The Argosy, Vol. 61, No. 4 — page 20: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

678 Just how deeply I was involved finan- cially I didn’t know. “That’s enough for now,” I finally announced. “I must find Smythe, if I can.” ‘Others have been looking for him, sir.” I had no doubt of that. I had been the one to recommend Miss Morrow for the position of stenographer, and I knew where she lived. I hurried to her house. As the young woman had not as yet succeeded in finding other employment, she was at home. “Mr. Ford!” she exclairhed in some surprise. “Exactly so, Miss Morrow. yesterday on the Lusitania.” ‘But I didn’t think youd return to New York. Not now, anyway. All the others have gone.’ “YT found the offices closed, and the superintendent of the building opened them. Smythe had cut it suddenly. I arrived ) “He did. Everything was going to smash.” “T can’t understand. Where 7s Smythe?” “IT don’t know. I suppose he went” to Canada.” ; “ And Jenkinson ? : ‘“He’s gone, too.’ ‘And Everingham?” “Oh, he went first.” “°M! What was the last report from Innors? ” | “Why, the last report was that Mr. Innors was dying. He contracted fever in the swamps while superintending the railroad work, and I suppose he’s dead by this time.” I stood and stared at her. ‘“‘ Of course,” she said, “ I understand your anxiety. It is about Miss Innors.” “ Miss Innors! Surely Innors wasn’t such an idiot as to take her down there.” “Why, yes. He seemed thoroughly infatuated with the plan. And Mrs. Innors was willing enough to go. He said the company had some good, com- fortable houses built, and the school was about finished, and the mills, and the railroad was about ready to begin oper- ations; so there would be work for all, and no reason why Estalona should not: be a very prosperous place.”’ ~ commenced. Things inside looked as though ~ THE ARGOSY. “I thought the same thing myself. Something must have gone wrong. Was there any hint that Everingham, the treasurer, made way with the funds?” “It was hinted at. But, of course, I did not know the inside facts. I know that one day Mr. Wakler came in, and there was some loud talking, and then the excitement of everybody getting away They told me to stay and wind up the correspondence, as no one could hurt me.’ ‘And I suppose nobody gave me a thought. It made no difference if some- body did hurt me.” “I did think of you; but what good did that do? I could do nothing.” ‘Of course not. I understand that. And the delightful part of the matter is I don’t think I can do anything myself. I suppose by this time there are attach- ments and judgments and all other kinds of legal claws on us.” ‘The car company sent a representa- tive. And the company that sold the steam-shovel.”’ ~“ Where is Jake Wakler now?” ‘“T don’t know. But he can’t be very far away. There was some trouble about his money.” ‘Didn't he get paid?” ‘“T don’t think anybody got paid.” For a moment my mind stood still under the weight of the sudden blow. I knew that the incompetence or rascal- ity of the officers of the company had about ruined me, but that was not so bad as the knowledge that Nellie Innors was down on the west coast of Hon- duras, perhaps alone with her mother, and perhaps in all sorts of trouble, dis- tress, and danger. I bade Miss Morrow good-by, thanked her for the information she had given me, and hurried at once to see my law- yer. Together, we went over the busi- ness of the company, the form of its charter, the form of the concession from the Honduran government, and finally he came to the conclusion that I was personally responsible for the full in- debtedness of the company. “Tl tell you what to do,” he said. ‘IT don’t think any legal steps have yet been taken. Make application to have the company put in the hands of a re- ceiver, petition to have yourself, or me, ECO OO (©