The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-11-10
Common Business Honesty
ARTHUR


them together till the knuckles turned
white, he spoke in hating, faltering
voice. "This-this finds me in pretty
bad shape It's been a poor year in
my business-and we've been running
behind-nobody knows it-but we've
been running behind for three years.
And now l thought l saw my chance
and I've been buying Valdez-and buy
ing it-and buying it-sure my profit
would carry me-make up my loss I've
bought II on margins-from as low as
sixteen-all the way up to forty. And
next month my notes come due-and-
and-1'm ruined! Not a penny in the
world"
Have We a duty to ourselves and
to one another repeated WEIGH in a
low voice.
IT'S hard luck, old man." said Shinn.
laying hand on Tweeds arm. I'm
not in as bad box as you, I guess
but you'll pull through. If / weather
this thing myself-maybe 1 can give
you a hand
Thanks" murmured Tweed.
Thanks" His head sank forward, and
he recovered himself with an effort.
He rose slowly to his feet. IN have
to leave for a few moments. Pm
I'm SICK
His face was white and he started
unsteadily toward the door. WEIGH
rose in front of him.
Hold on" said WEIGH. You'd bet
ter go TO the window. All you need
is breath of fresh air."
The old man stopped, met Welch's
eyes, and then looked pathetically at
Caspar Dane, for many years his
friend. But Dane avoided the appeal,
and glancing away struck a match and
relighted his cigar.
Yes" said Tweed, bitterly. "The
window will do
He turned and walked round the
lower end of the table. The window, in
a recess in a distant corner of the
room, was open; Tweed put his elbows
on the sill and looked down two stories
upon the murmuring traffic of the
street. Behind him in the room the
discussion was resumed, but, leaning
out, he did not hear a word. After a
moment he raised his eyes and saw a
man standing in the window directly
opposite and nodding to him familiarIy
Tweed stared, and then cunning and
wild hope together rushed into his ewes.
| Cautiously ne raised the middle and
index fingers Of his right hand and
held them up for the man opposite to
see. The man with an excited express
sion, flung out both hands comprehen-
sively. Tweed still held up two fingers
of his right hand and with his left
pointed to himself.
| Meanwhile, WEIGH, sitting at his desk,
was submitting points for considera-
ton.
There's one thing" he said. I'VE
| directors are the ones that have done
the work in this concern. We've
worked faithfully, we've tried to get
the best results for our stockholders.
| We are in position to save something
from the wreck; don't our efforts en-
title us to the privilege? If we go
down with the rest. it won't be doing
them any good
What would you propose doing?''
asked Shinn.
We'll. that's something to talk
about, but my idea would be this. In
the first place, for us five directors
He paused, for Tweed had turned
and was coming back from the win
dow.
Feeling better. old MANI" Shinn
| asked, sympathetically.
"Yes-yes, a good bit better: I was
little faint for a moment but the
Whit of air was all wanted" Tweed
spoke with nervousness and a half
repressed excitement which showed he
was at least no longer in danger of
collapse His eyes roved from one to
another of his associates with an odd
sharpness. I'm still a little shaky:
you haven't any whisky here, have you,
Welch?"
mo, but I'll call the boy and send
for some," WEIGH answered.
mo, no-don't bother; I'd rather Won
wouldn't" Tweed seemed, by con-
trast with his former mood of abiect
depression, Tightly and agitated. Pm
all right. I've pulled myself to-
gether. 1 think"
Il can get some whisky as well as
not" said Welch as politely solicitous
now as he had before been callous.
No, I'd rather not. thank you. Did
L miss anything while / was at the
window? Have you thought of any
thing to dO?"
WEIGH seems to have an idea" said
Shfnn reluctantly. His point is that
there's no particular good to be done
by announcing the facts right off 1
guess there's something to be said for
that view too"
Exactly" cried Tweed, with a heed
less eagerness to assent. mo. No
good at ALL
Mr.. WEIGH" said Caspar Dane, re-
Stunning control of the meeting, was
about to lay plan before us for con-
n.
My idea" said Welch, would be
simply this-for us five directors to
pool our stock. Then sell it off grad
ually, now and then buying some of
II back, SO as to keep up the price
but always selling more than we buy.
Divide the proceeds pro rata-that is,
on each sale give each man a share
corresponding to his share in the pool. d"
The proposal was received in silence
Dane smoked on imperturbably. Paul
Herrfck, who before this had been en-
gagged in figuring on bit OF paper,
bent over the table with frowning
brows and idly traced geometric de-
signs on the surface. Shinn put down
his cigar and, thrusting his hands into
his pockets and leaning back, contem-
plated soberly his own round person
Tweed fidgeted about in his chair,
clasping and unclasping his hands, and
Caspar Dane looked impassively from
one to another of the men.
1T seems" he said at last, that Mr.
Welch's proposal requires some discus
sion, gentlemen. / should myself like
to put question. l am not very well
versed in dealings in the stock mar
ket. Does the scheme that Mr.. Welch
has outlined seem to Mr.. Herrick prac-
ticable?"
Herrick continued to draw diagrams
without looking up. Perfectly" he
said
From Caspar Danes question. which
seemed to show not inhospitable at
titude of mind. Shinn took courage. He
sat I'm and sat forward on the edoa 0f