Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-01-24
,NXI l.
MOST l.NLApYLIKE.

When I saw was to have a respit>
of Il month or so. ! went over To the
National Industrial bank with Healey's
roll, which my tellers had ounted and
prepared for deposit. 1 finished my
! business with the receiving teller OF the
National Industrial. and dropped In on
my friend Lewis. the first vice presi-
dent. / did not need to pretend cool
ness and confidence: my nerves We're
still In hat curious state of TRANQUIL
eXhilaration. and I felt master of my
self and of the situation. Just as |
was leaving. In came Tom Langdon
with Sam Ellersly.
TOMS face was q BILE exhibit
Of embarrassment. Sain-really. / felt
sorry for him. There was no reason
ON earth why he shouldn't be with Tom
Langdon: yet he acted as If 1 had
caught him with the goods on him"
He hammered and suffered. clasped
my hand eagerly. dropped 1t as II 1t had
stung him; he jerked out a string OF
hysterical nonsense. ending with a.
laugh SO crazy that the sound Of 1t dis
concerted him. Drink was the expla-
nation that drifted through my mind:
but in fact / thought little about it.
so full was 1 OF other matters.
When is your brother returning?'
said l to Tom.
ION the next steamer. believe" he
~ "'AiI oiahS " Viz CSl anu
the bath of sea air" With an effort
he collected himself, drew me aside and
said; Il owe you an apology, Mr..
Rlacklock. l Went to the steamer with
Mowbray TO see him off and he asked
me To tell you about our new dividend
rate-thoush it was not to De made
public for some time. Anyhow, he told
me to go straight to you-and I-frank-
ly. [ forgot It," Then. with the vim
mi candid Langdon smile. he added,
ANONYMOUSLY: The best excuse in the
world-yet the II nobody ever &C
cepts.'
NO apology necessary" said I With
the utmost good nature. I've no per-
sonal interest In Textile. My house
deals on commission only. you know
g on margins for myself. I'm a
banker and broker. not q gambler.
Some of u customers were alarmed
by the news OF the big increase, and in
sisted on bringing suit to stop 1t. But
I'm going to urge them now to let the
matter drop"
Tom tried to look natural. and as he
is an apt pupil OF mis- brothers. he sue
ceeded fairly we'll. His glance. how
ever. wouldn't fix steadily on my gaze.
but circled ound and round it like a
bat at an electric light. TO tell you
nervous as to hat my brother will say
and do-to me. when 1 tell him. I
hope no harm came to you through my
fo~rsetfulness."
None in the world" I assured him.
Then turned on Sam. What are you
doing down town today" said 1. Are
you on your way to see me?"
He flushed with angry shame. read
Ing an i~nsinuation n my careless re-
mark. when 1 had not the remotest in
tention of reminding him that his GUS
tomary object in coming down town
was to play the parasite and the sponge
at my expense. I ought to have guessed
at once tina there was some good rea-
son for his recovery Of his refined. high
bred. gentlemanly Representatives.;
but I was not In the mood to analyxo
tribes. though my nerves were TAKING
careful record OF them.
"Oh. I was just calling on Tom." he
replied rather haughtily.
Then Melville himself came in, brush
Ing back his white tufted burnsidos ana
licking his lips and blinking his eyes
looking for all the world like q eat q
it, toilet.
"Oh! All! Blackjack" he exclaimed.
With purring cordiality-And I knew he
had heard Of the big deposit I was max.
ing. Come into my once on POUR way
0ut-nothing especial-only because it,
always . pleasure to talk with you"
(centinued Next Weok.l