AN EYE FOR AN EYE

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13762, 26 September 1908, Page 6

AN EYE FOR AN EYE

BY JOHN K. PROTHERO,

Author of "A Modern Esau," "In the Name of John Leland," "In the Grip of Fate?' "The Pursuit of Sara," "The Chronicles of Lady Gwen," etc., etc.

[copyright.]

CHAPTER XXI.

"GOLDEN GOBLETS."

The fact that Anne was still retained in Zimonides' office came to assume a significance *to Scott which he hacl not at first attached to it. The Jew — whom he knew by reputation only — had, in his opinion, ignored Anne's past because she was a good clerk and accepted a low wage. Later another explanation suggested itself. The millionaire had spared no pains to discover where Luke Fisher hacl deposited the blue diamond. He had interviewed the few acquaintances the old man possessed, and cross-examined the woman who used to attend to his wants, but Scott's most searching inquiries had failed to discover/ any trace of the stone. i The cottage where Fisher had lived, on the borders of Epping Forest, Scott had thoroughly overhauled the night following the old man's death. The millionaire had run down on his motor long after the countryside was fast asleep, and in the small hours of the morning had turned the place topsyIturvey — to no end! There still remained a small patch of ground devoted to potatoes, wherein the diamond might be concealed. It was not a likely hiding place, but Scott was not tho man to neglect a chance, and he instructed his solicitors to negotiate for the purchase of the house and ground. The transaction had hung fire, there was some difficulty it seemed in communicating with the landlord.. When at last Scott, waxing impatient, insisted on an answer, he received a startling piece of news. The cottage and ground had been Luke Fisher's freehold property ; he had left both by will to a Jew — and the Jew's name was Zimonides! The intelligence staggered th© millionaire ; he perceived a sinister significance in Anne's presence in the office of the Jew. The thought flashed through his mind that Fisher might have taken the diamond to the Hebrew in the first instance, and that the latter still retained the stone in his possesjsion. Hitherto luck had been on Scott's side. Brown had been defeated; Adam Shand's expose of him had fallen to the ground; he had won hands down. Now, however, the fear that had' been with him from the moment Anne Basset appeared at his club stirred in his heart. At any moment the blue diamond might be sprung upon him!

The first blow, however, was not dealt by Anne or Zimonides. The attack came from another and a closer quarter. It. was barely nine o'clock one morning when William Burley arrived at Sooths office) in Throgmorton Street. There was a reason for the secretary's early appearance. His principal was expecting a cable from South Africa, a cable which would determine his operations in regard to a mining company of which he was the chairman, to wit "Golden Goblets." The market had closed the, previous day in a state of wild excitement. " Golden Goblets " had touched seven to fall to three, only to rise again to six. The wildest rumours were afloat concerning the mine. "A rich leader had been struck." " It was only a pocket." "The market had been rigged; the shares would be below par within the week" were among the statements heard on all sides.

Throgmorton Street the greatest gambling centre in the universe was crowded with an eager and excited throng. The big houses were all represented and not a " kerbstone " operator was absent. A motley group, men grown old in th« service of finance, youths newly initiated into the Temple of Chance, all. flushed with the tremour of hope, oi fear, all waiting the news of ruin or success. The sight of Burley, the chairman's secretary, caused a shout of welcome. In a second he was surrounded by a yelling crowd who rained ddwn questions and ejaculations, striving to catch from some chance word or gesture a clue, however faint, that should tell them how to act. In Scott's absence Burley' s was the hand that steered the financial course. His principal had confidence in his sagacity, belief in hjp integrity. For once the secretary did not return the greetings of the crowd. There was a set look on his face, tho lines ahout his mouth had tightened. He had spent the night with the spectres of the past, his dead wife had cried to him for vengeance on the man whose treachery had cut short their son's life. With the morning hacl come the hope, the chance of revenge. He pursued his way among the crowd, and there was that about him that stayed the questions on their lips. Hard men were they, grown callous with the l*st lot' gain, but even to their cold hearts i»nd blunted sensibilities the strained look of suffering on the secretary's face struck home.

