Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-12-11

Twenty minutes later Blackie Daw
walked out Of the back way with $780,
900 In the yellow suit case, and Wal.
lingford sent for the bookkeeper.
"Well, Qualey, we're caught" he
cheerfully told the shiverer who stood
before him "We'll probably all be jail
ed inside Of twenty-four hours"
Mr.. Qualey crumpled in chair and
shrank three sizes.
Were lost~ exclaimed Wallingford.
Listen to that mob
There's one way out of this by which
no one need be arrested. Prime and
Morris and the other former directors
must cover that deficit on the jump,
and in currencyw
"Thats EightI agreed the book
keeper, with unexpected determination.
They're the ones who took the money.
and they're the ones who have to save
u.s."
Gee! 1t took you long time to find
your sand~ chuckled Wallingford, wip-
ing his brow in relief. "You hustle
right around to Prime and tell him what
they have to do"
"You bet 1 willP' declared Qualey,
shaking his fist. "They can raise the
money among them, If they have to
shut up the Pit bucketshop and all go
broke"
In few minutes Prime slipped In the
back way and confronted Wallingford.
"a fine mess you got us into!' he hotly
charged
"Rotten" agreed Wallingford. "Just
hear them out there"
Its none of my affair."" declared
Prime. 81 was astonished that you sent
crazy Qualey to me. When we stepped
out Of this bank we left it In a perfect
ly solvent condition. can prove 1t by
the books"
you'll never have chance" Wal.
lingford told him, with a grin. "If this
were only a matter of legal conse
quences you might bluff, but If this
bank closes its doors with deficit Of
nearly half its capital the people Of
this town will take you apart for SOU
venirs. If you don't believe 1t open the
front door and show yourself to the
crowd outside"
Prime walked to the door and put his
hand on the knob. He paused as he
heard his own name shouted. An
angry deposltor was demanding to
know where he was.
"Im sorry you blame me-" grinned
Wallingford. "You see, haven't had
a chance to pull the scheme that was
to square you. 1 don't suppose anybody
figured on the possibility Of a run"
There was knock at the door. The
mandolin player came In, his express
sion entirely unchanged.
Several of the deposltors have ask
ed to see Mr.. Prime, If he is in," he
politely reported, drumming on the
edge Of the door with his finger tips.
The tune was, "Oh, Myrtle, My Sweet
heart"
mot here" snapped Prime.
Every WELL sir" accepted the mando.
lin player, no hair of his curly fore
lock awry.
Good work." commented Walling.
ford. ''Prine, we have cash enough
to last about one hour by slow count
ing. Before that's gone, you'd better
be pouring the currency in here"
To add effect to his threat he set the
door about an inch ajar. The lobby of
the bank was packed solidly, and a
roar came from the crowd, like ZOO
just before feeding time. Even Wal
lingford paled as he caught their tenn
per from their tone
Wallingford touched a bell, and Qua
ley came in, stiffening at the sight of
Prime.
"Qualey, tell President Prime where
the deficit went"
"The Pit Brokerage company!' shrill.
ed the desperate Qualey.
you'll swear that on the witness
standW
"You bet / willw
Prime merely glanced at his book.
keeper and sat down-at the phone.
He called up his fellow directors in
succession and told them what they
had to do and how rapidly they had to
do 1t. Then he walked out into the
brass grilled bank cage and made
speech, nice speech, a frank, straight.
forward, manly speech, the speech of
an honest banker. At first they howl
ed him down, but he finally got their
ears and told them how the absurd ru.