The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-01-17
NMI.
MOST ENI.ADYl.lk 4.

When I saw I was To have n respite
OF n month ar so. / went over To the
National Industrial bank with Healey's
roll which my teilers had counted and
prepared for deposit. I finished my
business with the receiving teller OF tho
National Industrial. and dropped In on
my friend Lewis. the first vice presi-
dent | ala not need to pretend cool
ness and confidence. my nerves were
still IN that curiou. state az tranquil
exhilaration. and l felt master M my
self and OF the situation. Just as
was leaving. In came Tom Langdon
with Sam Ellcrsly.
Toms face was a Iaughablc exhibit
OF embarra ssmcnt. Sam-really. felt
sorry for him. There was no reason
on earth why he shouldn't be with Tom
L,angdon: yet he acted as II had
caught him with the goods on him"
He stammered and suffered, clasped
my hand eagerly. dropped II as ~ II had
Stung him. he jerked out a string OF
hystsricnI nonsense. ending with
laugh so crazy that the sound Of II dis
concerted him. Drink was the expln-
nation that drifted through my mind.
but In fact I thought little about IL.
so full was 81 other matters.
when Is your brother returning"
said I to Tom.
ION the next steamer believe he
replied. ''He went only for the rest and
the bath ~ sea air" With nm effort
he collected himself drew me aside aud
said. Il owe you an apology, MIR.
Blackjack. | went To the steamer with
Mowbray To see him on and he asked
me 10 tell you about our new dividend
rate-though II was not TO be made
public for some time. Anyhow, he told
me To go straight TO you-and frank
~. I forgot IT," Then. With the win
ming. candid I.angdon smile. he added.
ENORMOUSLY: THE best excuse Ia the
world-yct the one nobody ever ac-
ceptS.''
mo apology necessary" said | with
the utmost good nature. I've no per-
sonnI interest Ia Textile. My house
deals on commission only. you know
never OF margins for myself. I'm n
banker and broker. not gambler.
Some OF our customers were alarmed
by the news OF the big increase. and In
sisted on bringing suit To stop II. But
I'm going to urge them now tn let the
matter drop"
Tom tried To look natural. and rs hs
Is AN npt pupil OF his brothers. he sue
ceedcd fairly well. His glance. how
ever. wouldn't nx steadily on my gaze.
but cIrcled round and round II like n
bat at an electric light. TO tell YOU
the truth" said he. I'm extremely
nervous as To- what my brother will say
ana dO-lp me. NntH Il Nell Hiiis
hope no harm came TO you through my
for-etfulness."
Meme in the world" | assured him.
Then I turned on sam. What are you
doing down town today" said ]. Are
you on your way To see me-
He flushed with angry shame. read
! ing an iuslnuntion into my careless re-
mark, when I had not the remotest I'M
| tentiou of reminding him that his Gus
/ tomnry object In coming down town
was to play the parasite and the sponge
at my expense. I ought To have guessed
| at once that there was some good reh-
! son for his recovery of his refined, high
| bred, geutlcnanly Representatives.
| but I WAS not Ia the mood To analyze
| triflcs though my nerves were taking
| careful record OF them.
"Oh, I was just calling OF Tom" he
| replied rather haughtily.
! Then Melville himself came Ia. brush.
| ing back his white tufted burnsidcs and
| licking hts lips and blinking his eyes
looking for all the world like a cat at
| It's toilet.
! 'Oh. ali. Blacklock!" he exclaimed.
\ with purring Cordlality-and ! knew he
had heard Of the big deposit was MAX
| ing. Come into my office on your way
out-nothIng especial-only because It's
always n pleasure To talk with you
| (continued Next Wsek)