Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1906-10-04
CHAPTER VIII.


The next week was a busy one for me-
l spent 1t in scraping together every bit
of cash l could lay my hands on. If
could get together enough to pay the in
terest on the 100000 supposed to be in
vested in approved securities-really dis
posed of in a manner only known to his
excellency-1 should have six months to
look about me. Now remaining out of my
bonus was nil, out of my reserve
fund $4,000 This was enough. But
alas, how happened it that this sum was
in my hands? Because had borrowed
$1,000 from the bank If they wouldn't
let their own manager overdraw, whom
would they? SO | overdrew. But if this
money wasn't back before the monthly
balancing, Jones would know. And
dared not rely on being able to stop his
mouth again. When l said Johnny Carr
was the only honest man in Aureataand
l forgot Jones. Jones also was honest,
and Jones would consider it his duty to
let the directors know of my overdraft.
Ii once they knew, l was lost, for an over
draft effected privately from the safe by
the manager is, do not deny it, decidedly
irregular. Unless | could add $1,000 to
l should have to default.
This melancholy conclusion was re-en-
forced and rendered demonstrable by
letter which arrived. TO crown my woes,
from my respected father, informing me
that he had unhappily become indebted to
our chairman in the sum of $4,000, the
result of a deal between them, that he
had seen the chairman. that the chairman
was urgent for payment, that he used
most violent language against our family
in general, ending by declaring his in
tention of stopping my salary to pay the
parental debt. If he doesn't like it he
may go, and small loss" This was a
most unjustifable proceeding, but l was
hardly in a position to take up high
moral attitude toward the chairman, and
in the result | saw myself confronted
with the certainty of beggary and the
probability of Jail. But for this unto
ward reverse of fortune | might have TAX
en- courage and made clean breast of my
misdoings, relying on the chairman's OBJ
legations TO my father to pull ME through.
But now, where was |? l was, as Donna
Antonia put it. very deep in indeed. SO
overwhelmed was | by my position, and
so occupied by my frantic efforts to i'm
prove it, that l did not even find time to
go and see the Signorina, much as | need
ed comfort and, as the J<ys went on, |
fell into such despair that | went no.
where, but sat dismally in my own rooms,
looking at my portmanteau, and wonder
ing how soon | must pack and fly, if not
for life, at least for liberty.
At last the crash came. | was sitting
in my office one morning. engaged in the
difficult task of trying to make ten into
fifteen, when | hear dthe clatter of hoofs.
A moment later the door was opened,
and Jones ushered in Colonel McGregor.
l nodded to the Colonel, who came in with
his usual leisurely STEP sat himself down,
and took off his gloves. l reused myself
to say
What can l do for you. Colonel?"
He waited till the door closed behind
Jones' and then said:
I've got to the bottom of it at last
Martin. That old scamps vilainy," said
he, jerking his thumb toward the Piazza
and the statue of the Liberator. Hes
very cute, but he's made a mistake at
last
"Do come to the point, Colonel. What's
it all about
Would you be surprised to hear" said
the Colonel, adopting a famous mode of
speech, that the interest on the debt
would not be paid on the 31st?"
mo, l shouldn't" said l. resignedly.
Would you be surprised to hear that
no more interest would ever be paid?"
What do you mean, MANI | cried,
leaping up.
THE PRESIDENT said he. calmly. will. !
on the 31st instant, repudiate the national
debt ~
Ito be continued.)