The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-04-24
CHAPTER II.
GATHERING STORM.

GATHERING STOhMs
I "Any news. Leland"
Gregory Bensonhurst and his friend
Harry Dillingham; were greeting one
OF the Zingara's passengers, a tall,
fair-haired young man with delight
fully good-humored face, who was en-
Enthusiastically shaking hands with Dill
bingham, protesting his pleasure at
seeing him safe returned from his
camping excursion.
Lane Leland shook his head, shrug-
ging his shoulders, and laughed.
There's never any news at this sea-
son." he said, lightly, "Everything's
dead in the city-crowded out to
breathe. you know. Dueced unpleas-
ant on the street. went down to get
a Whit of business and found 1t asleep.
Suffocated! Money too heavy to lift
even for the having. By the way,
though" he pasused suddenly with a
mysterious face. There is news,
Gregory, though I'll not vouch for the
truth. A bad piece Of news, too, if
1T ia true. I'm inclined to doubt it,
though, because common sense
prompts me to doubt. Nevertheless,
I heard"-he spoke in cautious tone.
81 heard in Wall street to-day that
there's aNbig failure on the carpet.
The last one, too, that you would
guess" -..,,.5sx...l.
"Whose|
/ Lane Leland shrugged his shoulders;
again and raised his eyebrows.
81 hope it isn't true" he said grave!
". 81 don't believe it isl simply
won't believe it until it is proved be-
yond doubt-but l heard that Graham's
gone under"
'Impossiblew Gregory Bensonhurst
fell back a pace or two, pushing his
cap up from his face blankwith amaze
ment. Somebody lied to you, Leland.
Graham's sound as a brick; no flaws
in that firm! At the head, you know!
worth millions. His wife's diamonds
alone are worth fortune"
''Well," again Lane Leland lifted his
brows and shrugged his shoulders,
with a gesture Of one hand, as though.
he would set aside any responsibility
In the matter; Il can't say, Benson
hurst; 1t was only a rumor, but. l
tell you, it gave me the shakes. If
such a house as that goes under, who
will be safe? I, for one, am utterly
nable to earn my living, and I'd fight
<ooth and nail for what possess. No
poverty for me, thank you! 1 like
the good things of life in full morocco,
gold edges"
Gregory Bensonhurst scarcely
needed him; he stood as though rooted
to the spot, his eyes upon him in
dazed surprise, unable to speak, the
consequences Of such failure flashing
electric lines through his mind. Gra-.
ham, the proud, aristocratic, luxuriously
generous man-his friend-gone down
in crash! Graham, the head of one
of the wealthiest firms in the city, with
a million at the scratch of a pen. Gra-
ham, the favorite in society, at the
club, on Wall Street-everywhere-
Graham-could he realize it?-failed!
He would not believe it: it was some
hoax of Leland's; Leland was always
up, to some joke. He shook his head
resoiutely, and q flash dawned in his
lazy eyes.
"Come, now, Leland" he said, rather
sternly, turning away. 'I'n take good
deal from you, but will not believe
this. 1t is out of all probability. Gra-
ham is as sound as he was last year,
you know. He could not fail. Why,
he has millions of dollars, man! Every
creditor would be down upon him like
tigers, If this were true. 1t is not so,
I am satisfied. I tell you, Dillingham;,
he has one Of the shrewdest business
heads on his shoulders Of any man IN
the city~
Leland's eyes flashed wrathfully.
81 don't blame you for taking 1t
roughly, Bensonhurst," he said. Il
couldn't believe it, either, at first, but
you needn't come down on me for 1t.
didn't originate the talk. If it is true,
we will know it soon enough; If it
isn't-well," that suggestive lifting of
his shoulders and setting-aside move
ment Of the hands, as he also turned
from them to the group of chatting
ladies at the end of the pier, "all that
can say is that I hope to the deuce
1t isn't true"
"But, whatever you do, Leland"
Bensonhurst laid his hand detaining-
ly upon his friends arm, as he was
passing him, whatever you do, don't