The Columbus journal., 1907-01-09

TIL id
AnAND GRAEIAM PHIL
M9R6W A1S AHs.
CHAPTER xVl-continved.
Il owe . lot to you. Matt" he plead
ed. but I've done you . great many
fayors. haven't II"
That you have, Bob" I cordially
agreed. But this isn't . favor. Its
business"
You mustn't ask It, Blackjack" he
cried. I've loaned you moro money
now than the Law allows. And I cant
let you have any more"
Some ono has been lying to you
and you've been believing him." said
l. when I say my request isn't q
favor, but business. I mean It"
Il can't let you have any more" he
repeated. II cant!" And down came
his list in Q Weak-violeat gesture.
leaned forward and laid my hand
strongly on his arm.
In addition to the stock Of this con
cern that I hold In my own nAme.'
said l, Il hold hve shares In tho name
OF . man whom nobody knows that
oven know. II 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
IN emergency a. this. Bob Corey.
And. by God. you'H 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
lend money to dummy borrowers and
overcertify accounts, Dur customer
would 60 where they could get accom-
modations."
That's true enough" said !. But
I'm in . position for the moment
where I need my friends-and they've
got to come to me. II I don't get the
money from you. III get It elsewhere
but over the cliR with you and your
bank! The laws you've been vi0lat-
Ing may be bad for the practical hank
ing business. but there mighty good
Tor punishing ingratitude and treach-
cry"
He sat there, yellow and pinched.
and shivered every nov and then. He
made no reply.
Presently I shook his arm impatient.
y. His eyes met mine, and I nxed
them.
I'm going to pull through" said I.
But II I weren't, I'd see to 1t that you
we're protected. Come, what's your
answer? Friend or traitor"
Cant you give me any security
any collateral?"
NO more than I took from you
when I saved you as you were going
down with the rest in the Dumont
smash. Ny word-that's al. I Dor
row on the same terms you've given
me before. the same you're giving four
Of your heaviest borrowers right now"
He WINGED a I thus reminded him
how minute my knowledge was OF the
of his bank.
Il didn't think this of you. Matt"
he whined. Il believed you above
such hold-up methods"
Il suit my methods to the men I'm
dealing with" was my answer. These
fellows are trying to push me on the
life raft I fight with every weapon I
can lay hands on. And I know as well
n you do that, II you get into serious
through this loan. ut least I'VE
men We could both name would have
to step in and save the bank and cover
up the scandal. You'll blackmAil
them; Just as you've blackmailed them
and they you. Blackmail's .
part OF the game. Nobody
that better than you" 1t
vas NO time for the SNUG h~ypocrisies
under which we people down town
usually conduct our business just
as the desperadoes used to patrol the
disguised as peaceful mer-
chants.
Send round In the morning and get
the money!" said he. putting on q re-
hopeless look.
laughed IN feel easier II I take
It now" I replied. Wen hK up the
notes and checks at once"
He REDEEMED. but after q brief hest
busted himself. When the
papers were all made up and signed,
and I had the certified checks In my
I said: wait here. Bob. un-
I'll the National Industrial people call
you up. III ask them to do 1t, 50 they
can get your personal assurance that
everything's all right. And I'll stop
there until they tell me they've talked
with you"
But it's too late" he said. "You
can't deposit to-day"
i've made special arrangements
With them" l replied.
His face betrayed him. I saw that
1t no stage Of that proceeding had l
been wiser than in shutting OF his
last chance to evade. What scheme
he had in mind I don't know. and can.
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 II a foolish - ever,
and Corey was . foolish man-only .
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 nnta 0fhera in their nnWaP