The citizen., 1914-11-20

day they left you nat. Sheared you
and trimmed you and shaved you. You
don't have to afilrm, or deny it, but
know. Now you know why I'm here"
Who told you that?"
Your broker. Is that good enough%
my broker? You mean to say that
Hvnning told-a stranger my private
atfairs-my confidential dealings With
him?"
I'm not stranger, Bob, and conf
dental business is only confidential
while you have money. When you're
cleaned it's different. No, don't mean
that" he interjected. IL don't want to
rub 1t in on Henning. heard part of
the story from another source and
then wormed 1t out of him. hap
pened to do Henning favor once and
when / told him was friend Of yours
he didn't feel so much reluctance about
confessing up. know what you lost
and you know. but there Is something
you are not SO well informed about.
You don't happen to know. do you.
that your munificent friend Mr.. Brand
wen about two hundred thousand dol
lars on the stock you lost on and that
your forty thousand is comfortably re-
posing in the Eastern National bank
tonight to his credit?"
Infinitesimal is the difference be-
tween love and hate; in the lapse of
second the coward becomes the fear
less hero; despair is but the herald OF
desperation, and In the brief moment
that Reynolds sat digesting the full
force of the reporters words he
changed from the crushed and hope
less puppet and sat erect, vibrant,
ide-eyed-stripped of his ass skin.
He had been buying the stock Of the
Consolidated Wire company on the
advice of Brand. He had talked to
Brand over the telephone the day be-
fore and Brand had given him no warn
ing Of the collapse. Consolidated Wire
had dropped Is points and Brand had
added fat portion to his fortune.
Well, Brand would do the explaining.
Dick, having done his worst, was
now all commiseration. He had not
come to taunt, but to help. He went
to Bob's side and put a hand on his
shoulder. His voice rang with sincere
solicitude.
Come on, old man." he begged.
"and get out Of this. Close up here
tomorrow and start again. Tell Jane
the truth and come over to the bunga-
low with mother and me. It'll work
out all right. You've had your fling
among your would-be patricians and
you've failed. What do you say Bob?
Will you do it? Will you come back
with me?"
He stood with his arms outstretched
in mute appeal. but Reynolds raised
his hands in depreciation.
Its too late, Dick" he answered.
"If / wanted to couldn't do it now.
I've got to stay and fight it out"
Fight it out! With what, Bob?
Why, you were beaten before you
started Next thing you know they'll
be taking the butter and eggs out of
your icebox and you'll be hungry"
They've done that already, DICK.
but I'll fight, just the same" He
jumped to his feet and grasped the
writer's arm with trembling hand. Il
tell you I've got to fight, Dick. You
think you know the worst. You know
only half of it. 1 signed an overdraft,
for $4,000 today and it's gone through.
The bank telephoned me this after
noon and I've got to raise the money
or go to Jail. But won't go to jail.
Don't worry l know the man that'l
keep me out of it. He's coming here
tonight and when he leaves I'll have
another grubstake. I've been bought,
Dick; bought-but haven't been paid
for"
CTo BE CoNTINUED)