Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1907-07-12
CHAPTER xvi.-continued.

buSlueSS. I
You mustn't ask it, Blackjack he
cried, I've 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
l. When | say my request isn't
favor, but business, | mean it."
cant let you have any MORE" he
repeated. Il can't!' And down came
his fist in weak-violent gesture.
I'leaned forward and laid my hand /
strongly on his arm.
In addition to the stock OF this con- !
Germ that | hold in my own name"
said |, Il hold five shares in the name |
of a man whom nobody knows that l |
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. | saved you three years ago,
and got you this job against just such
an emergency as this. Bob Corey.
But We haven't done anything that
every bank in town doesn't do every
day-doesn't 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 |. But
I'm in a position for the moment
where l need my friends-and they've
got to come to me. If | don't get the
money from you, III get 1t 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 shook his arm impatient
ly His eyes met mine, and 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 re-
signed. hopeless look.
laughed I'll feel easier II | take
It now" | replied. Wen fix up the
notes and checks at once"
But it's too late he said. You
cant deposit to-day"
1--WE made special arrangements
with them" | replied.
His face betrayed him. | saw that
at no stage of that proceeding had
been wiser than in shutting of his
last chance to eyade. 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 maj
IN a tight place IN as foolish as ever
and Corey was a foolish man-only ;
fool commits crimes that put him II
the power of others. The crimes o
the really big captains of industry AM
generals Of finance are of the kim
that puts others in their power.
Buck up, Corey" said |. DO yol
think I'm the man to shut friend il
the hold of a sinking ship? Tell me
VINO told You | was short on textile2
One of my men, he slowly replied
as he braced himself together.
Which one? Who?" I persisted
For [ wanted to know just how IA
the news was likely to spread.
He seemed 10 be thinking out lii
1.-THE truth" | commanded
know it couldn't have been one c
your men. Who was itg I'll not CIV
you away"
1T was Tom Langdon.' he final
said.
checked an exclamation of ANUS
ment. | had been assuming that
had been betrayed by some one {
those tiny mischances that SO ofte
throw the best plans iato confusion.
Tom Langdon." | said satiricalI,
sit was he that warned you againi
me?''
1t was friendly act, said Core
'He and are very intimate. And h
doesn't know how close you and
are.
Suggested that you call my loan
did her went on.
You mustn't blame him. BlacklocE
really you mustn't said Corey ca
nestiy, ior he was pretty good frieu
TO those he liked. as friendship go,
In finance. He happened to hea
You know the Langdons keep a shal
watch on operations in their stoc
And he dropped in to warn me as
friend. You'd do The same thing
the same circumstances. He didr
say 3 word about my calling yoi
loans. Ito be frank-I instant
thought OF Il myself intended TO
Il wheh you came. but''-a sick
smlIe-@'you anticipated me"
''sT understand. said / gDod-h
noredly Il don't blame him" And
didn't shen.