The table at which the former was seated was covered
with letters and papers. A New York directory and an atlas were at his
elbow.
"I propose," Wingrave said, leaning back in his chair, "to give you
some idea of the nature of my business in this country. You will be
able then, I trust, to carry out my instructions more intelligibly."
Aynesworth nodded.
"I thought," he said, "that you came here simply to remain in
seclusion for a time."
"That is one of my reasons," Wingrave admitted, "but I had a special
purpose in coming to America. During my--enforced seclusion--I made
the acquaintance of a man called Hardwell. He was an Englishman, but
he had lived in America for some years, and had got into trouble over
some company business. We had some conversation, and it is upon his
information that I am now going to act."
"He is trustworthy?" Aynesworth asked.
"I take the risk," Wingrave answered coolly. "There is a small copper
mine in Utah called the Royal Hardwell Copper Mine. The shares are
hundred dollar ones, and there are ten thousand of them. They are
scarcely quoted now, as the mine has become utterly discredited.
Hardwell managed this himself with a false report. He meant to have
the company go into liquidation, and then buy it for a very small
amount. As a matter of fact, the mine is good, and could be worked at
a large profit."
"You have Hardwell's word for that," Aynesworth remarked.
Pages:
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133