The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-06-13
Wning.


1 Vllu8.
Wen. by lingo. do! declared
Mr.. Jones. and I'll just stand by him.
He's always done our business in a
satisfactory way. I'll not see him
brow-beaten over my shoulders. I'll
raise my loan elsewhere. A man goes
flrst to his own bank, of course
And Mr.. Jones waltzed out with
something approaching as near to
asperity of manner as that very good
hearted gentleman could accomplish.
But he was back the next day.
By the way" said Mr.. vining. seiz-
ing the first speech, you are not to
forget. Mr.. Jones, that we are depend
Ing on you to reduce your Indebtedness
by taking up q part of those notes
which como up for renewal next week "
Since Mr. vining knew from private
advices of his own the occasion Of M
Jones's return to him. this speech was
like an unwrung blanket in Its effect
upon the spirits OF his visitor
But" said Mr.. Jones, al can't do
1t, Vining have to have more money
to put through my deals. I've been to
every house in town. They are cold
shouldering me. There's lots of money
and know It. But they all say, Not
just now, Mr.. Jones. We can only take
care OF our own customers So that
runs me back to you, and confound It.
Vining, you've got to take care Of me.
You have no right to destroy my credit
by refusing my legitimate loans when
have been banking with you for
twenty years
you are destroying your own credit,
Mr.. Jones. az have explained to you
already"
How? Obi You mean Holman!
Why, confound it, Vininc! How can I
do that?-break off with him, mean.
Why. we're neighbors We belong to
the same clubs. Our daughters are in
society together. Besides, l don't want
TO turn on him. just now. He tells me
he's in some kind of trouble with the
city authorities about spur track or
something to one of his warehouses.
That unscrupulous CRATER, Dan Tank,
is after him and making all sorts Of
trouble for him. wouldn't want to
turn against him, now"
"Of course not" said Mr.. vlning,
pushing button. His jaws had
snapped as he spoke with the dry,
juiceless click of steel trap His
words were reassuring, but the man
lner of them was not
Bring me the statement Of our bills
receivable from Jones & Company" he
said to the clerk who answered his
ring.
The perspiration started on Mr..
Jones's brow His eyes, too, bulged in
their sockets.
Really. Mr.. viningl he gasped.
Really, Mr.. JONES'" observed Mr..
vining.
81 Do you mean that I'VE got to break
my teaming contracts with w. A. Hol-
man, an old friend, who has done our
hauling for twenty years. before / can
get my notes renewed and secure the
additional reasonable credit that re-
quire?"
It would simplify matters, think,
If you should do that" Mr. Vining said,
absently, while scanning financial re-
view.
"Can 1t be possible that Dan Tank
can use this bank and use me to punish
man of the standing in this commu-
nifty of William "A. Holman" asked
Mr.. Jones, with something OF amaze
ment and something Of resignation in
his voice.
Daniel Tank use this bank?" ex-
claimed Mr.. Vining In great surprise
and trace of indignation. Absurd!
As I have explained to you, powerful
interests among our stockholders,
whom we are bound to respect, feel
that Mr.. Holman has not treated them
right; perhaps, 1 might say, he Is q
competitor of them in an unfair way
to a certain extent. and they are ex-
ceedingly anxious that none of their
capital be used even remotely to de-
yelop the business of competitor.
That looks reasonable, doesn't it,"
Yes, must say 1t does" confessed
Mr.. Jones. But hate 1t, all the
same"
So do l." said Mr.. vining. And
fervently he spoke the truth.
Well, I'll do It," said Mr. Jones,
with fine show of resignation and
latent resolution, but I'll explain all
about 1t to Billie Holman, just the
same, and tell him it's hard lines for
me to do 1t, but everybody's got to take
their medicine these times, guess
That is the philosophical way to
look at it." said Mt. Vining.
On top OF this mortgage Of Hol.
mans came due. 1t was for fifty thou
sand dollars and represented the last
payment on the purchase price Of the
coal yards and the two red star ware.
houses that thrifty gentleman had
acquired three years before. That
Holman could meet 1t in his present
condition seemed utterly impossible
Tank had watched the days creep
by with hungry eyes His bank. the
Traders, had bought the mortgage
There would be no grace for the mort
gagor. The upper and the neither mill
stones were being properly buried for
Holman.