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


only q valuable. hut an absolutely nee
essary, part of his equipmentsfor the
businesses In which he was engaged.
That reputation was now IN great uan,
| ger. He wondered II Duncan wouid
tell TIE story OF that scrap OF paper.
He wondered still more whether Dun
can might not report the matter TO tne
comptroller of the currency at WASH
ington and thus bring about crimina'
prosecution, even after the sum IT
regularly borrowed had been repaid.
Then he remembered, with something
like spasm around his heart. that the
bookkeeper, Leftwich, had heard tue
whole conversation, and he remember
ed also that he had been, as ne put H.
"rather hard on Leftwich" upon sew
eral occasions In the past. II Leftwicn
cherished resentment on that account
his malice now had its opportunity.
On the whole, Napier Tandy could
not recall another day In all bis lie
on which he had suffered 80 much In
spirit as he did now, but there was no
time for brooding or lamenting. He
felt that he was In Guilford Duncans
clutches, and. while he knew little OF
conscientious scruples by virtue OF any
soul experiences Of that kind on his
own part, he had so far learned to I'M
derstand Duncan as to know that he
would, as matter Of conscience alone,
enforce the strict letter OF his demand.
He hastcned to find Captain VIII
Hallam, and to him he made almost
piteous appeal for loan of $4,000
through the HallamL bank.
$50 Duncan carries too many guns
for you, chr was the Hlppant remark
with which Captain Hallam received
the appeal.
"Will you let me have the money!
almost frantically pleaded the now
thoroughly frightened man. "You see,
time is precious. I've less than an hour
in which to raise the sum. You must
help me out, Hallamr'
II really don't know whether can
arrange it or not. I'll see Stafford and
find out how far our loans are extend
ed. What security can you give? You
know, Stafford Is very exacting as to
the character Of the security on which
he lends the banks funds"
eyes, / know. and that is very awk-
ward just now. I'm good deal tied
ND. you know. I've been buying prop
erty along the line Of our proposed
railroad. I've bought rather heavily.
and as hadn't expected to be called
upon to raise money just now ! have
gone In pretty deep on credit. You
know how impossible 1t Is to realize on
such property. even at loss, when
man must have money at once"
"Then what can you offerT
"Well, I've a pretty large block OF
stock in tie Memphis and Ohio River
railroad"-
Not good collateral till the road Is
finished. You know we couldn't touch
that"
Tandy mentioned some other securi-
ties that Hallam deemed insecure, and
by this time Hallam had begun to won
der what was the matter with Tandy.
He knew, or thought he knew, that the
man must have greatly more money In
vested somewhere than these things
represented. He had a great curiosity
to know what the other investments
were, but he did not find out, for at
last. within brief while Of the end OF
his hour of grace. the troubled man
said:
There Is nothing for 1t but to by
pothecate part of my stock in the x
National. You know that Is good"
"Oh, yes; that's good. Stafford will!
accept that as collateral IL the bank Is
In a position to extend Its loans. I'll
20 and see."
When he told Stafford what the situa-
ton was that astute banker, who had
been in many a financial fisticuff with
'Tandv quietly said:
ITO be continued)