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

the board" he told President Prime,
proffering card. Each Of the five di-
rectors glanced at the others. None OF
them glanced at the young man.
~. Rufus Wallingford" read the
president aloud, and the dimple deep
ened in his chin. Never heard of him. .
"He says that he only asks for three
| minutes" reported the young man
drumming his fingers on the edge OF
the table. The tune he was playing in
his mind was 'In the Golden Gloaming
Down ON Sunset Bay" Gle says that
he wishes to address the board in the
handling of deterloratlng loans. He's 9
specialist In banking troubles"
Silence. Everybody was thinking.
"What kind of looking man is hef
inquired the president dubiously.
"a very large man." returned til
mandolin player, with no trace Of an
nation coming into his countenance
which was an immovable one. "He's :
very pleasant man, with fashionabl,
clothes and a large diamond in his era
vat. He appears to be some one very
imD0rtant"
"Send him in," directed President
Prime, returning to the board room
and q minute and half later j.
Rufus Walllngford stood before them,
thoroughly at ease and in smiling pos
session Of them, every one.
Gentlemen" said he, in q round
voice which had suspicion of the ora
torical in 1t, 81 am professional goat"
and he chuckled jovially at them, his
broad shoulders heaying, his eyes half
closing, and the color of his face deep
ening.
1--WE win," declared Wallingford to
Blackie Daw, as the telephone bell an
nounced President Prime. Its a safe
bet to tell any crook he'd better come
and see you. He always comes"
Blackle rose to go.
According to your program, don't
get speaking part in this until the
last act" he observed.
"stlck for the chat" grinned Wal
lingford. "a crooks always more un-
comfortable with two in the room"
President Prime proved the truth of
that observation by losing degree Of
his suavity the moment he caught
sight of the lanky, black mustached
partner of WalingfOrd.
"AIr. Daw; Mr.. Prime" introduced
Wallingford urbanely. "Mr. Daw Is
one Of my trusted men. His speciality
Is entering bankruptcy"
Mr.. Prime, surveying Mr.. Daw In the
coal black eye, began to look as IL he
were sorry he had come.
you're Introducing me to lot Of
new thoughts" he observed, deciding
to sit In the big leather chair Walling-
ford pushed forward, The chair look
ed inviting, but man sat huddled
back In 1t so deep and so low that he
was at a tremendous psychological dis
advantage. Walllngford, sitting oppo-
site in a stir chair, fairly lowered over
him. "You were so vague at the bank
this morning that scarcely under
stood anything more than your invita-
ton to call. SO have called-out of
curiosity"
Walllngford grlnned down at him.
"You called to help yourself out Of
scrape," he declared, looking Mr.. Prime
unwaverlngly In the eye.
President Prime looked at the door,
but he did not get up. Blackie Daw
watched him long moment, and then,
with grin, sauntered to the telephone
and ordered drinks. Walllngford, smil-
ing Jovially, paused to wipe his brow,
his neck and the edge Of his collar
as he always did after winning
strained point; then he closed the door
THAT'S better" he observed, stand
Ing big and broad before the banker
Now you can tell me the truth, as you
would to your lawyer or your doctor.
I'll explain my business n little better.
Suppose your bank has loaned lot OF
money on bad notes; suppose that mon
ey was passed by the borrowers to you
and everything nicely covered up so
that you couldn't be called anything
worse than n fool; suppose that when
the time comes to let go you find
there's one unreliable man In the COM
binatlon and you don't dare kill him.
Well, you need goat. I'm It"
President Prime became less indig-
nant than he was Interested.
81 don't think follow you"
"Pll explain Mr. DAVIS business" re.
sumed Walllngford as BlacSie returned
from the phone. "He is willing to bor-
row any amount Of money on his notes
and not get the money"
President Primes eyes seemed to
draw closer together
81 don't see It" he acknowledged.
mo" agreed Walllngford. "If It
were so simple as that you might have
thought Of It yourself. Here's what
we'll do with you-for $4,000 Wen
step IN aud bear the blame for any.
thing irregular In your bank. If any
bodys plnched wen stand the pinch.
IL anybodys 60 40 to Honduras we'll
do the travelling"
'IIowY
"You step down and out Of the bank
with every bad note for which you are
responsible paid of and entered In the
banks cash account then We step IN
and cover the cash which isn't there.
Suppose you have 100000 Of indebted.