The Law of the Bolo

ERTZ AND MR JOSEPH GOBBI

It was a foolish and unnecessary thing to do, they declared. The firm of Gobbitt and Dunk had not a very large sum at stake in the Philippines, and one of the other young Dunks, or even Pretty, the

Tradesmen’s Meetings—which meant that those customers who were particular got meat for which he had to pay the farmers what he considered a wholly outrageous price, showing a bare profit of sixty per cent.; whilst those who were careless, or in his debt, as well as those who ventured on sausages and similar mysteries, were liable to get the product of those diseased swine which the inspector was kind enough, and wise enough, to let him have for a few shillings each. After all, what is the use o

secured to such good use that, within five years, he had pretty well ruined his former employers. When he was sixty, he was reckoned, if not amongst the biggest men of Mincing Lane, at least amongst the bigger ones. He had several branches in the East, including one at Manila, which had been under the charge of Albert Dunk, son of his late partner. Taken al

idence in you, every confidence. The sea-trip will do me good, and pos

lar official [99]which had determined the senior partner to go to the East. “It’s money they want out in the Islands,” the American had said. “There’s lots of good things to be got cheap—concessions, hemp lands, Church lands even; though our own people hold back, not knowing if we shall sta

la two days, he knew that they were true. He called officially on Mr Commissioner Gumpertz, head of the Departments of Lands and Registration, in the hope of obtaining full particulars concernin

rculated deliberately by our political enemies, and by the Army, which is jealous of our success. You are sure to hear them all, perhaps more than I hear.” Unconsciously he slipped some blank sheets of paper over a copy of Captain Basil Hayle’s report, which he ha

ll about some hemp lands. Mr Gobbitt was essentially a business man, and he put his finger on the weak spot, or what seemed the weak spot, at once. “Why,” he asked, “if there is

.” Mr Gobbitt [101]knit his forehead, and was making a mental note of the drawback, when the Commissioner went on: “But there are none now. We have cleared them all out, all; and we have a company of C

l, it would hardly be diplomatic to talk of business, of the sort of business which w

Very possibly some friends of

then. He’s not what you might call inspired, unless it’s on a question of dollars. He got his job because he kept some big city solid for the Party, they say. He owned, or bought up, all the bars in the place, lost his money over it, and so, to keep him q

the rest; but those decided him. Obviously, the whole thing was rank prejudice. He

n’t feel quite the thing after tiffin. I’d be careful of the Club whisky, if I were you. Rotten brand the

gular Consul-General being on leave, did no

anything new from

r Dunk died of fever and was buried i

, and so would the Guardia Civil. Those people get in a fluster if a native is kille

ect,” he said severely. “The books of our firm always are. But there is one curious thing—the day befor

as a most undignified manner. “A big sum that. Was he—do you think he was mi

embers of our firm are not mixed up in such things?…. No, sir, I do not s

Acting-Consul yawned again. “Queer old chap. Isn’t he in a paddy-whack!” Then he went to the door and called the Vice-Con

entlemen, who introduced themselves as Mr William P. Hart and Senor de Vega, the latter being a mestizo. Mr Gobbitt received them graciously, scenting business, and it only needed two liqueurs to produce a definite proposition. Mr William P. Hart was not shy, whilst Senor de Vega backed him loyally in all he had to say. There was this splendid stretch of hemp-growing land on the north of the range of mountains, which Mr Gobbitt

figure named, he would be making an amazingly good bargain. Unfortunately, however, he did not know good hemp land from bad—or, for that matter, from any other sort of land; and much th

on sense. I will find some reliable person who can give me an expert opinion on it,

oner?” Mr Hart as

“And the Commissioner, of

t him.” Mr Hart was i

me that.” Mr Gobbitt spoke severe

a deposit, so that he has something to show the Government, in case another buyer happens along. He wants six thousa

llars. Humph! Twelve hundred pounds—a great deal of money. If I considered the proposal—I do not say I sha

, it would be an official receipt; and any time you wished to call off you could get your mo

that night, the sum he would expend on it—it would be his private venture, nothing to do with the firm of Gobbitt & Dunk—the sum for which he would float it as soon as he had got it into working order, and the profits which he himself would make out of the flotation. It was all very simple and straightforward. There [107]was always a demand for hemp, always would be a demand for it. No crop paid

e to have what would amount to a three months’ option. It was a cheap option, after all, a very cheap one; and the more he thought of it, the more convinced he became

the same time, he was anxious to secure some one who would be thoroughly trustworthy. It would not do to [108]go to the new manager of the Manila branch of Gobbitt & Dunk, for this was his personal affair—the Dunk family had done well enou

on of either as final. Only, let me warn you, Mr Gobbitt, that this is a risky form of speculation. Hemp pays well enough until the insurrectos, or the pulajanes, or the ladrones come along and burn your place and cut

s only too clear that Mr Gumpertz had been right when he talked

enquiries from those who should know.” Unconsciously he emphasised the last five words. “And now, if

Gobbitt somewhat; but when the proposition was put to him bluntly, as such things should be put, he shook his head. “No, Senor. It is imp

is time. “You don’t like the Americans?” he said, with

niard, like them?” And he went out, leaving Mr Gobbitt more than

on of his professional fee, which was finally settled more to his own satisfaction than to that of [110]Mr Gobbitt, who had a distinct aversion to giving mere employés a chance to imitate the late Jeshurun, of whom the on

we going to?” J

tell you, I suppose; but it is in co

little nod; he was not pr

ains to some land on the northern side. They tell me—Commissioner Gumpertz tells me—that the journey wi

scort?” the S

ary; though some of the native soldiers—Scouts, I think they are

lizardo, and the others as well. I myself can go anywhere;” a saying which gave food for though

advice, which was given in the interests of these Islands and their people, and proves, most fortunately, to be in your interest as well. I might tell you, in confidence,

ght on yourself—but the rules of the Department are very strict. No cheques taken, they say. Still, would you write another one, a bearer cheque, and I will send a messeng

as he handed it to his visitor, the Commissioner for Lands and Registration remarked jocularly: “Now, Mr Gobbitt, you have my receipt before I have the money. You

ngs like that,” he said. “We rather pride ourselves on being old-fashioned—almost straight-laced, perhaps. My father always impres

t on a certain high plane. If you talk of the Welfare of the People, or the Will of the Multitude, or the Moral Aspect, you can m

he handed to Mr Gobbitt, who in turn handed them to Mr C

him on your return—to Captain Bush at Igut, and Captain Basil Hayle, who has a camp somewhere on the edge of the jungle. Captain Bush will arrange all your

ce; yet, had he learnt that, instead of being paid into the account of the Government, those notes of his were, that very night, distributed, at a

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