The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-02-26
CHAPTER II.
GATHERING STORM.

GATHERING STORM.
"Any news, Leland"
Gregory Bensonhurst and his friend
! Harry Dillingham; were greeting one
Of the Zingara's passengers, tall,
fair-haired young man with delight
fully good -humored face, who was en-
Enthusiastically shaking hands with Dill
lingham, 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. "Everythings
dead in the city-erowded out to
breathe, you know. Dueced unpleas-
ant on the street. I went down to get
Whit Of business and found it asleep.
Suffocated! Money too heavy to lift
even for the having. By the way,
though" he pasused suddenly with
mysterious face. There is news,
Gregory, though I'll not vouch for the
truth. A bad piece Of news, too, If
It Is true. I'm inclined to doubt 1t,
though, because common sense
prompts me to doubt. Nevertheless,
I heard"-he spoke in cautious tone
-"I heard in Wall street to-day that
there's a big failure on the carpet.
Z The last one, too, that you would
guess"
"Whosew
Lane Leland shrugged his shoulders
again and raised his eyebrows.
4'I hope it isn't true" he said grave
". II don't believe it is Il simply
won't believe it until it Is proved be-
/, yond doubt-but heard that Graham's
gone under"
'.Impossibler' Gregory Bensonhurst
fell back a pace or two, pushing his
cap up from his face blank with amaze
ment. Somebody lied to you, Leland.
Graham's sound as q brick; no flaws
in that firm! At the head, you know
worth millions. His wife's diamonds
! alone are worth a fortune
NWell," again Lane Leland lifted his
brows and shrugged his shoulders,
with gesture of one hand, as though
he would set aside any responsibility
In the matter; II can't say, Benson
hurst; It was only rumor, but,
tell you, It gave me the shakes. If
such a house as that goes under, who
will be safe? I, for one, am utterly
unable to earn my living, and I'd fight
tooth and nail for what I possess. No
poverty for me, thank you! I 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
dazea 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
q million at the scratch of a pen. Ora
ham, the favorite in society, at the
club, on Wall Street-everywhere-
Z Graham-could he realize it?-failed!
He would not believe it; it was some
hoax of Leland's; Leland was always
rp to some joke. He shook his head
resolutely, and q fash dawned in his
, lazy eyes.
ACome, now, Leland" he said, rather
sternly, turning away, "rll take good
deal from you, but 1 will not believe
this. 1t is out Of all probability. Ora
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, il 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 cityr'
Leland's eyes flashed wrathfully.
81 don't blame ysl for taking 1t
roughly, Bensonhurst," he said. Il
couldn't believe it, either, at first, but
you needn't come down on me for it.
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 ia that I hope to the deuce
It isn't true"
"But, whatever you do, Leland"
Bensonhurst laid his hand OBTAINING
IL upon his friends arm, as he was
passing him, whatever you do, don't
tell this to any one else,until we know.
Graham and his wife are here, you
xnow, and it would not be pleasant 20
arouse such suspicion"
Lane Leland's indignant face inter
supted whatever else Bensonhurst
might have raid in his Jealous de-
fense Of his friend. Lane Leland's
flashing eyes were not particularly
good-natured now, as he looked into
the opposite lazy eyes Of brown
whatever I may be, Bensonhurst,"
he said swiftly, withdrawing his arms
from under the OBTAINING hand with
new hauteur, II am not a fool! was
born with ordinary common sense, l
believe. II Graham is never hurt
worse than hurt him, he will live and
die pretty free from HARM
Don't be angry with me, Lane" said
Gregory Bensonhurst, quietly. Il
would only save them unpleasant
ness"
well. you need not bite my head eff