Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1907-02-13
CHAPTER Xvi.-Continued.

tavors, haven't I?'
That you have, Bob" l cordially
agreed. But this isn't favor. It's
business"
You mustn't ask it, Blackjack" he
cried. I've loaned you more money
now than the law allows. And l can't
let you have any more.'
Some one has been lying to you,
and you've been believing him." said
l. when l say my request isn't
favor, but business, I mean it,
Il can't let you have any more" he
repeated. Il can't" And down came
his fist in a. weak-violent gesture.
leaned forward and laid my hand
strongly on his arm.
in addition to the stock of this con-
Germ that l hold in my own name"
said |, Il hold five shares in the name
of a man whom nobody knows that
even know. If you don't let me have
the money, that man goes to the dis
trict attorney with information that
lands you in the penitentiary, that
| puts your company out of business
and into bankruptcy before tomorrow
noon. I saved you three years ago,
and got you this job against just such
an emergency as this, Bob Corey.
And, by God, you'll toe the mark"
But we haven't done anything that
every bank in town doesn't do every
day-doesn't have to do. Ii we didn't
over-certify accounts, our customers
would go where they could get accom-
modations."
That's true enough" said l. But
I'm in position for the moment
where need my friends-and they've
| got to come to me. If l don't get the
money from you, I'll get it elsewhere
but over the cliff with you and your
bank! The laws you've been violat-
ing may be bad for the practical bank
ing business, but there mighty good
for furnishing ingratitude and treach-
cry"
He sat there, yellow and pinched,
and shivered every now and then. He
made no reply.
Presently l shook his arm impatient
ly. His eyes met mine, and | fixed
them.
I'm going to pull through" said l.
"But if l weren't, I'd see to it that you
were protected. Come, what's your
answer? Friend or traitor?'
Send round in the morning and get
the money" said he, putting ON a re-
signed, hopeless look
l laughed. 'I'll feel easier if take
1t now" replied. Well fix up the
notes and checks at once"
"But it's too late" he said. You
can't deposit to-day"
| I've made special arrangements
with them," I replied.
| His face betrayed him. / saw that
at no stage of that proceeding had |
been wiser than in shutting Off his
last chance to evade. What scheme
he had in mind don't know, and cam
imagine. But he had thought out
something, probably something fool
ish that would have given me trouble
without saving him. A foolish man
In tight place is as foolish as ever
and Corey was a foolish man-only a
fool commits crimes that put him IN
the power of others. The crimes OF
the really big captains of industry and
generals of finance are of the kind
that puts others in their power
Buck up, Corey" said l. DO you
think I'm the man to shut friend in
the hold of sinking ship? Tell me
who told you l was short on textile?'
"One of my men, he slowly replied
as he braced himself together.
Which one? Who?" l persisted
For l wanted to know just how fal
the news was likely to spread.
He seemed to be thinking out lie
The truth" | commanded. ''
know it couldn't have been one O
your men. Who was it? I'll not give
you away"
1T was Tom Langdon," he finall,
said.
l checked an exclamation of amuse
ment. had been assuming that
had been betrayed by some one O
those tiny mischances that SO Otter
throw the best plans into confusion.
Tom Langdon," I said satirically
TT was he that warned you agains
me?"
1T was a friendly act" said Corey
He and l are very intimate. And b.
doesn't know how close you and
are"
Suggested that you call my loans
did he?" l went on.
You mustn't blame him. Blackjack
really you mustn't" said Corey cal
nestly, for he was pretty good frien
to those he liked, as friendship goe
In finance. He happened to hear
You know the Langdons keep a shar
watch on operations in their stocl
And he dropped in to warn me as
: friend. You'd do the same thing Il
the same circumstances. He didn
say a word about my calling you
loans. Ito be frank instantl
thought of it myself. intended to d
1t when you came, but"-a sickl
smile-'you anticipated me-"
Il understand" said l good-hv
moredly. Il don't blame him." And
} didn't then.