Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-19

| partly gray hair, nor1Q cOnlpIe1lOn III
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 ii for some time, then tapped q
! bell.
Tell Mr. Erskine 1 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 serious look
ON his face. No one of Mr.. Harring-
tons subordinates ever entered bis
presence without appearing to suppose
that he had been called for purpose
of supreme Importance.
Mr.. Erskine,' said the magnate, 81
have u letter from Mexico this morn
ing from Perkins saying that Manuel
Furtado is very Ill and likely 70 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. I didn't see
it Let me have the paper"
a journal was produced and the item
pointed out.
"Erskine,' said Harrington, turning
n, his Snhnr,7inofo ssfhic &c yiefz 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 Tisdale's British combination to
buy these lands that belong to the
Furtado estate. 1t is well known that
the prospective heirs have wished
these lands sold, but Furtado would
sell nothing. General Grant said that
victory war depends on getting
there frs with the most men. In this
case victory for us depends upon who
gets there first with the most money"
I'VE are nearer Mexico than Eng
land"
I'm this case we are at the same dis
lance. Joe Bl!nker has kept me adj
vised that John Landslide, 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 a close |
observer would have remarked a
crafty eye. He was a spy of Mr.. Har-
rington's in SIr. Handiside's employ.
What is it. Joe?" asked Mr.. Bar-
rington eagerly.
Joe instinctively looked at the walls !
and the ceiling for an eavesdropper, |
then said:
mfr. Handiside is leaving by train
this evening for Mexico
The deuce you say. How do you
know that?'
Il 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 ut 5 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,
"Mr Harrington" said Erskine, may
have a few moments conversation
with you?"
Yes Joe. wait outside"
When alone Mr.. Erskine said: This
information gives us fine advantage.
We may possibly delay Mr.. Handiside
while some one leaves by the evening
rain empowered TO buy the Furtado
How delay Handiside?'
Let Joe give me the order for the
lab. / will manage the rest"
Il think | see your point"
Whom will you send?"
Whom will 1 send? why. I'll go N.Y.
elf! Whoever gets the Furtado prop
.rty will own what turns the scale Of
monopoly of the oil product of Next
%. The matter is altogether too i'm
,ortant to trust TO a subordinate Now
ell me how you propose to delay
The door was locked to avoid inter-
upton, and the two men went into Sc
ret conference.
Sue" said Hugh Erskine, who sur
rised his wife by going home to
luncheon. Il have a bit OF work for
GU this afternoon"
What is it?"
Erskine told his wife OF the rivalry
or the oil property in Mexico. unfold
d his plan TO delay Handiside and ex-
lained how he wished her assistance.
hen he lunched and went TO the ge-
age in the rear OF his house.
Carl" he said to his chauffeur. 81
'ish You to take note to man on
taten island. Yon needn't hurry.