Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-05-31

lHQuor udu more proxies up LIS SISeNC
than we thought he had, and he has
put the steam roller over US to a finish.
He was able to vote 55 per cent of the
stock straight, and you know what that
means: a consolidation with the Rich
lander foundry trust, and the hearse
and white horses for yours truly and
the minority stockholders. We're dead
dead and buried.
"Of course, I stand to lose every
thing, but that isn't all Of it. I'm hor-
ribly anxious for fear you'll be tangled
up personally in some way in the mat
ter of that last loan Of 100000 that L
got from the Bank and Trust. You will
remember you made the loan while
Durham was away, and I am certain
you told me you had his consent TO
take my Foundries stock as collateral.
That part Of it is all right, but, as mat
tiers stand, the stock isn't worth the
paper 1t is printed on, and-well, to
tell the bald truth, I'm scared of Dun
ham. Brickley, the Chicago lawyer
they have brought down here, tells me
that your bank is behind the cons0lida-
ton deal, and If that is so, there is 60
ing to be bank loss to show up on my
paper, and Durham will carefully cover
his tracks for the sake Of the banks
standing.
''It is a hideous mess, and it has oc-
Cured to me that Durham can put you
in bad, If he wants to. When you made
that 100000 loan, you forgot-and !
forgot for the moment-that you own
ten shares Of Westfall Foundries in
your own name. If Durham wants to
stand from under, this might be used
against you. You must get rid of that
stock, Monty, and do it quick. Trans
fer the ten shares to NE, dating the
transfer back to Saturday. I still have
the stock books in my hands, and I'll
make the entry in the record and date
1t to fit. This may look a little crook
ed, on the surface, but it's your saliva
ton, and we can't stop to split hairs
when we've just been shot full of holes.
''WESTFALL."
Smith folded the letter mechanically
and thrust it into his pocket. Garter
Westfall was his good friend, and the
cashier had tried, unOfficially, to dis
suade WestfaIl from borrowing after
he had admitted that he was going to
use the money in an attempt to buy
I'D the control of his own c0mpanys
stock. Smith was thinking of the big
bank loss and the hopeless ruin OF
Carter Westfall when he tore the sec,
Ond envelope across and took out the
inclosed slip of scratch-paper. 1t was
q note from the president and it was
dated within the hour. Mr.. Durham
was back in Lawrenceville earlier than
expected, and the note had been writ
ten at the bank. It was a curt sum
mons the cashier was wanted, at once
At the moment, Smith did not con;
meet the summons with the Westfall
cataclysm, or with any other untOWard
thing. Mr.. WatrOus Durham had a
habit Of dropping in and out unexpect-
eddy. Also, he had the habit of send
ing for his cashier or any other mem
Der of the banking force at whatever
hour the notion seized him. Smith
went to the telephone and called up
the Richlander house. The prompt
ness with which the multimillionaire'
daughter came to the phone was an
intimation that his ring was not entire
~ unexpected.
"This is Montague" he said, when
Miss Richlander's mellif1uOus main
four six eight-Mr. Richlander's resi-
dence" came over the wire. Then
"What are you going to think Of man
who calls you up merely to beg off?''
he asked.
Miss Richlander's reply was merciful
and he was permitted to go on and ex-
plain. I'm awfully sorry, but it can't
very well be helped, you know. Mr..
Durham has returned, and he wants
me at the bank. I'll be up a little later
on, If can break away, and you'll let
me come. Thank you, ever so
much. GOodby."
The Lawrenceville Bank and Trust,
lately installed in its new marbIe-ve-
neered quarters, was only four squares
distant. AS he was approaching the
corner, Smith saw that there were only
two lights in the bank, one in the vault
corridor and another in the railed-of
open space in front which held the
presidents desk and his own. Through
the big plate-glass windows he could
see Mr. Durham. The president was
apparently at work, his pOrtly figure
filling the padded swing chair. He had
one elbow on the desk, and the fingers
Of the uplifted hand were tnrist int
his thick mop of hair.
Smith had his own keys and lie lie
himself In quietly through the .I,f;5r %
the side street. The night-watchman's
chair stood in its accustomed place ii
the vault corridor, but it was empty
To suspicious person the empty chail
might have had its significance; but
Montague Smith was not suspicious.
The obvious conclusion was that Mr..
Durham had sent the Waterman forth
upon some errand; and the motive
needed not to be tagged as Interior
Without meaning to be particularly
noiseless, Smith-rubber heels on tiled
floor assisting-was unlatching the
gate. in the counter railing before his
superior officer heard him and looked
up. There was an irritable note in the
presidents greeting.
''Oh, it's you, at last, is it?" he
rasped. 'You have taken your own
good time about coming. It's a half
ID a. T Lo% 30