My Strangest Case

uch for me. What possible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting to rid himself of me? Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my s

tion. Upon one thing, however, I had quite made up my mind. As soon as the City offices were open, I would call at that of the Santa Cruz Mining Company, and put a few questions to Mr. Ba

he could spare me a few moments," I said to the y

replied. "If you will take a seat, howe

entine Republic, which hung upon the wall. I had practically exhausted its capabilities wh

ired the clerk, as he descended fr

g him my card. "I think the

, I entered the director's sanctum. It was a handsome room, and was evidently used as a Boardroom as well as an office, for there was a long table in the

e to you, Mr. Fairfax?" he inqu

d, looking about me for Mr. Bayley. "I told the c

" he returned with a

the gentleman who called upon me two d

y that a gentleman from th

d-looking man, of between thirt

man stared, as

mploy. I fear the man, whoever he was, must have been playing a trick upon you. I

rs to the effect that the man in question was in league with a notorious swindler in New York, and, though you could not bring any proved charge against him, you were equally certain that he was robbing you in order to fill his own pockets.

is not a word of truth in his assertion. Our manager in the Argentine is an old and valued friend, and I would s

arked. "He has a fine imagination, and, from what you tell me, it seems that I

t this matter at the Board meeting to-day. We must endeavour to discover who this man is, and also his reasons fo

like to get this matter cleared up as soon as possible. T

had sent to me, and despatched it by special messenger to the office of the famous mining company. That afternoon another surprise was in store for me. Shortly after lunch, and when I was in the middle o

ps the mystery surrounding Mr. Edward Bayley is about to be

ater the manager was u

vered who it is that is masquerading as the occupant of my position. You gave me this morning a rough description of the individual who called upon you,

" I replied. "But since you do mention it, I remember t

ke to me about him after you had left I had my doubts; now, however, they are quite removed. Why he should have

me yet how it is that you have been able to locate the gentleman in quest

we had a young man working for us in the Argentine as an overseer. He was in many respects a brilliant young fellow, and would doubtless have done well for himself in time, had he been able to go straight. Unfortunately, however, he did not do so. He

a pure coincide

him in Leadenhall Street only a few days ago. He looked older, but had evidently prospered in the world. As a matter of fact, Warner described him as bei

ave for calling upon me, and why should he have m

head. The question wa

e said, "unless he has some hope of being

" I replied. "I am connected with no cas

leman replied. "From what I know o

ging to my feet. "Did I under

hom I have been speaking to you," he r

to have seen the connection before! Now I know why Gideon Hayle tried to lure me out of England wi

mpanion in his turn. "But it is quite evident to me

t he knows that I am acting for them in order to recover their treasure, he endeavours to put me out of the way. But you've not done it yet, Mr. Hayle," I continued, bringing my fist down with a bang upon the table, "and

ce to you. I need not say that I am very glad, the more so because it is evident that our Company is not involved in a

any trouble brewing it is for our friend, Mr. Hayle. That gentleman's reckoning

and somewhat unc

ou a very good-afternoon,"

hanks for the service you have rendered

" replied the kindly old gentleman, as he moved toward

thing might have been arranged! As a matter of fact I had been talking with the very man I had been paid to find, and, what was worse, had even terminated the interview myself. When I realized everything, I could have kicked myself for my stupidity. Why should I have suspected him,

d to myself. "If only I knew in what part of London he was staying, I'd ransack it for him, if I had to visit every house in order to do so.

a tap at the door and m

and Mr. Codd t

t later the blind man and his compa

e expression upon my face that

n understand that we are really anxious about the affair. Your letter tells us that you discovered that Hayle was in London a short

terest to you, however, to know that he called upon me here in this

he chair in question and his f

in your presence," he cried. "Then you k

wer," I answered. "The man came into and le

oath that struck me as coming rather

siding with him against us. By God you are, and I'll have you punished for it. You hoodwinked u

elope he had given me when he had called. For a reas

and I have not gone over to the enemy. There is the money you gave me, and I will not charge you anything for the little trouble I have b

he blind man was making an effort to recover his composure, and I felt sure that he regretted ever having lost it. A m

ry to forgive him. Remember what

y of the mess

at does not happen to be the case. I can assure you that had I known who Hayle was, I should have taken very good care that he did not leave this office until you had had an interview with him. Unfo

Hayle's interview with myself, and his subsequent t

know him at all, he will try the old dodge, and put running water between you and himself as soon as possible. As I said to you the other day, he knows the world as well as you know London, and, in spite of what people say, there are still plenty of places

way in London. You may rest assured of one thing, gentlemen, I took this matter up in the first place as an ordinary business speculation. I am now going on for that reason and another. Mr. Hayle tried a trick

t if you had thrown the case up there and then, and I regard it as a proof of your good feeling towards us that you consent to

ossible, I ma

your company at Bishopstowe on that day. After the toils of London, a day in the co

re. I am not a lady's man, far from it, nevertheless I tho

said. "Should I not be able to come, you will of course understand that my presence is required in London or elsewhere.

den, groaned as I describe the enthusiasm of the dealers, swore under his breath when he heard of Hayle's

t. I had only my own and the exertions of a few and trusted servants to rely upon, and it was therefore impossible for us to watch all the various backdoors leading out of England at once. When I had finished my dinner I strolled down the Strand as far as Charing Cross Station. Turner was to leave for St. Petersburg that night by the mail-train, and I had some instructions to give him before his departure. I found him in the act of attending to the labelling of his luggage, and, when he had seen it safely on the van, we strolled down the platform together. I warned him of the delicate nature of the

your man," I said. "Remember me to He

I missed him now it would probably be my last chance of coming to grip with him. Never before had the platform seemed so crowded. An exasperating lady, with a lanky youth at her side, hindered my passage, porters with trucks piled with luggage barred the way just when I was getting along nicely; while, as I was about to make my way out into the courtyard, and idiotic Frenchman seized me by the arm and implored me to show him "ze office of ze money-changaire." I replied angrily t

lied. "You jest leave that to me. I

hampton Street, through Covent Garden by way of Henrietta Street into Long Acre. After that I cannot pretend to have any idea of the direction we took. I know that we passed through Drury Lane, crossed High Holborn, to presently find ourselves somewhere at the back of Gray's Inn. The buildings of the Parcels' Post Depot marked another stage in our journey. But still the other cab did not show any sign of coming to a standstill. Leaving

bman. "Don't go a worritting of

right, the