He was regarding the lawyer with a dazed
expression. He breathed heavily.
"What's the matter?" demanded the watchful Kuhn, his gaze fixed upon his
client's face. "Do you know anything--"
The captain interrupted him. "Go on!" he commanded. "But tell me this
fust: What was the name of this rubber concern of 'Bije's?"
"The Akrae Rubber Company."
"I see.... Yes, yes.... Akry, hey!... Well, what about it? Tell me the
rest."
"For the first year or two this company did nothing. Then, in March, of
the third year, the property was released by Mr. Warren to persons in
Para, who were to develop and operate. The terms of his new lease were
very advantageous. Royalties were to be paid on a sliding scale, and,
from the very first, they were large. The Akrae Company paid enormous
dividends."
"Did, hey? I want to know!"
"Yes. In fact, for twelve years the company's royalties averaged $50,000
yearly."
"Whe-e-w!" Captain Elisha whistled. "Fifty thousand a year!" he repeated
slowly. "'Bije! 'Bije!"
"Yes. And three years ago the Akrae Company sold its lease, sold out
completely to the Para people, for seven hundred and fifty thousand
dollars."
"Godfreys mighty! Well," after a moment, "that's what I'd call a
middlin' fair profit on a twenty thousand dollar investment--not to
mention the dividends.
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