E. Phillips Oppenheim

“ It's as near the truth as anything about myself that I'm likely to tell you. Something very disagreeable is going to happen to you on the fourth day from now, and as I am partly responsible for it, I have come out here to give you a word of warning.”
“You're getting at me,” he protested uneasily.
“Not in the least,” I assured him. “The facts to which I allude are these: I have in my possession a copy of the speech which you ought to have made at Liverpool last March and didn't, and also the original letter from Lord Kindersley, offering you fifty thousand pounds to hold it up. ”

“ I began, tentatively, for the matter was not yet clear to me
“Was never delivered, of course,” the man interrupted. “You know all about that. Ted went down to Liverpool as mild as a lamb. He stood up there on the platform and told them that the present moment was inopportune for a strike. Not only that, but the next day he bamboozled them into accepting the employers' terms.”
“Satisfactory so far as it goes,” I observed, didactically but with caution. “And now—”
“Here,” the woman interrupted triumphantly, “is Lord Kindersley's letter, delivered to Ted that afternoon in Liverpool.” ”

“ His face was as hard as granite, but he had very gray, human eyes.
“We should have no compunction about bringing the thunders down upon Rendall,” he said. “But with Lord Kindersley it is a little different. He is a considerable and reputable figure in society.”
“He might survive the disclosures,” I suggested. “After all, there was a certain amount of justification for his conduct. He averted a national disaster, even if the means he used were immoral.”
“A case can be built up for him, certainly,” the editor remarked musingly. What is your price for these documents?” ”

“ That other man, I gather, is dead.”
Lord Kindersley was staring at me with a queer look in his eyes. His voice, when he answered me, was unsteady.
“What on earth are you talking about?”
I took the two documents from my pocket and moved a little nearer to him.
“Here,” I said, “is Rendall's proposed speech, counseling the strike and signed by the leaders of the various union. Here, also, is your letter to Rendall, making him the offer of fifty thousand pounds to withhold it, which sum was paid to him the next evening at the National Liberal Club.” ”

“ It is my success in the various impersonations I have attempted which has enabled me for many years completely to puzzle that highly astute body of men leagued together under the auspices of Scotland Yard. ”

“ The man was a powerful-looking fellow, with large, clumsy limbs, a mass of untidy hair, a bushy brown mustache streaked with gray, a somewhat coarse complexion and bulbous eyes. He wore, gracelessly, the costume which the advertisement had indicated. ”

“ Younghusband, imploring me to close with a profit of over twenty thousand pounds. There was nothing whatever wrong with the shares, he assured me, and they were bound to rally. I listened to all he had to say, gave him positive instructions not to disturb my operations in any way, and disregarding his piteous protests, rang off, and made my way to the great newspaper offices, where my business of the morning lay.
It took me an hour to get as far as the assistant editor. I told him my story and I showed him the documents. He went out of the room for a moment and returned with the editor. ”

“ Buckross?” the editor asked.
“A speculator,” I answered. “1 bought those papers from Rendall's divorced wife. She has a spite against him.”
“How can one be sure that they are genuine?”
“Anyone who studies them must know that they are,” I replied. “If you want confirmation, I told Lord Kindersley yesterday of their existence and forthcoming publication, and advised him to sell as many of his shares as possible. Your financial column will tell you the result.”
“What do you want us to do with these documents, Mr. Buckross?” the editor asked. ”

“ I agreed, “if you will give me a letter acknowledging that they are my property, and promising to return them to me without publication, should I desire it, on Wednesday afternoon.”
“What about the money?” the editor asked. “Do you want anything on account?”
“You are prepared to give me the ten thousand pounds?”
He shrugged his shoulders.
“We never bargain,” he said. “There is no standard value for such goods as you offer. The question is whether you want anything in advance?”
“No, thank you,” I answered. “I'll have the whole amount on Wednesday afternoon, or the documents back again. ”

“ I continued, “you averted the threatened shipping strike and saved yourself the loss of at least one of your millions by bribing a well-known Labor leader to declare for peace instead of war. You and one other great shipowner were alone concerned in this matter. ”

“ I insisted. “The transaction must remain exactly as it is until I give the word.”
Illustration: “Give me five minutes to get clear away,” I said. “When I am gone, tell him Buckross changed his mind.”
I rang off, filled my bag, as usual, with stationery-samples and took the tube to Bond Street, whence I walked on to South Audley Street. Upon arrival at my destination, I was informed by an imposing-looking butler that Lord Kindersley was at home, but it was scarcely likely that he would receive me unless I had an appointment. ”