The Washington times., 1915-10-24


spread.
There Is likely to be an investiga-
tion ' he guessed. holding his wrist.
No" growlcd President Prime. his
dimple deepening as he realized that
IA. hookkccper was still there. '','r.
back to your work. Qualey."
Wouldn't II he a kindness for us to
raise private fund to cancel that note
OF the Wickcrs Manufacturing Com
pany f' asked President Prime.
ceiVcd.
Then tho bank would not need TO
report the loss" speculated the high
saouldercu one.
4 young man knocked and came in.
"A gentleman wishes to speak with
the board he told President Prime.
profrerins n card. Each OF the Ave d.,
rectors glanced at the others. None OF
y. Rufus Wallingford.' read the
president aloud. and the dimpie deep.
, ened In his chin. Never heard of him.
He says that he wishes to address
the board In the handling of dcterior-
ating loans. He's n specialist In bank
ing troubles" reported the young man.
silence. Everybody was thinking.
President Prime walked out OF the
| other door. He strolled around into the
paying teller's cage and counted the
mornings checks.
Send him In" directed President
| minute and a half later, J. RufuS
Wsllngford stood before them. thor
ouGhly at ease and In smiling possession
\ Of them. every one.
which had a suspicion OF the oratorical
! in II. II am professional goat; and ne
chu"kled jovislly at them. his broad
and the color Of his face deepse"'".;
we win" declared wallingford. to
Blackie Daw, as the telephone bell an
A p..,, q Il,
, bet to tell any crook he'd better come
! and see you. He always comes"
| BlaCkie rose to go.
| According to your program. I don't
stick for the chat" Erinned Wallins-
ford. "A crooks always more uncon-
Portable with two In tho room !.
that observation by losing a degree Of
his suavity the moment he caught sight
81 the lanky black -mustached partner
Of Wallingford.
wallingford urbansly. Mr.. Daw is one
of my trusted men. His specially Is
entering bankruptcy"
Mr. Prime. Surveying Mr.. Daw In the
CoaI-hls,k eye, began to look as II nc
you're in,roducing me to lot Of
new thoughts.' nc observed. deciding to
sit in the big leather chair Wailingford
pushed forward. The chair looked In
viting. hut man sat huddled back In
II deep and so low that he was AT
age Waling ford sitting opposite in a
stin chair fairly lowered over him
You were vague at the bank this
morning. that scarcely understood
call So have called out OF curiosity -
Wallingford grnnsd down at him.
You called to help yourself out OF
scrape." he declared looking Mr.
body has misplaced the funds Of the
Peoples Bank. and you can't let go
as easy as you thought you could.
Mr. Prime managed It this time. He
ros. from his chair and looked prop
erly insulted. ,,
Rlackie Daw had studied the mans
he assisted wallingford with one Of
those lightning flashes Of judgment;
oh. sit down" he ordered President
Prime and pushed that Gignified gem
,icman in the chest with handful OF
having ben lightly balanced. sat down
with grunt and with red face.
Tell him he's a crook: Jim:
charged @ waiiinsford. extending an i'm
pressive finger toward President Prime.
Nv. have the goods on YOU, because
ounces too much OF alcohol in his
That shot told. In President Prime $
countenanCe could be seen a rapid and
, worried calculation as to who the in
| sbriate might be.
III this insult is based on drunken
conversation
j Rufus Wailingford arose and open
/ ed the door with great lmpressiVeness.
III YOU don't care to listen to what
I have to say. the doors open and no.
; bodys holding you" he stated:
President Prime looked at the door
.rAs ll
watched him a long moment, and then
with "A grin. sauntered to the telephone
md ordered drinks.
2 President Prime became less indignan
than he was interested.
q don't think follow you"
u II explain Mr.. DAVIS business" re-
sumed Wallingiord. AS Blackic returne'
I from the phone. He Is willing to bor'
u row any amount of money on his notes
? and not get the money.
President Primes eyes seemed to draw
? closer together
II don't see It." he acknowledged.
. = No" agreed Wallingford. II it were
!, 50 simple as that you might have
u thought Of it yourself. Here's wha
A wen do with you. For nifty thousant
!. dollars we'll step in and bear the blam'
I for anything irreGular in your bank
r II anyhody's pinched. we'll stand th
. pinch II anybodys to go to Honduras
& veil do the travelling"
How"
4 You step down and out Of the bank
With every bad note for which you ar
4 responsible paid of and entered In tn
banks cash account. then we step II
y and cover the cash which isn't there.
y The banking laws in this State
. he advised.
o Let us do the worrying about that
9 Now we'll get down TO figures and t
N details Mr.. Prime. What are tn
amounts ot your bogus securities?"
The rabhit-eyed bookkeeper answere
n IN. bell Of the new manager with wea
. knees. hut the hugely impressive Wal
q Iingford beamed on him with n cordia
good viii which was so full OF vitalit
u that II seemed like n tonic.
. We'll, Qusley. here We are" oh
" served Wall'ngford pleasantly.
YES. sir" and Mr.. Qualey's fac
y frightened for the first time in fv
years
= Vow well make this an homes
~ hank chucklcd the hig man. Pleas
Artng me those riotes' and he hande
aver = list. ono glance at which brough
h7ck into Qualey's countenance ~ tn
I. vrfnkIas he had been acCumulitinl
> | zinc. he f-st began to blink his eye a
!. 'h~ sight ~ a brass button.
Yes sir" nuttered Mr.. Qualey. an
Al ,.kfnx that list into the vault of th