Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-25

each other in the large but somewhat
barely furnished Office, the radical diff
ferences, both in appearance and manner.
| isms perhaps, also, in disposition. had
never been more strongly evident. They
, were partners in business and face Il
| face with ruin. Stephen Laverick. senior
| member of the firm. although an air OF
| steadfast gloom had settled upon hi.
clean-cut, powerful countenance, retained
| even in despair something OF that dogged
| composure. temperamental and wholly
British, which had served him we'll along
! the road to fortune. Arthur Morrison
the man who sat on the other side OF the
table, a Jew to his finger tips notwfth
standing his altered name, sat like
/ broken thing, with tears in his terr1nec
eyes, disordered hair and parchment-pale
| face Words had flown from his lips IN
| continual stream. He fioundered In MS
misery sobbed about 1t like child. The
hand Of misfortune had stripped MN
naked, and one man, at least. saw MIN d
he really was. :.
Il can't stand it, LaverickI couldn't
face them all. It's too cruel-too hor-
rible. Eighteen thousand pounds gone
in one week, forty thousand in g month
Forty thousand pounds! oh. my Cod:
He writhed in agony. The man on the
other side of the table said nothing.
IF we could only have held on little
longer, Unions must turn. They Will
turn. Laverick, have you tried all your
friends? Think! Have you tried them
all? Twenty thousand pounds would see
us through It. We should get our own
money back-I am sure OF It. There
Rendell, I4averick. He'd do anything for
YOU You're always shooting or playing
cricket with him. Have you asked him.
Laverick? He'd never miss the money.
You and I see things differently, Nor
rison." Laverick answered. Nothing
would induce ME to borrow money from
a friend :"
But at a time like this" Morrison
pleaded, passionately. Every one does
it sometimes He'd be glad to help you.
know he would. Have you ever thought
what it will be like. Laverick. to De ham,
mered?'
II have" Laverick admitted. YEARLY.
"God knows it seems as terrible thing
to me as 1t can to you! But IL We go
down we must go down with clean
hands I've no faith in your Internal
market and not one penny Will borrow
from a friend"
The Jews face was almost piteous; He
stretched himself across the table There
were genuine tears In his eyes.
"Laverick," he said. old man. you're
wrong. 1 know you think I've been led
away. I've taken you out OF our depth.
but the only trouble has been that we
haven't had enough capital and no back
ing Those who stand up VIII win They
will make money.
"unfortunately.'' Lavertck remarked.
I'VE cannot stand up. Please understand
that / will not discuss this matter with
YOU in any way. I will not borrow money
from RendeIl or any friend. l have asked
the bank and I have asked Pages, who
will be our largest creditors. To help us
would simply be a business proposition.
SO far as they are concerned AS you
know, they have refused. II you see any
hope in that direction. why don't you try
some of your own friends? For every one
man l know in the house you have
seemed to be bosom friends with at least
twenty"
Morrison groaned.
Those / know are not that sort of
friend" he answered. 'They will drink
with you and spend a night out or a week
end at Brighton, but they do not lend
money. If they would, do you think /
would mind asking? Why. / should go
on my knees to any man who would lend
us the money. l would even kiss his
feet. l cannot bear it. Laverick. i cam
not! / cannot
Laverick said nothing. Words were
useless things. wasted upon such a crea-
ture. He eyed his partner with a con-
tempt which he took no pains to conceal.
This, tlen. WAS tie smart young fellow