The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1901-07-05


:. 81 thinl, ] cam"
1T is 10:3O now. II will take an
hour for you to get 10 his house for j.,
I is at home. If you can get anything
put il on the wire. Don't try To get
$ back with it if the telegraph Office is
} open"
Chalmers jumped for his coat and
hat, and made for the door,
"I'll put You on salary If you sue
ceed,' shouted the city editor after
him. as he rushed out of the door Of
the city room"
10 Chalmers that promise was sufli-
cientinducement. He would have made
Banker Noyes talk if he had
had to do so at the point of rcvol-
yer. lie knew the house of the banker
as well as he knew his own. lie knew
just where the bankrupt man slept: he
knew the manner in which the double
entrance doors in the front of the
house opened.
During the ride of an hour to the
suburb in which the banker lived.
Chalmers did some rapid thinking and
by the time he reached the house he
was prepared for his campaign. lie
was Small man, and he intended TAX
ing advantage of his size and the dark
ness of the night.
Arriving at the house. he rang the
front door bell, and i'm a moment "a
voice from the second-story window
demanded TO know what he wanted.
"Got a message for you," replied
Chalmers, impersonating a telegraph
messenger boy. and keeping well in
the dark so that he could not be seen.
"Stick it under the door," said the /
banker.
Cant do it," replied Chalmers 7
"Got to give it to you personally, and
get your receipt on the book
1t was a cold night in the middle of
January, but so anxious was the
banker to get that message that he
did not stop to- dress. or TO call anyone
10 get it for him, but went to the door
at once in his night clothes.
Chalmers heard the inside door
open and pulling his ulster more
closely around him, so as to avoid be-
ing recognized until the proper mo-
ment, he stepped back from the out
side door lie knew there was a spring
lock on the inside door, and that ii
the banker had to step far enough
away from it TO open the outside door,
the chances were il would swing to be-
hind him. and so cut off his retreat. lie
heard the inside door open. and then,
as the outside door opened he heard
the one inside close with snap. In
stantly be stepped onto the doorstep
and inside, closing the outside door
behind him, and stood with his back
lgainsti it.
"Where is that message?" asked
Noyes shivering in the cold air of the .
'estibule.
Its a verbal ONE replied Chalmers
4 want to know something about the
ondition of your bank. The receipt
or the message will be an exhaustive
nswer to that question"
"What are you doing here?' de-
handed the banker. lie recognized the
dice of the reporter, though il was too
ark TO distinguish his features. the
My light being a faint giimmer
trough the transom.
developing my prospects, replied
halmers.
you are taking a scoundrers adj 81
lntage of me-
whatever il is, must insist ON an Sc
lswer to my question, as have still
mother one to ask" sn
Il have nothing to say" CT
"But I think you have" and Chal- yc
ers opened the door behind him and m
t in another batch of the January sh
r. pa
After an argument Of some ten min TIA
es, with repeated doses of 20-below- m.
ro atmosphere administered TO the tn
antily dressed banker, who could Iii
ither get back into the house nor to ta'
G bell outside, the desired informa- a
IN was forthcoming.
And now," said Chalmers. that you TO
We given me a satisfactory answer to he
at question, do you think that my sh'
aspects have been developed suii- bei
ntly to warrant you in giving me
v encouragement about that little III,
tter which we discussed IN your of the
2 a few weeks ago?" voi
My daughter shall never marry any aft
,garly newspaper reporter. snapped str
. banker. han
Oh, / don't know" said Chalmers. asst
5 for that, I guess you can't do anC
ch better than can just now Ac- she
ding TO your own statement you IL
e not dollar i'm the world. and wal
ugh personal paper ont to keepyo r
r the remainder of your life. As bre
me, have enough 10 start house was
ping on in small way. and for this and
hts work | am TO go on the stair run
Try list. Some people are worse Off stat
ncially than ! am; you, for in aga
ice" he
Look here. young man. do YOU know wife
you are giving me a cold sufficient TT
iii a stronger man by keeping me frie
s?" the
won't detain you moment after ber
have given me a satisfactory an quit
r to my last question" ing
Veil, then. take her. If She win have arr.
but never ask me for a cent: pers
f give it 10 YOU if YOU are starry paid
% Il