CHAPTER III.
PICKING UP THE ENDS.
The room which Jim and the chief engineer entered was furnished in marked contrast to the outer room, which was plainly, even meagerly equipped with a few chairs and a table or two and a desk. The inner room was luxuriously and lavishly fitted up with a handsome mahogany desk, easy chairs, fine paintings upon the walls and costly rugs upon the floor.
Motioning to them to be seated with a sweep of his hand, upon which glittered a serpent ring of peculiar design with ruby eyes which seemed to glow as if alive, the lawyer eyed them coldly for a moment through half closed eyes.
“You wished to see me upon business connected with the Senor de Cordova,” he said, without any preliminary greeting.
“Yes,” replied Jim quietly, “I have been referred to you as being in charge of his affairs.”
“By whom?”