton chop whiskers.
partly gray haIr. 6orid complexion In.
dicating high living and making a tns
contrast with an azure polka dot neck
scarf, sat In his private office In sky
scraper not fur from Wall street, New
York. opening his mail. He put the
letters in different baskets as he read
them till he came to one that arrested
his earnest attention. He pondered
over It for some time. then tapped q
bell.
Tell Mr.. Erskine would like to
see him." he said to the attendant who
entered
Mr.. Erskine. tall, slender man with
a shirt collar so high that 1t seemed
to have pushed his hair back from his
forehead. entered with serious look
on his face. No one Of Mr. Harring.
tons subordlnates ever entered his
presence without appearing to suppose
that he had been called for purpose
Of supreme importance.
"Mr. Erskine," said the magnate. Il
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
Erskine, with unheard Of daring. Ven.
turing to interrupt bis chief.
Dead! How do you know that"
His death Is mentioned In the morn
Ing papers,
what! Furtado dead. 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. Fnrtado
owned the most valuable petroleum
lands In that distracted country. There
will be q race between some one sent
out by Inc and some one sent by Sir
Oliver Tisdale's British combination to
buy these lands that belong to the
Furtado estate. 1t Is we'll known that
the prospective heirs have wished
these lands sold. but Furtadu woulG
sell nothing General Grant said that
victory In war depends on gettin1
there first with the most men. In thl'
case victory for us depends upon whc
gets there first with the most money
1--WE are nearer Mexico than Eng
land"
"In this case we are at the same dis
tance. Joe Blinker has kept me al
vised that John Hundiside the lis
dale manager here. has long been try
Ing to get possession OF this property
He will send
The door opened. and clerk cu
tered.
Joseph Bllnker says that hc has lI;'
portant information for you. sir
"Send him right in"
Mr.. BliRker was about twenty li''
years old. stupid looking. but II clos'
observer would have remarked
crafty eye. He was spy Of Mr. liar
rington's In Mr.. Haudislde's employ.
"What Is It, Joe" asked MIR. Har
rington eagerly.
Joe instInctiyely looked at the wal!s
and the ceiling for an eavesdropper.
then said:
"Mr. Landslide Is leaving by train
this evening for Mexico"
1.-THE deuce you say! How do yon
know that?"
T was directed to purchase his sleep
ing section and his ticket"
But how do you know they arc for
Mr.. Handisidc?'
II was directed to engage cab to b.
at bis house at 8 o'clock this after
noon"
"How much Of all this have you
done7"
Bought the tickets"
"How about the cab?" asked Mr
Erskine.
II have not yet ordered It."
"Mr. Harrington" said Erskine. may
| I have q few moments conversation
with your
"Yea Joe, walt outside"
| When alone Mr. Erskine said: This
information gives us II fine advantage
We may possibly delay Mr. Hnndiside
while some one leaves by The evening
train empowered ~ buy the FurtuuO
property"
"How delay Handiside?'
"Let Joe give me the order for the
cab. will manage the rest"
II think I see your point"
Whom will you send?"
"Whom will send? Why. I'll go my
self! whoever gets the Furtado prop
erty will own what turns the scale OF
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
Handlside."
The door was locked to avoid inter-
ruption. and the two men went Into Sc
,ret conference.
"Sue," said Hugh Erskine. who sur.
prised his wife by going home to
luncheon. ~ have bit Of work for
you this afternoon"
what Is III"
Erskine told his wife Of the rivalry
for the oil property In Mexico. unfold.
ed his plan to delay Handiside and ex.
plained how be wished her assistance
Then be lunched and went to the 60.
rage In the rear Ut his house.
"Cari," be said to his chauffeur. u
Wish you to take note to q man Oh
Staten Island. You needn't hurry.
Take the whole afternoon"
When Carl bad departed his master
began an examination OF his cars. 81
lecting a closed one. On which he be-
gan to make certain changes. He sent
for a locksmith. whom he directcd to
hx the locks to the doors so that they
could not be opened from the inside.
This cone. Erskine drove mil into
the sash Of every window so that It
could not be opened. Next lie bored
a hole from behind the drivers seat
into the interior Of the car. Having
finished all this, he went to drug
store and purchased rubber bulb and