The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1941-04-24
CHAPTER XIV

Benning left the hotel at nine
o'clock and walked to the Empire
State Building. During the night he
had collected available information
Of the Andes Gold Mining and Mill
ing Company. The firm had been
operating in New York for ten years
past. It was a small but regular
dividend payer, was not listed on
the stock exchange, and had con-
formed to all laws and requirements
m regard to its operations and trans
actions. Simon Salvatore, a Chile
an, had recently taken over as man.
aging director.
On reaching the forty-ffth floor,
Benning went direct to the compa-
ny's offices and stepped inside.
A fat roly-poly Of a man with cat
like smirk stamped on his round face
came up to Benning at once to
search him with small round eyes
that glinted suspicious appraisal
through horn-rimmed glasses.
~ am Mr.. Oldfer, Office manag-
er," he said in an ingratiating purr.
rs there something I can do for
your"
II am a stakeholder" Benning
said, intent on completing his recon-
Nuisance of the room IN the short
est possible time. 81 wish to in
quire if it is true the company is dis
posing of two mines, the Palacio
Quatres and the Silver Sabers?"
Oldfers upper teeth gnawed nerv-
ously at his lower lip at this blunt
Identification of the visitor as Van
Hassek agent.
Maybe" Oldfer hesitated, you
want to see Senior Salvatore?"
'Nonsense!" Benning said with
authority. you say you are the Of
fee manager and have just intro
duced myself fully. I'm in a great
hurry, Oldfer."
Benning stepped decisively past
the fellow and went to the open
''B'' cabinet at which a ruddy clerk
of Slav features was working. While
Oldfer battered up with muttered
protests, Benning thumbed through
the Baltimore entries. Ramsey, Rim
gold, Rosser, Rouse, Rumbolt. He
noted that after each listed stock
holder there were symbols purport-
ing to show number of stock shares
held, dates of dividend payment, and
other Uttered data.
His eye caught the pertinent de-
tail that IN the Baltimore file, as
compared with other files through
which he hurriedly SKINNED, there
were many more entries on each
card. Baltimore, headquarters of
the Army's Third Corps Area, and
hanked by some Of the Arny's i'm
portant arsenals and secret prov
ing grounds, was a logical beehive
Of espionage activity.
Very good, your Baltimore file
shows the proper activity" Benning
announced, turning abruptly away to
face Oldfer. Thank you for your
courtesy"
Senior Salvatore will be here very
Soon," Oldfer said. ''It is necessary
Midi EOO kG1A VIII MI. So4N q lO4 OC-
fore you leave"
Tell Salvatore" Benning said,
scowling at his watch, that I'll be
back by eleven at latest. Just now
Pm IN a hurry"
''Oh, no, but you will wait" Old
fer whined. ga, you will wait, or
Senior Salvatore would never forgive
me-" He turned to one of his clerks
and cried, Here, Backropp, you will
keep the gentleman company until
Mr.. Salvatore arrives"
A barrel-chested man whose squat
legs, long angular face, and fail
like arms gave him the aspect of an
triangular, stepped forward with a
nod. The others moved closer. Ben
ming saw that only by force might
he pass out the door Of the Andes
Gold Mining and Milling Company.
Numbers were against him.
''An right, Oldfer," he yielded with
annoyance, ''I'u wait a reasonable
time"
Backropp escorted Benning into
the Salvatore private room behind
the main Office, where he indicated a
seat IN front of Salvatore's mahog-
any desk Backropp sat down close
by and folded his ponderous arms
across his chest. Two others of Old
fer's men quit their work at the files
20 take position just outside the Sal
yatore door. Benning saw that he
was as definitely a prisoner as if he
had been bound and gagged.
Benning waited, impatiently con-
Sulting his watch from time to time.
Barely fifteen minutes had passed
before he heard someone enter the
Office from outside. He rose and
walked to an open window, Back
ropp watching him narrowly. Casu-
ally he selected cigarette from his
case, lighted it, took two quick puffs
and cast il out the window.
ITS long way down to the street
from here, Backropp," he said, lean
ing out for brief survey below.
Benning saw yellowish phosgene
smudge trail out behind his falling
cigarette and turned back to Back
ropp-
'It's not so far down." Backropp
muttered, "if you don't wait to take
a elevator"
Out IN the Office Oldfer was speak
ing In trenulous voice.
"Ja, Senior Salvatore, he may be
all right" Oldfer said anxiousIy.
HE introduced himself, but don't