The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-09-04
A Gentleman
Chauffeur
A Story OF the Purchase OF
Mexican Oil Lands
By r. A. mitchell

~~~~~~~~%~~~~~
Cuthbert Harrington. portly gen
tleman with mutton chop whiskers,
partly gray hair. ford complexion in
dicating high living and making a fine
contrast with an azure polka dot neck
scarf, sat in his private Office in 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 one that arrested
his earnest attention He pondered
over it for some time, then tapped a
bell.
'Tell Mr.. Erskine / would like to
see him." he said to the attendant who
entered.
Mr.. Erskine, tall, slender man with
shirt collar so high that it seemed
to have pushed his hair back from his
forehead. entered with a 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, 81
have a letter from Mexico this morn
ing from Perkins saying that Manuel
Furtado is very i'll and likely to die"
"Senor Furtado Is dead" replied
Erskine, with unheard of daring, ven-
turing to interrupt his chief.
Dead! How do you know that"
His death is mentioned in the morn
ing papers,"
What. Furtado dead. l 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 q crisis in
the oil industry of Mexico. FurtadO
owned the most valuable petroleum
lands in that distracted country. There
will be race between some one sent
out by me and some one sent by Sir
Oliver Tisdale's British combination to
buy these lands that belong to the
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 Blinker has kept me ad-
vised that John Handiside. the lis
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 eve. He was spy Of Mr.. Har-
rington's in Mr.. Handiside's employ.
What Is it, Joe?' asked Mr.. Har-
rington eagerly.
Joe instnctively looked at the walls
and the ceiling for an eavesdropper.
then said:
'Mr. Handiside is leaving by train
this evening for Mexico"
THE deuce you say! How do you
know that?'
81 was directed to purchase his sleep
ing section and his ticket"
But how do you know they are for
Mr.. Handiside?"
II was directed to engage a cab to be
at his house at o'clock this after
noon"
How much Of all this have you
done?"
Bought the tickets"
How about the cab?" asked Mr.
Erskine.
II have not yet ordered it."
mfr. Harrington" said Erskine. may
l have a few moments conversation
with you?"
Yes. Joe. wait outside"
When alone Mr.. Erskine said: This
AhAOA SiNCS uo a hhS uuNdbIu6C.
We may possibly delay Mr.. Landslide
while some one leaves by the evening
train empowered to buy the Furtado
property"
How delay Handiside?"
LET Joe give me the order for the
cab. 1 will manage the rest"
81 think 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
a monopoly Of the oil product of Next
co. The matter is altogether too i'm
portant to trust to a 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
prised his wife by going home to
luncheon. IL have bit of work for
you tits afternoon"
what is it,"
ErskiIss told his wife of the rivalry
for the ell property in Mexico. unfold
ed his plan to delay Landslide and ex-