Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-07-31
Continued from Yepterday.,


Continued from Yesterday)
Perhaps to the examiner himself
this blunt directness--the bitter I'M
Swallowed truth that searched for no
evasions--had appeared effrontery---
the contemptuous and cynical rank
ness of the young egotist who sat
secure, his own millionsNsafe on the
ruins of the enterprise from which
they were derived The questions.
that had been bland with suave in
uendo, acquired an acrid sarcasm, a
barbed and singing satire. which at
length touched indiscretion. He al
lowed himself a scornful reference to
the elder Valiant as scatching as it
was unjustifed
To the man in the witness chair this
had been like an electric shock.
Something new and unguessed be-
meath the husk of boredom, the indo-
lent pose of body, had suddenly
looked from his blazing eyes; some
thing foreign to Vanity Valiant, the
club habitue, the spoiled scion of
wealth. For a brief five minutes he
spoke. in a fashion that surprised the
court passionate defense of
his father, the principles on which the
corpora ton had been founded and its
traditional policies; few sentences,
but each hot as lava and quivering
with feeling. Their very force star
tied the reporters bench and left his
lnquisitor for moment silent
The latter took refuge in sardonic
reference to the corporations salary
list. Did the witness conceive, he
asked with effective elaboration, that
he had rendered services commensu-
rate with the annual sums paid him?
The witness thought that he had, in
fact, received just about what those
services were worth. Would Mr.. VAL
liant be good enough to state the fig
ures of the salary he had been privi-
legged to draw as a vice president?
The answer fell as slowly in the
sardonic silence. II have never
drawn a salary as an officer of the
Valiant Corporation.
Then it was that the irritated ex-
aminer had abruptly dismissed the
witness. Then the ripple had swept
over the sssemblage, and Katharine
Fargo, gazing, had smiled that slow
smile in which approval struggled
with mingled wonder and question.
The jostling crowd flocked out into
the square. among them h-faced
girl on the arm of gray-bearded
man in black frock coat and pictur-
esque broad brlmmed felt hat. She
turned her eyes to his.
$50 that" she said, lis John Val
liant! I'd almost rather have missed
Niagara Falls. | must write Shirley
cambridge about it. I'm so sorry
lost that picture of him that l cut out
of the paper"
Il reckon he's not such bad lot
said her uncle Il liked the way he
spoke of his father"
He hailed cab. Grand Central
Station" he directed, with glance
at his watch, and be quick about 1t.
We've just time to make our train
"Yessir! Dollar'n half, sir"
The gentleman seated the girl and
climbed in himself. II know the legal
fare" he said, 'if am from Virginia.
more. you'll be sorry"
Some hours later in an inner office
of a downtown sky-scraper, the
newly appointed receiver of the
Valiant Corporation, a heavy, thick
set man with narrow eyes. sat beside
a table on which lay a small black
satchel with paddock on its handle,
whose contents-several bundles of
crisp papers-he had been turning
over in his heavy hands with a
look of incredulous amazement. A
sheet containing a mass of figures
and memoranda lay among them.
The shock was still on his face
when a knock came at the door, and
a man entered. The newcomer was
gray haired, slightly stopped and
lean jowled, with a humorous ex-
preston on his lips. He glanced in
surprise at the Uttered table.
Fargo" said the man at the desk,
do you notice anything queer about
me?"
His friend grinned. No, Buck"
he said judicially, unless it's that
necktie. 1t would stop Dutch clock"
Hang the haberdasheryl Read
this-from young Valiant" He passed
over letter.
Fargo read He looked up. "Securi-
ties aggregating three millions!' he
said in hushed voice, why, unless
I've been misinformed, that repre-
sents practically all his private for
tune"
The other nodded. Turned over to
the corporation with his resignation
as a vice-president, and without a
blessed string tied to EN-! What
do you think of that?"
Think! It's the most absurdly
idiotie thing / ever met. Two weeks
ago, before the investigation but
now, when it's perfectly certain they
can bring nothing home to him"
He paused. "Of course suppose it'll
save the corporation, Ell? But 1t may
be ten years before its securities pay