Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-06-21
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Copyright By Chas. Scribner's Sons

IN Smartly.
"That is precisely what I was driv-
ing at. Our banker can't run with the
hare and hunt with the hounds. You'll
excuse me if I say that you haven't
been altogether fair with Timanyoni
Ditch, or with Colonel Baldwin, Mr..
Kinzie. A friendly banker doesn't
help sell out his customer. You know
that, as well as I do. Still, you did
it."
Kinzie threw up his hands and tried
to defend himself. ut was a straight
business transaction, Mr.. Smith. AS
long as we're in the banking business,
we buy and sell for anybody who comes
along"
mo, we don't, Mr.. Klnzie; we pro-
tect our customers first. In the pres
ent instance you thought your GUS
toner was a dead one, anyway, so it
wouldn't make much difference If you
should throw another shoveIfuI of dirt
or so onto the coffin. Wasn't that the
way of it?"
The president was fairly pushed to
N4AV AOBCSs anu u6 SIlOW6u II.
ANSWER me one question, both Of
you" he snapped. Are you big enough
to fight for your own against Stanton's
crowd?"
You'll see; and the sight Is going
to cost you something" said Smith,
and the blandest oil could have been
no smoother than his tone.
Is that right, Dexter?"
That's the way 1T looks to me,
Dave" said the ranchman capitalist,
who, whatever might be his limitations
In the field of high finance, was not
lacking the nerve to fight unquestion-
ing in any partners quarrel.
The president of the Brewster City
National turned back to Smith.
what do you want, Mr.. Smith," he
asked, not too cordially.
Nothing that you'd give US, I guess;
little business loyalty, for one
thing"
'And a checking balance for imme-
diate necessities for another?" sug-
gested the banker.
With all his trained astuteness-
trained in Kinzie's own school at
that-Smith could not be sure that the
gray-faced old WeSterner was not set
ting final trap for him, after all. But
he took the risk, saying, with a decent
show Of indifference: "Of course It
would be more convenient here than in
Denver or Chicago. But there is no
hurry about that part of it."
The president took a slip of paper
from g pigeOnhole and wrote rapidly
upon 1t. Once more his optimism was
locking horns with prudent caution. 1t
was the optimism, however, that was
driving the pen. Baldwin's word was
worth something, and it might be dis
astrous to let these two get away with
out anchOring them solidly to the
Brewster City National.
"Sign this, you two" he said. 81
don't know even the name Of your new
outfit yet, but I'll take a chance on one
piece of two-name paper, anyhow"
Smith took up the slip and glanced
at 1T. 1t was an accommodation note
for twenty thousand dollars. With the
money fairly in his hands, he paused
to drive the nail of independence
squarely before he would begin.
1--WE don't want this at all, Mr.. Kin
zie, unless the banks goodwill comes
with it," he said with becoming gray
ity.
TN stand by you," was the brusque
rejoinder. 'But it's only fair to you
both to say that you've got the biggest
kind OF combination to buck you
a national utilities corporation with
the strongest sort of political backing"
II doubt If you can tell US anything
that we don't already know" said
Smith coolly, as he put his name on
the note; and when Baldwin had
signed: "Let this go to the credit of
Timanyoni Ditch, if you please, Mr..
Kinzie, and We'll transfer it later It's
quite possible that we shan't need 1t,
but we are willing to help out a little
on your discount profits, anyway. Fur
Their along. when things shape them
selves up a bit more definitely, you
shall know all there is to know, and
Wen give you just as good a chance
to make money as you'll give u.s."
When they were safely out of the
bank and half a square away from it,
Dexter Baldwin pushed his hat back
and mopped his forehead. "They say
man can't sweat at this altitude" he
remarked. 'I'm here to tell you,
Smith, that I've lost ten pounds in the
last ten minutes. Where in the name
of jumping Jehoshaphat did you get
your nerve, boy? You made him be-
heve we'd got outside backing from
somewhere"
Il didn't say anything like that, did
II"
mo; but you opened the door and he
walked in"
That's all right; Tn not resoon-
sible for Mr.. Kinzie's Imagination.
We were obliged to have little adj
vertising capital; we couldn't turn a
wheel without it. Put me in touch
with a good business lawyer, and I'll
start the legal machinery. Then you
can get into your car and go around
and interview your crowd, man by
man. I want to know exactly where
we stand with the old stockholders be-
fore we make any move in public. Can
Won do that2'