The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-09-29


he'd gone West somewhere, but hey
didn't say where. He was the first
man I met when l lit down hers. Lit
tie world, isn't it, Mr.. kinZie:"
David k!nzle was backing away,
watch in hand. Business was very
back to his desk. He was very much
obliged to Miss Richlander, aud was
only sorry that he had troubled her.
| When her father should return to
Brewster he would be glad to meet
him, and so on and so on, to and be-
You'd the portieres which finally blot
ted him out, for the two who were left
In the Louis Qulnze parlor.
us that about what you wanted me
to say?' queried Jibbey, when the click
Of the elevator door latch told them
| that Mr.. kinzie was descending.
Tucker, there are times when you
are almost lOvable,' said the beauty
softly, with hand on Jibbey's shout
der.
I'm glad it's what you wanted. be-
cause it's what was going to say. any
way" returned the ne'er-do-weel sober
ly, thus showing that he. too, had not
yet Outliyed the influence of the over
night handgrip.
Since Brewster was q full-fledged
city, its banks closed at three o'clock.
Ten minutes after the hour, which hap
pened also to be about the same length
of time after Starbuck and Smith had
reached town, Mr. Crawford Stanton
got himself admitted by the janitor
at the side door of the Brewster City
National. President Kinzie was still
at his desk In his private room, and
the promoter entered unannounced.
Il thought I'd hang off and give you
the Initial the time there was" he
said, dropping into the debtors chair
at the desk-end, And then, with a
quarrelsome rasp In his tone: Are
you getting ready to switch again?"
Though his victims often cursed the
banker for his shrewd caution and his
ruthless profit-takings, no one had ever
accused him Of timidity in a stand-up
encounter.
you've taken that tone with me be-
fore, Stanton, and l don't like It," he
returned brusquely. You may as we'll
keep it in mind that neither you, nor
the people you represent, own the
Brewster City National. or any part of
it, in fee simple"
1--WE can buy you out any minute
we think we need you" retorted STAN
ton. But never mind about that. Your
man came back from the Topaz last
night. You've let the better part Of
the day go by without saying word,
and I've drawn the only conclusion
there Is to draw"
Kinzie frowned his impatience. "If
/ have to do business with your people
much longer, Mr.. Stanton, l shall GER
tainly suggest that they put man In
charge out here who can control his
temper. Here is Mr.. Richlander's let
ter"
Stanton read the letter through |
hastily, punctuating its final sentence
with brittle oath.
And you've muddled over this all |
day, when every hour is worth more |
to US than your one-horse bank could |
earn in a year?" he raped out. "What !
have you done? Have you telegraphed |
this sheriff."
mo; and neither will you when l |
tell you the facts. You see what Mr..
says. We had nothing to |
20 on unless we could identify our
nan definitely, SO | took the straight
course and went to Miss Rich
ander.'
Stanton's laugh was derisive shout
"You need guardian, Kinzie; you
10, for fact!" he sneered "Of
course, the girl pulled the wool over
'our eyes; any woman could do that"
"You are not gaining anything by
,eing abusive, Stanton. This man of
3aldWin'S Is not the one Mr.. Richland-
n Is trying to describe In that letter."
Stanton bit the tip from a cigar and
struck q light.
''Kinzie," he said, "you think we're
,oing to lose out, and you are trying
o throw me off the scent. You had a
ong talk with Colonel Baldwin this
norning-1 kept cases on that, too
md you figured that you'd make money
y seesawing again. I'm glad to be
bile to tell you that you are just about
hours too late"
The round-bodied banker righted his
'ivot chair with snap and his lips
we're pulled out like the lips of SWIM
ner who sees the saving plank drifting
tut Of reach.
You are wrong, Stanton; altogether
wrong" he protested. Baldwin was
lere because l sent for him to make a
lnal attempt to swing him over to the
compromise. You are doing .1e the
reatest possible injustice!'
Stanton rose and made ready to 60.
II think that would be rather hard
0 do, Kinzie," he flung back. no
ody loves trimmer. But In the pres
mt case you are not going to lose any.
hing. Well take your stock at par,
s promised you we would"
1t was at this crisis that David Kim
lie showed himself as the exponent Of
he saying that every man has his
lodicum Of saving grace, by shifting
pom the arm Of his chair and glaring
N ar tho prom0tor