Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-09-07

Copyright by Chas. Scribner's Sons
CHAPTER lx-Continued.

'That is precisely what l was driv-
ting at. Our banker can't run with the
hare and hunt with the hounds. You'll
excuse me if say that you haven't
been alto gcther fair with Timanyoni
Ditch, OF with Colonel Baldwin, Mr..
Kinzie. A friendly banker doesn't
help sri out his customer. You know
that, as well as l do. Still, you did
It."
Kinzie threw up his hands and tried
TO defend himself. st was a straight
business transaction, Mr.. Smith. AS
dong 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
Conner was a dead one, anyway, so it
wouldn't make much difference if you
should throw another shovelful of dirt
way of it?'
The president was fairly pushed to
abe ropes and he showed it.
ANSWER me one question, both of
you" he snapped. "Are you big enough
60 fight for your own against Stantons
Growd?"
You'll see; and the sight is going
60 cost you something" said Smith,
and the blandest oil could have been
Go smoother than his tone.
''Is that right, Dexter?"
THAT'S the way it 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-
tug 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 ;
a little business loyalty. for one
ching"
"And checking balance for imme-
date necessities for another?" sug-
Sested the banker.
With all his trained astuteness-
Grained in Kinzie's own school, Mt
that-Smith could not be sure that the
gray-faced old Westerner was not set
cling a final trap for him, after all. But
he took the risk, saying with decent
show of Indifference: "Of course 1t
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
ErOm a pigeOnhole and wrote rapidly
upon it. Once more his optimism was
locking horns with prudent caution. 1t
was the optimism, however, that was
IRVING the pen, Baldwin's word was
worth something, and it might be dis
astrOus to let these two get away with
out anchOrng 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 chance on one
piece of two-name paper, anyhow"
Smith took up the slip and glanced
at it. 1t was an accommodation note
gOr twenty thousand dollars. With the
money fairly in his hands, he paused
drive the nail of independence
squarely before be would begin.
1--WE dOn't want this at all, Mr.. Kin.
ale, unless the banks goodwill comes
with it," he Said with becoming gray.
tty.
FT'II e<and by 1-,>,, - ,,,oe A. hu,,.,,,,o
cejOinder. "But it's only fair to you
Doth to say that you've got the biggest
Sind of a 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 or
Che note; and when Baldwin had
signed: "Let this go to the credit OF
TimanyOni Ditch, if you please, Mr.
ktnzle, and Wen transfer it later. It's
quite possible that we sha'n't need It
but we are willing to help out a little
on your discount profits, anyway. Fur
cher along, when things shape them
selves up q bit more definitely, you
shall know all there is to know, anC
we'll 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
o man can't sweat at this altitude" he
remarked. "Tm 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 ge
your nerve, boy2 You made him be
We've we'd got outside backing from
somewhere"
II didn't say anything like that, die
~"
mo; but you opened the door and h,
walked in"
That's all right; I'm not respon
able for Mr.. Kinzie's Imagination
We were obliged to have little ad
sertlsng capital; we couldn't turn &
FheeI without 1t. Put me In touch