The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-11-08
sTfelt bound to OFFEND him worse than

Then Captain Will told In detail the
story Of the visit to Tandy, the bride
offer, the adverse report and the way
in which Tandy had made the whole
affair appear. to have been an effort
on Duncan's part to extort bride
and betray those who had employed
him. Temple readily grasped the sit.
| uation.
''The worst of it isl he said, 'Dun-
can can't even sue the old scoundrel
for libel without making matters
worse. Tandy would stick to his story,
and as there were no witnesses that
story would seem probable to people
who don't know Duncan. What are
we to do, Captain Hallam?''
swell, it all depends upon your
shrewdness and circumspection. Tan
| dy is president of the x National bank,
you know. That's his club to fight me
| with. So little by little I've bought in
there-through other people, you un-
derstand-so that now Stafford and I
own forty-eight Of the banks hundred
shares Of stock, though on the books
| our names do not appear at all. Tan
dy owns the other fifty-two shares, I
| suppose, or at least he controls them.
Indeed, whenever stockholders meet
ing occurs he votes practically all the
stock, for it has been my policy to hide
my hand by having the men who hold
stock for me give him their proxies as
q blind.
"Now, what I propose is that you
shall manage somehow to get hold of a
| little block Of the stock. Three shares
will be enough to give me the majority,
but I'd rather make it four or five
| shares. If we can get the stock I'll
surprise Tandy out Of a years growth
| by going into the stockholders meet
| ing, which occurs about ten days from
now, and proceed to elect a board
Of directors for the bank. I'll select
the men I want for directors, and the
board will at once make Guilford Dun
can president Of the bank, leaving old
Napier a good deal Of leisure in which
to enjoy life. He'll need it all to con-
vince anybody that there's anything
shady in Guilford Duncan's character
after it is known that Will Hallam has
made him president Of bank"
Hallam chuckled audibly. He was
enjoying the game, as he always did.
"Indeed, he will, but everything, as
understand it, depends upon my ability
to secure the necessary shares of
stock"
Eyes, it all hangs on that, and it
will be a ticklish job: Tandy is as
willy as any old fox. You're sure he
doesn't know you?"
Neither by sight nor by name"
"You're sure nobody in his bank
knows you and your relations with
me?'
eyes, I am certain. 1 was never in
this town before, and as for my rela-
tons with you, why, they have existed
for so brief time, at such distance
from Cairo and are so obscure in them
selves that I think nobody knows
them. Besides, you might discharge
me, you know, if that should become
| necessary"
1--WE won't consider that as even pos
sible. Now, as to ways and means.
You see, depend upon you alone, and
of course you must have a free hand.
You mustn't consult me or Stafford or
Duncan or anybody else. You are to
act on your own judgment, furnish
your own supply of sagacity and get
that stock in your own way"
It'll do it, even if have to resign
from your service and hunt another
job. But must have some money"
"Of course. How much?'
"Well, the stock will cost trife over
par, I suppose-somewhat more than
$1,000 share. should be prepared to
buy block of ten shares. You see, I
might find block Of that kind which
the owner would sell all or none'
should have, say, $1,000 or $4,000 at
instant commando
"All right. I'll have Stafford open
an account with you in our bank to-
morrow morning, with a credit balance
Of $4,000, and you can check
pardon me, but if I offer checks on
your bank Tandy will suspect our alli-
ance."
''That is true. You must have the
| SAS~AADeASAAo
Stafford now and have him give you
the money in large bills tonight
| "Pardon me-" answered Temple, ''but
If I go to him with so great sum in
| actual
eyes, see That would certainly
arouse suspicion. What have you in
mind?'
"Why, you or your bank must have
banks in correspondence with you
banks in Chicago or, better still, New
York;
Eyes, of course ...... ....
"Can you not telegraph to one of
them and arrange to have them say in
response to dispatch Of inquiry from
Tandy's bank that my credit with
them is good for $4,000 and that if
wish to make use Of some money in
Cairo they will pay my drafts up to
that amount?'
''That's it. That will be the best