登陆注册
5216700000025

第25章 THE PARTICULARS OF A SWINDLE.(2)

"I answered an advertisement in the daily paper,"said Maurice Vane."Then this man,Caven,or whatever his right name may be,came to me and said he had a certain plan for making a good deal of money.All I had to do was to invest a certain amount and inside of a few days I could clear fifteen or twenty thousand dollars.""That was surely a nice proposition,"said Joe,with a smile.

"I agreed to go into the scheme if it was all plain sailing and then this Caven gave me some of the details.He said there was a demand for a certain kind of mining shares.He knew an old miner who was sick and who was willing to sell the shares he possessed for a reasonable sum of money.The plan was to buy the shares and then sell them to another party--a broker--at a big advance in price.""That was simple enough,"put in Andrew Mallison.

"Caven took me to see a man who called himself a broker.He had an elegant office and looked prosperous.He told us he would be glad to buy certain mining shares at a certain figure if he could get them in the near future.He said a client was red-hot after the shares.I questioned him closely and he appeared to be a truthful man.He said some folks wanted to buy out the mine and consolidate it with another mine close by.""And then you came here and bought the stock of Malone?"queried Joe.

"Yes.Caven made me promise to give him half the profits and Iagreed.I came here,and as you know,Malone,or Ball,or whatever his name is,pretended to be very sick and in need of money.He set his price,and I came back with the cash and took the mining stock.I was to meet Caven,alias Anderson,the next day and go to the broker with him,but Caven did not appear.

Then I grew suspicious and went to see the broker alone.The man was gone and the office locked up.After that I asked some other brokers about the stock,and they told me it was not worth five cents on the dollar.""Isn't there any such mine at all?"asked Joe.

"Oh,yes,there is such a mine,but it was abandoned two years ago,after ten thousand dollars had been sunk in it.They said it paid so little that it was not worth considering.""That is certainly too bad for you,"said Joe."And you can't find any trace of Caven or Malone?""No,both of the rascals have disappeared completely.I tried to trace Caven and his broker friend in Philadelphia but it was of no use.More than likely they have gone to some place thousands of miles away.""Yes,and probably this Ball,or Malone,has joined them,"put in Andrew Mallison."Mr.Vane,I am exceedingly sorry for you.""I am sorry for myself,but I deserve my loss,for being such a fool,"went on the victim.

"Have you notified the police?"asked Joe.

"Oh,yes,and I have hired a private detective to do what he can,too.But I am afraid my money is gone for good.""You might go and reopen the mine,Mr.Vane.""Thank you,but I have lost enough already,without throwing good money after bad,as the saying is.""It may be that that detective will find the swindlers,sooner or later.""Such a thing is,of course,possible,but I am not over sanguine.""I am afraid your money is gone for good,"broke in Andrew Mallison."I wish I could help you,but I don't see how I can."The matter was talked over for a good hour,and all three visited the room Malone had occupied,which had been vacant ever since.

But a hunt around revealed nothing of value,and they returned to the office.

"I can do nothing more for you,Mr.Vane,"said Andrew Mallison.

"I wish I could do something,"said Joe.Something about Maurice Vane was very attractive to him.

"If you ever hear of these rascals let me know,"continued the hotel proprietor.

"I will do so,"was the reply.

With that the conversation on the subject closed.Maurice Vane remained at the hotel overnight and left by the early train on the following morning.

同类推荐
  • 仁王护国般若波罗蜜多经疏

    仁王护国般若波罗蜜多经疏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 勾吴癸甲录

    勾吴癸甲录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 沙弥律仪毗尼日用合参

    沙弥律仪毗尼日用合参

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 季冬纪

    季冬纪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 金刚寿命陀罗尼经

    金刚寿命陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 微表情心理学

    微表情心理学

    什么每次谈判,你小心翼翼、如履薄冰,却仍在不知不觉中被人看穿?为什么每次约会,你都无法走进TA的大脑、弄清TA在想什么,最终不欢而散?为什么你明明很努力却得不到应有的赏识和回报,而那个比你“懒惰”的人却能步步高升?为什么你总是不知道自己为什么这样,或者为什么那样?《微表情心理学:读心识人准到骨子里》要告诉你的,就是关于这些“为什么”的真相,以及如何运用这些真相,使事业更成功,使人生更幸福。《微表情心理学:读心识人准到骨子里》关键词:微表情。全书由七章组成,作者结合自己二十多年的咨询经验,从身体和情感的关系角度,全面解析了身体语言背后的微妙心理,让你在商场、职场、情场无往不利!
  • 洪荒之混乱大道

