The Point Pleasant register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, W. Va.) 1909-1939, 1910-05-04
why. Bennington. this is a sur,

why. Bennington. hi. is . sur,
prise!"
The manager entered aukwardly.
He had the constrained air OF q man
who has come on an unpleasant er.
rand, but wants to be as amiable as
the circumstances viii permit.
You didn't expect me. did your" he
began.
shutting the front door. Underwood
led the way back into the sitting room.
and making an effort to control his
nerves. said:
sit down. won't you!"
But Mr.. Bennington merely bowed
stifiy. It was evident that he did not
wish his call to be mistaken for so
ella; visit.
q haven't time. thank you. To DO
frank my mission Is rather = delicate
one. Mr.. Underwood"
Underwood laughed nerTously. AZ
fecting 60 misinterpret the others
meaning. he said:
Yes. you're right. The art and an
tque business Is = delicate business.
God knows It's : precarious one!"
Reaching for the decanter, he added:
Have drink"
But Mr.. Bennington refused to un-
bend. The prefer of refreshment did
not tempt him to swerye from the OBJ
ject of his mission. While Underwood
was talking. trying to gain time, his
eyes were taking in the contents Of
the apartment.
Come. take q drink" urged Under
wood again.
NO. thanks" replied Mr.. Benning.
ton CURLY.
Suddenly he turned square around.
Let's get down to business. Mr.. In
derwood." he exclaimed. My firm In.
sists on the immediate return OF their
property" Pointing around the room,
he added: Everything. do you under.
stand?"
Underwood was standing in the sha.
dow Of the lamp so his visitor did not
notice that he had grown suddenly
very white. and that his mouth
twitched painfully.
Why, what's the trouble?" he STAN.
mered. Haven't got prices for your
people that they would never have got
temp"
"Yes-we know all that" replied
Mr.. Bennington impadently. ITO be
frank. Mr.. Underwood, we've received
information that you've sold many
Of the valuable articles intrusted to
you for which you've made no account
ing at all"
That's not true" exclaimed Under.
wood hotly. 81 have accounted for
almost everything. The rest OF the
things are here. OF course, there may
be few things"
Taking a box OF cigars from the
desk. he offered It to his visitor.
NO. thanks" replied Bennington
coldly. pushing back the prorered
box
Underwood was fast losing his self.
control. Throwing away his cigar with
an angry exclamation. he began to
walk up and down.
Il can account for everything II you
give me time. You must give me time.
I'm hard pressed by my creditors. My
expenses are enormous and collections
exceedingly difficult. I have a large
amount OF money outstanding. After
our pleasant business relations 1t
seems absurd and most unfair that
your firm should take this stand with
me-" He halted suddenly and faced
Bennington. "of course. I'm much
obliged to you, personally, for this
friendly tip"
Bennington shrugged his shoulders.
The warning may give you tine
either 70 raise the money or to get the
things back"
Underwood's dark eyes flashed With
suppressed wrath, as he retorted:
"of course, can get them all back
in time. Damn it. you fellows don't
know what it costs to run this kind
of business successfully! One has to