The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-03-27
...NShr. asnal 3. ,thIp Il iat.


sWhy Hsnaingtsn. this mn
prise
The manager entered aNkRardly.
He had the coma faiped air q y nan
who has come On An unpleasant er.
rand. but wants 70 be as amisbls -
the cifcumstaneeS Will permit !,
;GYou didn't expect me- did your he
began.
Shutting the front door, Underwood
Ied'thesWay back into the sitting room,
and making an effort 20 control his
nerves, said: y ~
sit down, won't yong"
But Mr.. Bennington merely bowed
stlhiy. It was evident that he did not
wish. his callgto DO mistaken for . 80.
cislSytsit, .
III haven't time, thank you. To be
frank, my mission issrather . delicate
ops, Mr.. Underwood
Underwood laughed nervously. AZ.
fecting TO misinterpret the others
meaning. he said: NJ
Yes, you're right. The art and an.
tlqye business is a delicate business.
God knows its a precarious ope!"
Reaching for the decanter, he added:
Have drink"
But Mr.. Bennington refused 70 un.
bend. The proffer Of refreshmeDt did
not tempt him to swerve from the OBJ
feet Of his mission. While Underwood
was talking. trying to gain time, his
eyes we're taking in the contents Of
the apartment
Come. take q drink" urged Under.
wood again. .
mo, thanks" replied, Mr.. BennIng.
ton cartly.
Suddenly he turned square around.
!, Let's get down to business, Mr., I'm
derEood," he exclaimed. MY firm In
sIsts on the immediate return Of their
property" Pointing around the room,
he added: Everything, do you under el
stand?" 5,,.l
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 moth
tYitched painfully. tx
aaWhy, what's the, trouble?" he STAN.
mered. "Haven'tT got prices for your
people that they would never have got.
tenn"
"Yes-we know all that" replied
Mr.. Remington impatiently. ITO be
frank, Mr.. Underwood, we've received
information that you've sold many
OF the valuable articles iptrustedp 70
you for which you've made no account
ing at ALL" as
That's not true" exclaimed Under.
wood hotly. Il have accounted for
almost everything, The rest Of the
things are here. OF course, there may
be a few things" IA,
Taking box Of cigars from the
desk, he offered 1t TO his visitor,
"No. thanks" replied Bennington
coldly, pushing back the proffered
box.
Underwood was fast losing his self
control. Throwing away his cigar with
an angry exclamation, he began TO
walk up and down.
q can account COR everything tifigou
give mo time. You, must give me time.
I'm hard pressed by my credltorN Ny,
expenses are enormous and collections
exceedingly difficult. 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 time
either to raise the money or to get the
things back"
Underwood's dark eyes flashed with
suppressed wrath, as he retorted:
"or course, l 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
49, 1 ~ Is J