The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-03-27
.EhT. s.raiaEts thi.i e -.

.Ehy Rsnptpgt tori ei'r.
prise.. '.s s..
The manager entered aNkNardly.
He had the fcolstraiped air Of 9 man
who has come On An pnPleasant err
rand but wants to be as amiablS -
the cItcumstanees VIM permit.
,TYou didn't expect me- did your he
began. &
Shutting the front door. Underwood
led thesWay back into the sitting room,
and making an effort 70 control his
nerves, said:
sit down, won't you?"
BIT Mr.. Bennington merely bowed
stibiy. 1t was evident that he did; not
wish his callito be mistaken for Z. 80.
cialsSisie.
II haven't time, thank you. To be
frank, my mission isratheria delicate
ons, Mr.. Underwood"
Underwood laughed neryously. At
Gectlng to misinterpret the others
meaning. he said; u,
Eyes, you're right. The art and an
tIque business Is \ delicate business.
God knows it's. q precaTious one"
Reaching for the decanter, he added:
Have a drink"
But Mr.. Bennington refused 70 in-
bend. The proffer Of refreshmept did
not tempt him to swerve 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 a drink" urged Under
wood again.
mo, thanks" replied, Mr.. Bennipg-
ton cartly.
Suddenly he turned square around.
Lets get down to business, Mr.. I'm
deryood," he exclaimed. "My firm In.
sIsts on the immediate return of their
property" Pointing around the room.
he added: Everything, do you under IN Ter
stand?" .i.s.H
Underwood was standing In the sna-
dow Of the lamp so his visitor did not
notice that he had grown suddenly
very white. and that his 'mogth
tyitched painfully. - ~
d.Why. what's the trouble?" he STAN STAN!
mered. Haven't got prices for your
people that they would never have got.
tent"
"Yes-we know all that" replied
Mr.. Bennington impatiently. ITO be
frank. Mr.. Underwood, we've received
information that you've sold many
Of the valuable articles intrusteda 70
you for which you've made no account
ing at ALL" +
"That's not true" exclaimed Index.
wood hotly. II have accounted for
almost everything. The rest OF the
things are here. OF course. there may
be a few things"
Taking a box Of cigars from The
desk, he offered 1t 10 his visitor.
mo, thanks" replied Bennington
coldly, pushing back the proffered
box.
Underwood was fast losing his SELF.
control. Throwing away his cigar with
nm angry exclamation, he began 10
walk up and down. s
"a. can account tor everything .it.gou
give nc time. You must give me time.
I'm hard pressed by my credttorH. Ny
expenses are enormous and collections
exceedingly difficult. have 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 time
either to 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 1t, you fellows don't
know what it costs to run this kind
Of business successfully! One has to