Ho entered Scott's private office, and waited, his eyes fixed on the clock until the clerk entered with the expected cablegram. Burley turned the key in the door, and tore open the flimsy envelope. The, wire was in cipher : it contained but two words, " GlucoseSemiramis," and the sender's signature, "Johnson." Burley drew a long breath, and unlocking a small safe took out tho millionaire's private code, and proceeded to translate. " Glucose," he read, "buy Golden Goblets." " Semiramiß," "Shall not send official wire to board for five hours." The soc rotary stood # motionless, deep in thought. Looking at the clock, and calculating rapidly the difference in time between South Africa and London, he realised the wire had left Johannesburg but two hours before, lie had still time to completo his revenge. Quickly his eye ran down the pages oi the code, until he stopped at the word " Glycose." A faint colour tinged his cheeks, a fierce light flashed into his oyes. The way lay clear before him. "Glycose" signified that Golden Goblets were absolutely worthless !

Slipping the book into Ms coat pocket, Burley *went to the telephone, land rang up the millionaire. I "Well," came Scott's reply at last, "what is it?"

"I'm sorry to disturb you, sir," said Burley, calmly, "but the cable we were expecting from Johnson has arrived. Unfortunately I've left my key of the

sate at home, and t,o I can't get at tho key to the code. But as I know you have a duplicate I thought I d better ring you up." "It's not like you to be so careless, Burley. What does the cable say? "Only two words." Ho paused, then in a firm voice sent the syllables ringing along the wire: "Glycose" and "Semiramis." "Hold the line while I translate it, shouted Scott. A minute later the millionaire's voice cried out in alarm. "You're sure you're not mistaken, Burley? For heaven's sake look at the wire again." The secretary's lips curled into a cold, cruel smile. "It's as I said, Mr. Scott. G-l-y-c-o-s-e is the first word; Semiramis the second." It was the alteration of a letter merely, but it spelt the -difference between prosperity and something like ruin.

"We've been badly sold, Burley. According to Johnson, Golden Goblets aren't worth a rap. I've barely time to clear out before the news will be public. Run round to Vivelli's and tell him to sell 20,000 shares at best. That will be quite sufficient to knock the bottom out of the market."

Scott ceased; Burley rang off "Park Lane" and was switched on to Zimonides' office in Hatton Garden. "The wire's come," he said; "wat'-h the market and buy Golden Goblets tor every cent you're worth." A woman answered him. He recognised Anne Basset's voice. The campaign against Scott had commenced. Quickly and quietly the secretary hurried out into the street. The position was -as follows: Scott's broker, acting on his instructions, would sell 20,000 1 shares at the best price he could get ; within the next two or three hours the news would reach the Board that the mine had turned out trumps. There would be an immediate rush to buy Golden Goblets, the price would go up by leaps and bounds. Scott would find himself unable to deliver the 20,000 shares which his broker would have sold except at an immense sacrifice. *

A{ two o'clock that afternoon the street was in a ferment. Those who had anticipated realising a fortune in the morning now found ruin staring them in the face. Following the lead of Scott's broker everyone had rushed to sell ; Golden Goblets had^ fallen below par. Then suddenly, within ten minutes, twenty thousand shares had been snapped up, and the price had gone to 4. The millionaire had cleared out, as he said he wttuld, and in time, but the demand for Golden Goblets appeared to date from the" moment he had sold!

The next minute a shout went up that told the tide had turned indeed.

"I buy Golden Goblets' at o; at 6; at 7." The price ran up like magic. Within an hour the quotations rose to 15. Amberley Scott, sent for by hi.s distracted manager, bewildered at the turn things had taken, arrived at Warnford Court in the thick of the boom. "Sixteen, an eighth, a quarter," yelled the jobbers. "I buy a thousand at the figure," and sofnaip to 17, 18, 19, 20.

Scott took out a match and nonchalan&y lit a cigar, but his nerves were shaken.

"What does it mean?" he asked a broker who was standing near him. The other glanced at him in surprise. "Surely as chairman of the company you know that the directors have posted a notice on the board to the effect that they have struck a rich leader in the mine? They talk of two ounces of gold to the ton. ' Golden Goblets are going to boom." "And who," Scott's voice was steady^ oven in defeat he was strong, ' 'are v the* idiots, or shall I say the Heaven-born geniuses, who I learn have bought twenty thousand shares?" The broker smiled.

"Zimonides and C 0.," lie answered, and the millionaire .fell back with a deep breath and leant against the wall. He had sold 20,000 shares at an average of 4. The price was now at 20. He. could deliver only 500 shares. To buy the remainder or pay the difference in the price would cost him close on £200,000, a stiff * price even for a millionaire. Settling day was only forty-eight hours off ; it would be difficult, all but impossible for him to raise so large a sum at surh short notice. With the instinct of the true financier, Scott laced his position instantly.

{To be continued).