"They expired at twelve
o'clock, noon, of July first, and the contract was not signed until two
or three minutes after twelve."
"By Orcutt's watch," retorted Cameron. "And Orcutt's watch was an hour
faster than official time. I had no reason to suppose his watch was
wrong, and believed the time had expired, until I was confronted, after
your departure, by the accredited representative of McNabb. I was
dumbfounded until I established the fact that he was within his rights
in tendering payment and closing the transaction for his principal.
Then there was no course open to me but to accept McNabb's money and
conclude the transfer to him. Murchison, here, is a witness, that the
facts are as I have stated them."
Wentworth's eyes flew to the face of the factor, who nodded
emphatically. Again the color left his face. "It's a damned trick!"
he muttered. "Why didn't you notify us at once, instead of waiting
nearly three weeks and allowing us to spend more than a million
dollars?"
"Orcutt told me he would return to the post in two days. I waited, and
when a week went by I used every means in my power to reach him. I
followed him by train. I learned his address and wired the facts to
his bank. The fault is his own. I am sorry you have lost so
heavily----"
"It isn't my money," Wentworth cried savagely. Then he suddenly
paused, and for upwards of thirty seconds the room was in dead silence.
Pages:
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122