The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1892-11-12

1|
~ can't recommend the governor to par
don him."
When the door had closed between
them and Chalmers found himself again
in the open air he felt himself in need of
physical action to relieve the mental
stress under which he had held himself
20 long. A walk would do him good.
and as he started toward the hotel to
which he had sent his luggage he took
definite satisfaction in crunching the
frozen snow Of the pavement briskly un-
der foot.
It was after midnight and the aspect
Of the city had changed. The lights
CLEANED as brightly as ever in the tai
towers, but the merrymakers were gon'
from the streets. virtuous and respect
able folk had gone to their homes AM
only the wsyfarer and the guardian.
Of the peace remained. Here and there
. burst Of light and noise came OF
from the suddenly opened door of
drinking place, as tipsy reveler carr
reeling out. A beggar brushed past L.
and asked for aims. In the square
where had shone such brilliant seen,
but little time before, the shadows o.
the foliage now made queer Pickering
shadows on the smooth snow, and il,
their half light q wretched unsexcd out
cast of the streets lurked and leered al
him. Poor devil" he muttered to him.
self as he tossed her a coin, ..we're all in
trouble together" and his thoughts were
of his brother, in his narrow cell, and of
himself, and of the blackhaired woman
whom they both loved, but whom now
neither perhaps would ever wed.
Having put his hand to the task, Chal-
mers now shrank from nothing that
was needful to further his purpose. His
first duty in the morning was to see Mr..
Rodney; this he preferred to do at that
gentleman's house rather than at the
bank, where he was SO well known and
where he felt that he would be stared at
curiously. The bank president was cour-
teous, but firmly negatived his pro-
posals.
II am sorry for You, Chalmers" he
said. "but. ! can't do thing to help
you. No. ! can't recommend the gov
ernor to pardon him. It wouldn't be
right. No, don't care about the money,
the bank can stand that well enough:
but it's the principle of the thing. Lots
OF young men right here in this town
are following in Georges footsteps. and
they've got to be scared out of it. It's
the only way to stop them"
II did not understand, Mr.. Rodney"
said Chalmers stiffiy, ''that stock gam
characterization we'll call twas SO
wholly opposed to your own practice"
Speculation be blowed!' exclaimed
the president. with unfeigned astonish-
ment. Il hope you don't take any stock
in that cock and bull story your brother
told to Miss Tenant. | thought thar
was only for the purpose of letting her
down easy. SO ] didn't say word
though it was mighty hard work to keep
still-when she came here to me with
the deeds of every blessed thing she
owned and wanted to square his ac-
counts. That girls trump. tell you,
Chalmers. But do You suppose would
see her little fortune go to replace money
that had gone into the rapacious NAV
OF this Mile. Leonie, as she calls her.
self! No. sir: amt that kind of man."
II presume You know what You are
saying, Mr.. Rodney" replied Chalmers
with calmness, startled though he was
by the presidents implications. but
remember, if you traduce my brother
needlessly or attribute to him matters
that you cannot substantiate in his
present defenseless condition you will
have to answer to me-"
''Look here. Chalmers" returned the
other: neither you nor are fools. and
we both know something of the world,
Now listen to me minute. II George
had bought stocks during the slump last
fall las l understand this story goes).
when certificates were selling for about
the value OF waste paper. and had got
hold OF more than he could carry, and
had come to me and made clean breast
OF it, don't you suppose would have
helped him out, even if he had been dip
ping into the banks funds for the pur.
pose? wish to gracious somebody had
had the sense to go in then, and to drag
me and the bank after them. But we
were all afraid-thought the bottom had
dropped right out"
The Dresidont erdod vsfl, a o;yl ~ t.,