The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-09-03

ed But I've done you great AnahS
favors, haven't II"
"That you have, Bob" | cordially
agreed. But this isn't favor. It's
Business"
you mustn't ask 1t, Blackjack" he
cried. 1--WE loaned you more money
now than the law allows. And can't
let you have any more"
Some one has been lying to you,
and you've been believing him." said
i. when say my request isn't a
favor, but business, | mean it.
81 can't let you have any more ne
repeated. Il can't" And down came
MS fist in a weak-violent gesture.
1 leaned forward and laid my hand
strongly on his arm.
"In addition to the stock OF THIS con
rern that | hold in my own name,
said |, II hold five shares in the name
of n man whom nobody knows that
even know. If you don't let me have
4he money, that man goes to the dis
4rict attorney with information that
lands YOU in the penitentiary, that
puts your company out of business
and into bankruptcy before tomorrow
noon. | 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-doesnt have to do. If we didn't
lend money to dummy borrowers and
over-certify accounts, our customers
would go where they could get accom-
modations.
That's true enough" said 1. but
I'm in a position for the moment
where need my friends-and they've
got to come to me. II 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 ingrautude and treach
cry"
He sat there, yellow and pinched,
and shiyered every now and then. He
made no reply.
Presently shook his arm impatient
ly. His eyes met mine, and l fixed
them.
I'm going to pull through" said l.
"But if 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.
laughed. iii feel easier if I take
it now" | replied Wen fix up the
notaG and phanlS at onpa
But it's too late" he said. You
can't deposit today"
I've made special arrangements
with them" 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 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 is as foolish as ever
and Corey was foolish man-only a
tool commits crimes that put him IN
the power of others. The crimes oil
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 a friend in
the hold of sinking ship? Tell me
who told you was short on textile?'
One of my men," he slowly replied
as he braced himself together.
Which one? Who?" | persisted
# Enr 7 -
the news was likely to spread
he seemed 10 he thinking out lie
The TRUTH | commanded. :"
know it couldn't have been one Of
your men. Who was it? I'll not give
you away"
1T was Tom Langdon." he FINAL,
said
| checked an exclamation of amuse
ment. | had been assuming that
had been betrayed by some one Of
those tiny mischances that so otter
throw the best plans into confusion.
Tom Langdon" said satirically
Il 1T was he that warned you agains
me?"
1T was friendly act" said Corey
HE and l are very intimate. And he
doesn't know how close you and
are
Suggested that you call my loans
81 did hep | went on.
You mustn't blame him, Blackjack
really you mustn't" said Corey ear
nestly, for he was pretty good friend
to those he liked, as friendship goes
in finance. He happened to hear
You know the Langdons keep a sharI
Z watch on operations in their stock
And he dropped in TO warn me as 1
friend, You'd do the same thing il
the same circumstances. He didn'
say a word about my calling you
S loans. I--to be frank-I instantly
thought OF it myself. intended to dC
II when you came. but"-a sickl!
smile-'you anticipated me-"
understand said good-hu
moredly. q don't blame him." And
a admit 4ba,,