Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-11-09

| condition. In generul Ne iOunu I'D a.
fairs in excellent shape, for Tandy was
a skillful banker and. on the whole,
prudent one There were many small
loans to local shopkeepers which Dun
can could not approve. and these he
called in as they fell due, refusing to
renew them. Beyond such matters he
found nothing wrong till he came to
examine the record of Tandy's own
dealings with the bank.
There he found that In carrying on
his multifarious enterprises Tandy had
been in the habit of borrowing and
using the banks funds In ways forbid
den by the law Of national banking.
Had Tandy anticipated his own remov-
al from control he would doubtless
have set his account in order so that
no complaint could be made. AS 1t
was, Duncan found that he was at that
very time heavily in debt to the insti-
tuition for borrowings made in evasion,
though possibly not in direct violation,
of law carefully framed for the pro-
lection Of stockholders and depositOrs.
Early the next morning he sent
courteous note to Tandy calling his at
tention to the "irregularity" Of his re-
lations with the bank and asking him
TO call at once to set the matter right.
After he had sent off the note he con-
tinued his examination Of the details
of the banks affairs. He had gone
over the books very carefully; he had
examined the notes held for collection
and the like. 1t remained only for him
to make personal inspection Of the
cash and securities held by the bank,
and that was his task this morning.
He had not gone far with 1t when he
came upon small three cornered slip
of paper, with memorandum penciled
upon it. 1t lay in the midst of q bum
die of greenbacks.
Looking at it carefully, Duncan turned
sharply upon the teller who had charge
of the currency and demanded:
"What does this mean? Why did
you not bring that to my attention
sooner"
Before the teller could reply with an
excuse or explanation Tandy was an
nounced as waiting in the bank parlor
to see Mr.. Duncan.
Duncan slipped the scrap Of paper
IN 20 his vest pocket, saying to the tell
| er:
make q memorandum that have
possession of this"
Then he walked into the parlOr.
There he received Tandy with cold
| dignity and marked reserve. more OF
coldness, more of dignity and far more
of reserve than he would have thought
necessary If he had not found that
scrap of paper.
Before seating himself he called In
one of the bookkeepers, saying:
"Mr. Leftwich, desire you to re.
main with Mr.. Tandy and me during
the whole of our interview"
Surely that is unnecessary. Dun
can," said Tandy hastily. 81 don't
care to discuss my private affairs In
the presence Of clerk"
81 have no intention to discuss your
private affairs at all, Mr.. Tandy." Dun
can replied. 1.-THE matter concerning
which have asked you to call here Is
not q private affair Of yours or mine.
1t Is q matter connected with the ad.
ministratlon Of the bank. Be seated,
Mr.. Leftwich."
But l insist" said Tandy, with q
good deal more of heat than he was &C.
custOmed to permit himself to show.
81 insist upon a confidential inter-
view."
"You cannot have it. do not regard
myself as upon confidential terms with
you, nor do / think Of you as man
with whom desire to establish conf
Dental relations"
do you mean to insult me In my
ywn-in a bank that founded and In
which am still large stakeholder"
Perhaps you had better not press
me to explain myself" answered Dun
can. with a calmness that emphasized
his determination. 81 might feel 1t
necessary to mention some facts that
otherwise there is no occasion for Mr..
Leftwich to know"
ooh, very well. ought not to have
expected courtesy at your hands"
II think I must agree with you in
that" answered Duncan. I'm view or
the circumstances, which, may re-
mind you, are Of your own making
really think you ought not to have ex.
pected courtesy at my hands. Suppose
we get down to business instead.
What have you to suggest by way of
arranging your affairs with the bank?
81 don't know. came here hoping
and expecting that in view Of all the
circumstances you might be willing to
let this matter of my loans from the
bank rest between ourselves for
time"
Duncan was outwardly calm now.
but inwardly he was in a towering
rage for Tandys presence reminded
him bitterly Of the way in which the
ex-banker had tried first to corrupt
him and then to blast his reputation
with lie, and Tandy's manner clear
ly enough indicated that he had come
to the bank in full expectation Of warp
ing him to his will In another matter
involving his duty and his honor.
"How do you mean to let 1t restY"
he asked, carefully controlling bis
voice."
ooh, you understand, or you would
IL you knew anything about banking"
II will trouble you to omit all dis
cussion of my knowledge or my ig-
norance. Your account with this bank
Is at present in shape forbidden by
law. 1t must be adjusted at once.