Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-09-17
Chapter XIX.
An Unpleasant Investigation.


had managed for the time to rid him
self of the bugbear which possessed
his soul when it was rudely thrus
upon him once again bv one OF thu
many letters facing him on the break
fast table.
OF late he had taken an active in
terest in the management of his at
fairs. 1t has been seen how his invest
ments in various industrial concern!
brought. anything but happiness
though, by some mockery of fate, hi
already ample means continued tc
swell BY leaps and bounds. He fondly
imagined, however, that he would bt
spared any contingent anxiety wher
he took shares in a small fishing com
pany established in a town on TIN
New England coast. But it was moi
to be. Fortune, while giving with one
hand, smote relentlessly with the
other.
Thus, from a letter written in a
grabbed calligraphy, stared an ugly
legend. He did not know the writer
but it was clear from the text that this
correspondent with a displeasine
budget Of news must be skipper oil
one of the fishing boats operated by
the company. 1t read:
Dear sir: You cannot be aware how
you are being swindled by Richard
West, manager of the Emerson Fisheries
company 1t Is not exactly my business,
but hate to see any man wronged As
you are director and a large stock
holder in the company, | feel sure IL
will be to your benefit II you visit the
. place and examine Vests accounts. l
am not afraid to back up this charge.
Will eeA Sp william ROGERS
John sighed.
1t was not quite convenient to leave
home that day, because his own valet
was away on vacation, and the mans
place had been filled temporarily by
a Japanese. Above all, he disliked the
task set by well-intentioned infor-
mant. But he never shirked a duty.
Hastily running through the other let
tiers, and scribbling notes on them Tor
the benefit of his secretary, he ended
his breakfast and went out into the
hall to warn Osuka of the Impending
journey.
He was not quite prepared for the
r snectacle that met his eyes. The lit
tie brown man had found long pea
cocks feather somewhere, and was
skillfully balancing it on the tip OF his
nose for the edification of couple OF
grinning maids. John enjoyed the
diversion as much as any, and TOOK
care not to interfere until the leather
toppled over. ,. .
r. Osuka was overwhelmed with con-
fusion on discovering that his mas
ter had witnessed the performance
But John only smil,d and told the
artist to get ready at once tor a
Journey to the seashore.
Bring very little baggage, he
added. "Just suit case apiece tor
yourself and me" =,
He had never previously visited
Emerson, but knew that it was quit;
a small fishing village, lying well
apart from the beaten track OF tour
lists, and probably innocent of any
thing in the shape of reputable
hotel, though no doubt he would be
able to find lodgings. :,
At any rate, this would-be friend
Of his, Captain Rogers, could hardly
have asked him to come down and
look into the company's affairs if no
accommodations were obtanable.
Therefore, it befell that John and his
valet descended on Emerson that
same evening, and were lucky enough
TO descern on an unpretentious but
clean-looking cottage a notice stating
that rooms were ito let" within.
Osuka was evidently scandalized by
the thought that his master, man
OF great wealth and British noble
MA Japanese naturally attaches
more weight to title than does the
democratic American-meant resid-
ing in such poor place, but John re-
assured him, knowing full we'll that
the people in these remote New Eng
land hamlets would provide clean
beds and wholesome food. Nor was
he mistaken. The interior of the
humble dwelling was spick and span
and a motherly woman quoted terms
at which the millionaire had difficult
ty in REFRESHING smile.
After a meal and a change of gar
ment Burton went out to visit Cap
tain Rogers, whose house was pointed
out to him by the landlady. Osuka,
of course, had nothing to do, and he,
too, strolled into the village, after
ascertaining that his master would
probably not return for an hour or
more.
OF course, the arrival of the two
strangers had been noted by many
curious eyes. Johns distinguished
would have attracted at
tcntion anywhere, and the fact that
he was accompanied by the diminu-
tive but sturdy Japanese, obviously
his servant, set scores of tongues
Indeed, Emerson was minded to be
somewhat too attentive to the littl:
man from the Land of the Rising Sun
Some of the inhabitants had already
guffawed at him as he followed John
through the main street, carrying the
two suit cases, and now that he was
alone he drew quite a crowd, COM
posed not only Of urchins, but OF
men from whom more sense might
have been expected.
One of these, bulky, brutal look
ing fellow named Jim Wade, was by
the way of being a humorist. There
was not really an ounce of fun in the
mans composition. His wit was
heavy as his huge fist, and sheer fear
Of him was mainly responsible for
the laughter which greeted his pom
derous jokes. When, therefore, he
came up to the Japanese, grabbed
him by the shoulder with one huge
paw, and with the other lifted UP his
hat, lust to see how the little mon