The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-28
CHAPTER xxi.
HIS FATHER AND THEM

He ScowIed at the unoffendfng desk
for minute after minute-until the min
utes began to drag into hours
There were several things that Mr.
HJngerfoPd could do 81 this juncture.
The first and foremost was that he
could summon Cluett Peters rich papa
and give him a thorough talking to
and heaven alone knew that the evil
dence warranted something OF the sort.
Could he but rouse Ctuetts papa to a
sufficient degree Of anger, that missing
half million would be refunded: and IN
Hungerford's mind there was no cues
zion as to the strict honesty of the pro-
ceeding. Whatever the motive, CIuett
had stolen those bonds as certainly as
the sun would rise tomorrow morning;
and since Cluett's papa could very well
afford
Mr. Hungerford looked up Sust then,
for the page was within the Office.
TITS S1r. Peters, sir
Send him in
Mr.. Hiram Peters appeared in a sec
ond or so-vhite and worn. He sat
down without greeting and asked:
Amy word?'
None
Haven't you had any report what
Not since the one you heard" Mt.
Hungerford switched around in his
chair. Peters,"
Weir
As man to man, have you heard from
your SOM"
~ have not"
How do you account for it2''
Il don't account for it. I'm pretty
well dazed, HungeTford-"
Then
But # don't hear from him within
the next twenty-four hours
'"WeH?'
This bank and everything else can
20 TO the devfii'' said Mr.. Peters. I'm
willing to stake my last cent and my
life on my boy. but If he's hurt. some
where, or II he's gone out OF his head
or anything else, I'm going to find it
out. IL every newspaper in the country
gives up printing every other kind Of
news and devotes itself 20 that alone!'
CAREFUL advised Mr. HungerfoTd.
Be careful OF WHAT
This institution Did you see the
note about it IN this mornings papers?"
No"
We'll, il was brief-blt II leaked out
somehow. Marshfield fired a couple Of
kid clerks yesterday because there
wasn't much for them to do-and prob
ably one OF them knew an Associated
Press man, OF something Anyway, all
the papers have a chaste little notice
today 10 the effect that the Second Me-
chanical is feeling the financial pinch.
too, and laying off hands-and a lot
more vague trash 10 the same effect"
"Bosh,'
IT may be bosh"' said the president.
Eioomily- AN the same, 'bosh' usually
has its effect on q bank. Hiram. You
can Islander a patent medicine concern
a whisky house or a theater and IL
only makes business for them. But
when you begin limiting even the small
sst things about a bank"
''Wen?"
We'll, il means Withdrawals. whether
there IS anything behind it or not
We've closed out two or three pretty
nice accounts this morning
You could have refused" Peters be
gan absently-
And had every Internal financial re-
Porter in the country down on our
heels" Hungerford snapped. I'm not
taking that sort of chances, Hiram
Eut-'
Well-but What?'
Mr.. Hungerford sat erect
Hiram. this banks IN \ damned bad
way, with that haIf-milIiOn gomez
Very likely"
Wen, that's an extremely good.
calm way 70 take it, M. Hunger
ford's temper began 10 soar a little.
At the same time, it's not helping us
any,
Mr.. Peters eyes narrowed.
Why the accusing stare2' ne ask
My dear Peters, The president
faced him squsrely. Il wouldn't hurt
YOUR fee!ings-I would not rouse you
for 4 million in cold cash, unless it
was as unavoidable as it rs now. But
I'm bound 20 say, and you're bound 70
admit, that everything points toward
the fact that CIuett simply removed
these bonds from the vault. and that
he's practically crippled one Of the
biggest banks in New York,
III admit nothing Of the sort: -
Hold on. I don't blame you for get
ting mad, Hiram. I'd do the same
ming in your place. But getting mad
doesn't do any good. I'm not blaming
YOU at au-Tm simply saying that,
'tAAA'6C All O'-eAI .DN4 SUM- AlllFc- dil
signs fail, this banks on the edge Of
busting
The rather unknd shaft sank in
precisely as Mr.. Hungerword had de
sired The millionaire turned a bril-.
liant, fiery red, then he cooled 20 a
Dallid, white heat; and when he spoke
his voice was like the filing OF chilled
steel
I'm inclined 10 walk over there and
injure taat face OF yours, HungerfOrd.
Il don't doubt it. II wouldn't do any
good
II know that You've put my boy
down - a crook. apparently. The evil
dence seems to be against him. I'll
swear before heaven that he never