Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1914-01-29
cHAPTER ".

CHAPTER vi
broadway hurried to the angry and
olsgusted man and put his hand upon
ms arm. He was rather badly funked
Dy this uncompromising attitude.
wait a minute, Bob" he urged.
Don't go of like that. That was an
awful thing you just said to me. III
nad q wild night. Give me a chance
to think
All right" said Wallace, not very
graciously. go ahead-think! It's
about time you began to think"
He sank into a chair, his gloomy
face regarding Broadway with small
favor, his angry fingers tapping on a
table top.
broadway was very nervous. Reali-
cation was becoming vivid Of the fact
that he had not been wholly admirable
IN his general course.
Don't you suppose I know it's a
shabby thing to do?', he urged. "But,
great Scott! look at the fix I'm I'M"
Wallace made a gesture of negation.
1t was clear that he refused to grant
that anything could excuse his friends
course with the widow.
You're not sore at me. Bob, are
your" Broadway pleaded.
I've said my say. You've heard my
opinion"
DO you think everyone will feel
that way about it,"
"Of course"
Broadway was distressed beyond his
feeble power of explanation. Pacing
up and down, he moaned:
III it wasn't for those debts! If IL
wasn't for the bills l owe!"
you don't know the exact amount?'
NO"
why haven't you added them up?'
II haven't had time. I've been-too
busy"
Doing what?"
Nov, don't give me the third de
gree, please! Look here! I'm so nerv
Gus that I'm trembling like a leaf"
Where are those bills?9
In the little room, in my desk"
would you mind If I looked them
over?'
mo; I wish you would. You will
do that, Bob?" He was as eager as Il
examination Of them by his business
headed friend would mark each one
receipted. "But, say, Bob, suppose
take your advice and call this thing
OF. What am I going to say to Mrs
Gerard?"
you won't have to say anything
III handle her."
well, what would you say to herr
viii you please leave that to me-
Go over there and sit down. Do some
more thinking. You've got many .
think coming to YOU young fellow
I'm going to e how much you owe
the world"
And Broadway did exactly as he or
dered, looking after him almost as 6
child might after some one had as
sumed full charge Of tangled, juvenile
affairs.
Suddenly he realized that some out
standing bills would not be among the
mass which Wallace. was examining
He would try to get them in. HI
wished to know the worst, now tha'
he was at 1t. He went over to tbs
telephone and called up a certain IA
nous restaurant. After he had toft
the manager to make out his bill FOL
the previous evening entertainment
and let him know the total, he sa'
waiting, with the receiver glued tigh'
to one ear, and, when Rankin entered
called him to him.
You'd better look around for an
other job, Rankin"
The butler almost tainted. "Hasn'
my service been satisfactory, sir"
"Oh, yes; everything has been al
right; but, you see, Rankin, I'm goins
to leave town. I-er-expect to do {
lot Of travelling"
He gazed at Rankin anxiously. HI
hoped this would be easy. The worry
on his face and the cramped position
necessary to listening at the telephone
and watching the butler closely gave
him a pitiful expression. He looked
as If in pain.
When Rankin said, respectfully
that, If Mr.. Jones was travelling h
should like to travel with him, Jack
son was annoyed.
sTd like to have you, Rankin," hi
said weakly, DuI, you see, l p
to locate in-er-in Japan, and Pvt
got to have some one who understand
the language"
That was a poser. He Congratulated
himself. That would settle Rankin
and get rid of him with no hard feel
ings. He was really rather fond o
Rankin.
But no! 81 speak Japanese yer!
well, sir" and the extraordinary but
Ter. with a calm which vouched for hi
veracfty. 81 was in service with TIVE
Japanese for over i've years, and
you think of China, sir, OF Russia
Fortunately for his masters diff
Guilty maintained composure. two
things happened to distract attention
He got his message on the telephone
and the ringing doorbell removed Ran