I know that sounds tough to say about
your own brother, but I've been afraid all along. You see, 'Bije always
steered pretty close to the edge of the channel. He had ideas about
honesty and fair dealin' in business that didn't jibe with mine. We
split on just that, as I told you, Mr. Graves, when you and I fust met.
He got some South Denboro folks to invest money along with him; sort of
savin's account, they figgered it; but I found out he was usin' it to
speculate with. So that's why we had our row. I took pains to see that
the money was paid back, but he and I never spoke afterwards. Fur as my
own money was concerned, I hadn't any kick, but... However, I'm talkin'
too much. Go on, Mr. Sylvester, I'm ready to hear whatever you've got to
say."
"Thank you, Captain. You make it easier for me. It seems that your
brother's first step toward wealth and success was taken about nineteen
years ago. Then, somehow or other, probably through a combination
of luck and shrewdness, he obtained a grant, a concession from the
Brazilian Government, the long term lease of a good-sized tract of land
on the upper Amazon. It was very valuable because of its rubber trees."
"Hey?" Captain Elisha leaned forward. "Say that again!" he commanded
sharply.
Sylvester repeated his statement.
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