The San Francisco call., 1906-04-08

not worth the paper despoiled in its
making, which you know as well as he.
i is also your privilege tostire of your
bargain and seek to exchange this same
worthless mortgage for the certificates
you deemed equally worthless, but which
have suddenly acquired value unknown
to the woman from whom you would now
secure them by misrepresentation OF
which, as you say. is legitimate. You
are TO be congratulated upon your busi-
ness perspicacity-your conception is en-
iirely correct. The stock will become e1-
ceedingly valuable-is valuable now
while your mortgage will depreciate very
materially The weak point in your cal
culstions is the time Of your coming
You are early by several hours You
should have come in through the back
window. and"
Sir"
Possibly you might have possessed
yourself of the certificates ana the
mortgage" said Waldron, paying no heeo
to the indignant outburst of the other'
What do you mean. sir? DO you
mean TO insinuate that I would commit
a theft9 Have a care. you are tread
ing on dangerous ground" he admon-
tshed. with increasing anger. and Ger
tain assumption OF bravado.
seNot necessarily" replied Waldron,
with exasperating GOODNESS. Il merely
suggested two methods OF accomplish
ing the same object You have shown
your fne discretion by adopting legiti-
mate business methods. which entitle
Won 70 the fine protection of. the law.
Had I come upon you as suddenly while
employing the other method. which is
only another way of accomplishing the
same result. the same law would pro-
tect me in administering the punish
nent you so richly deserve. In other
words, the fine distinction of the law
saves you from yourself. and makes
vou an honest man entitled to the re-
snect Of the community in which you
dwell. Mr.. Chadeller. you are deeply
indebted to the wise and benef1cent
laws OF your country"
Confronted by a weaker man physi-
callv or mentally, Mr.. Chadeller would
doubtless have resented such unquali-
fed aspersions upon his character
much more vigorously than he deemed
q
There was that about the man who had
placed him so completely on the de-
fensive by laying bare motives he had
sought TO hide even from himself,
which tended TO exert a restraining in
fuence over his own weaker and Ill
poised mentality, although evidence
was not wanting Of an inner tumult of
passion.
You might go further and say that
the whole affair is none of yours, and
YOU will have more justification for the
assertion than any you have yet made,
he declared. very warmly. II am cap
able of managing my own affairs with
out your assistance, as is Mrs. Winston
dare say. If she does not choose to
accent nv offer. well and good, and no
harm done. I may then decide that
want the money on the mortgage. In
any event I have no further dealings
with you in connection with this or any
other matter, and we will consider this
interview-which I dare say you so
kindly arranged, thinking to intimidate
me-concluded, young man. / warn
YOU, no more of your nonsense with
memo more OF lido you under
stand?
perfectly. Mr.. Chadeller-you evil
IDENTIFY do not 1 will enlighten you.
We have only arrived at the real OBJ
iect Of this interview will detain you
but a moment longer. You have not
settled that little matter of today.
believer"
practically so. yes. The details
have been arranged, and the matter
will be formally closed in the morn
ing"
The offer is withdrawn, Mr.. Chadel-
ler." he was Informed with startling
abruptness. "I haven't much faith in
that particular mortgage, but papers
with signatures attached in unscrupu-
lous hands sometimes become more or
less annoying, and no harm can come
from clipping its wings. L exact that
mortgage, Mr.. Chadeller. as bonus on
the settlement that I offered you to-
day, and I will see you at my office
at ten o'clock tomorrow morning and
conclude our business relations
finally. trust"
What do you mean. sir? This is
outrageous-outrageo sir" fairly
howled the surprised and infuriated
Mr.. Chadeller. rs this business ac-
cording to your fine ideas-agree upon
one settlement, and avail yourself Of a
techntcaIity to demand another? 1
won't stand it-you hear me. sir-I
won't stand such nonsense. It's not
business
you are rig III. 1t is not business ac-
eording to my ideas. The methods, how
ever, are yours-not mine. 1 am prop
erly ashamed to employ them, and my
sole justification is the fact that L am
compelled to adopt the same weapons as
my adversaries. Mr.. Chadeller. 1 was
willing to deal with you as man. and 1
showed my sincerity by making the first
advances when you were in my power.
Now I am dealing with you the only way
YOU are capable of appreciating-I am
biting"
"And if I refuse?'
You will settle on the same basis as
Mr.. Burrows and his followers which
stin leaves a comfortable margin to make
the settlement 1 now offer you rather