Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-07-13
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
Copyright by Chas. scribner's Sons
CHAPTER lx-continued.

CHAPTER lx-continued.
3
"That is precisely what was driv-
Ing at. Our banker can't run with the
hare and hunt with the hounds. You'll
excuse me If l 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 / do. Still, you did
It,"
Kinzle 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.. Kinzie; we pro-
tect our customers first. In the pres
ent instance you thought your GUS
toner was dead one, anyway, so it
wouldn't make much difference If you
should throw another shovelful Of dirt
or so onto the coffin. Wasn't that the
way Of itT"
The president was fairly pushed to
the ropes, and he showed 1t.
Answer me one question, both OF
you" he snapped. "Are you big enough
to fight for your own against Stanton's
crowd7"
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.
'Ts that right, DexterT
That's the way Il 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, guess ;
a little business loyalty, for one
thing"
"And a checking balance for imme-
dlate necessities for another" sug-
gested the banker.
With all his trained astuteness-
trained in KinzIe's own school. al
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 decent
show of indifference: "Of course II
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 a pigeonhole and wrote rapidly
upon 1t. Once more bis optimism was
locking horns with prudent caution. 1t
was the optimism. however, that was
driving the pen. Baldwin's word was
worth something, and 1t 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. "l
don't know even the name Of your new
outfit yet but I'll take chance on one
piece Of two-name paper. anyhow"
Smith took up the slip and glanced
ut II II wns an accommodation note
for twenty thousand dollars. With tht
money fAfrfy In his hands, he paused
to drive the nail Of independence
squarely before he would begin.
I'VE don't vant this at all, Mr.. Kin
zie, unless the banks goodwill come,
with it." he said with becoming grav
ity.
''rll stand by you" was the brusqu
rejoinder. "But it's only fair to yo1
both to say that you've got the bigges
kind Of a combination to buck you
national utilities corporation witt
the strongest sort of political backing.
'T doubt II you can tell us acyti,n
that we don't already know" sal,
Smith coolly, as he put his name Of
the note; and when Baldwin ha,
signed: "Let this go to the credit o
Timanyoni Ditch, II you please, MI
Kinzie, and Wen transfer 1t later. It
quite possible that we sha'n't need II
but we are willing to help out a littl
on your discount profits, anyway. Fur
ther along when things shape then
selves up a bit more definitely, yo
shall know all there is to know, an
we'll give you just as good a chanc
to make money as you'll give u.s."
When they we're safely out Of tn
bank and half a square away from 4
Dexter Baldwin pushed his hat bac
and mopped his forehead. "They So
man emit sweat ut this altitude" h
remarked. 'I'm here to tell yol
Smith. that I've lost ten pounds in IN
last ten minutes. Where in the nam
OF jumping Jehoshaphat did you &c
your nerve, boy? You made him b,
lleve we'd got outside backing fror
somewhere"
'I didn't say anything like that. di
Ir
"No; but you opened the door and h
walked In"
That's all right; I'm not respor
slble for Mr.. Kinzie's Imagination
We were obliged to have a little az
vertislng capital; we couldn't turn
wheel without II. Put me In touc
with good business lawyer, and L
start the legal machinery. Then 20
can get into your ear and go aroun
and interview your crowd, man b
man. l want to know exactly whel
we stand with the old stockholders b
fore we make any move In public. Ca
you do that7"
Baldwin lifted his hat and showed h
fingers through his hair.
"I reckon I can; there are only sixt
or seventy Of 'em. And Bob Stllllnj
Is your lawyer. Come around the co
~er and I'll introduce you"
CHAPTER x.