    洪荒之混乱大道

    新书《洪荒之太清问道》已发布,请多支持!——————————————上下四方曰宇,古往今来曰宙!吞日月,挟宇宙,为其源道!秉承时空而生的凶兽,天生未开灵智,直到,一道灵魂穿越到它身上……——————————————PS:欢迎各位道友来水群。鸿蒙天轩阁:140145632
  • 我最想要的人脉书

    我最想要的人脉书

    人脉资源是到达成功彼岸的不二法门。纵观那些社会上的成功人士,都对“人脉”情有独钟,他们在很早的时候就发觉了人脉对于一个人的事业成功的重要性,所以他们对自己的人脉造倾注了大量的人力、物力和精力,而后的结果也证明他们的做法是明智的。要知道,人与人之间的感情比金钱投资、技术投资等要稳定可靠的多。你怎样对待别人,别人就会怎样对待你,这就是一个社会交往的规则。通过本书,你可以读到成功人士经营人脉的具体策略,以及在交往中需要注意的操作细节,让你掌握与人交往的秘诀,让你拥有良好的交往心态,瞬间通人脉穴道,快速拓展你的人脉网络,从而拥有良好的人缘。希望本书能够对读者有所帮助,让你在人际交往中争得主动,在人生的舞台上游刃有余,坐拥成功!
  • 四川文学(2016年第4期)

    四川文学(2016年第4期)

    《四川文学》: 文学刊物。以发表短篇小说为主,同时容纳其它文学体裁、品类,注重思想性与文学性的统一,刊物融现实性、艺术性、可读性于一体,聚读者、作者、编者为一家,所发作品受到省内外广大读者和全国各家文学选刊的青睐。
  • 封少独宠九姑娘

    封少独宠九姑娘

    族人尊称她九姑娘,她生于大山,长于大山。当她出山时,你以为她是山里什么都不懂的丫头……他出生顶级世家,做为商场幕后boss赚起钱来也是毫不手软。那是因为他12岁时遇见了5岁的九姑娘,那时的他就决定可以开始存老婆本了……
  • 凤九卿.1

    凤九卿.1

    本以为,山重水复已无路。没想到,百转千回续前缘。繁华黑阙,凤九卿踏血归来,无意再赴朝堂修罗场。 无奈为救故友,再陷囹圄,有一种叫忠义的力量,让她无法袖手旁观。皇子同室操戈,阴谋暗藏,有一种叫霸道的束缚,逼她一起风雨同舟。她不过是想当一只自由的飞鸟,为何用牢笼束缚她的翅膀?越挣脱,枷锁就越紧,凤九卿,你应该如何自处?
  • David Elginbrod

    David Elginbrod

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 北大文学课

    北大文学课

    生活中从不缺少美,只是缺少发现美的眼睛。上百篇古今中外最佳美文,完美再现语言魅力,让你在诗词文章中邂逅一段纯美感情,于戏剧故事里领略几番悲欢离合。从北大走出了数不清的文学大家,他们博古通今、指点江山,对文学有着独到的见解。本书收录了众多优秀文学作品,内容涵盖古今中外,体裁涉及散文、诗辞、小说、戏剧。在北大学者的点评中,我们学习百家古文,重温民国美文,阅读国外经典,于文字中领略生活之美。
  • 塞北塞北

    塞北塞北

    作品讲述卫家和谷家四代人的恩怨,一百多年的历史,真实地描绘出塞北的风土人情。小说通过谷家男人和卫家女人的情感纠葛,表现了人们对美好爱情的热切追求和对命运的不屈抗争。作品获得第一届海峡两岸网络原创文学大赛“大佳铜奖”
  • 仙道轮回劫

    仙道轮回劫

    大千世界,道鬼妖魔,强者如云,宗门如星。神通秘术,万法归宗,禁制绝阵,法宝横行。天材地宝,灵丹妙药,求仙问道,只为长生。万族共存,仙武争锋,界面林立,唯有飞升。……一名天才生物科学家在一次动物灵魂抽取实验中出现意外,醒来后发现自己出现在了一个修真世界……杜凡:“生在轮回,唯有修仙。”