The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-09-27
DEBTOR AND CREDITOR.

A"o Heh uet III new 1OrK. Ihey
were merchants.
What do you think of Cartoons af-
fairs, Mr.. Elder 2" asked one of them.
think we shall secure pretty fair
percentage. Don't you2"
sc Yes, if we wind him up"
81 That We shall do, of course. WHY
let him 60 ona It will take hir two or
three years to get through, if at ALL"
eff hs can get through in two or
three years, 1 shall certainly be in favor
of letting him go on. Times have been
rather hard and business dull. But
everything looks encouraging now"
"l don't believe in extensions. Mr..
Highland. The surest way, when a man
gets into difficulties, is to wind him up
and secure what you can. Ten chances
cent"
have granted extensions in several
instances, Mr.. Elder" replied his com
panion, "and obtained, eventually, nv
whole claim, except in a single CASE
Its always risk. I go by the
motto, "A bird in the hand is worth
two in the bush, >" returned Elder. 81
am always ready to take what can get
to-day, and never trust to the morlow.
That is my way of doing business"
But do you not think the debtor en-
titled to some consideration -
"aow z" with look of surprise.
"He is man of like passions with
ourselves"
81 don't know that I understand you
exactly, Mr.. Highland"
Mr.. Carlton Las domestic relations
as well as you and l."
1 never doubted it. But what of
that?"
'' If we break him up in business, the
evil will not visit him alone. Think of
the effect upon his family"
In trade we never consider mans
family relations"
''But should we not, Mr.. Elder 2
Should we not regard the debtor as
man 2"
ga man who owes us, and is unable
to pay what is due but in no other
light" returned Mr.. Elder, with q
slight curl of the lip.
"There we differ widely"
"And will continue to differ, I
imagine. Good morning, Mr.. Hi gh.
land I"
The two men parted.
An hour previous, Mr.. Carlton, about
whom they had been conversing, sat
with his family, wife and three daugh-
ters at the breakfast table. He tried to
converse in his usual cheerful manner,
but too heavy O weight was upon his
heart. There had come crisis in his
affairs, which he feared would not be
passed without ruin to himself. If the
effects of his misfortune would not
reach beyond his store and counting
room; if npon his head alone would fall
the fragments of a broken fortune he
would not have murmured. But the
disaster could not stop there. 1t would
extend even to the sanctuary of home.
On the day previous he had called on
few OF his creditors and asked of them
an extension. If this were not given,
1t would be impossible fo4 him to keep
on longer than few weeks. The spirit
in which most of the creditors had re-
ceived the unexpected announcement
that he was in difficulties, gave him
little to hope. He was to have another
interview with them during the day.
suit of nights reflection upon the
able to see clearly his chances of being
hour with nervous anxiety. When it ar
rived, and the few creditors called in
had assembled, he saw little in their
faces to give him hope. The first who
spoke out plainly was Elder.
l, gentlemen" he said, firmly, "am
opposed to ali extensions. If man can
not pay as he goes, I think he had bet
ter wind up."
II all do not agree in this matter, it
viii be no use to attempt extending Mr..
Cartons time," remarked one of the
creditors. who thought and felt as did
Elder, but was not will to come out
30 plainly.
"lhat is very true," said a third.
GA partial extension will be of no use. "
The heart OF poor Carlton almost
ceased to beat.