The Raymer enterprise., 1917-12-06
Copyright BY Chas. Scribners Sons
CHAPTER discontinued.


excuse me II say that you haven't
been altogether fair with Tlmanyonl
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."
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.. KinzIe; We pro-
.ect our customers first. In the pres
ent Instance you thought your GUS
toner was dead one, anyway, so II
wouldn't make much difference II you
should throw another shoyelful Of dirt
Or so onto the coffin. Wasn't that the
way OF IN"
The president was fairly pushed to
the ropes, and he showed It.
ANSWER me one question, both Of
you" h snapped. "Are you big enough
to fight for your own against Stanton's
erowdT'
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.
rs that right, Dexter?"
"Thnt's the way II looks TO me,
Dave" said the ranehman capitalist,
who. whatever might be his limitations
in the field OF high finance, was not
lacking the nerve to fight unquestlon.
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 !;
little business loyalty, for one
thing"
And checking balance for lmme-
dlate necessities for anotherf' sug.
sested the banker.
With all his trained astuteness-
trained In Kinzies own school, at
that-Smith could not be sure that the
gruy-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 1t"
The president took a slip Of paper
from a plgeonhole and wrote rapidly
upon 1t. Once more his optimism was
locking horns with prudent caution. II
was the optimism, however, that was
driving the pen. Baldwtn's word was
worth something. and II might be dis
astrous to let these two get away with
out anrhoring them solldly TO the
Brewster City National.
"Slgn this, you two" he said. ~
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 II. II 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.
Eve don't want this at all, Mr.. Kin.
zie, unlsss the banks goodwill comes
with It," he said with becoming grav.
lty.
'l'll stand by you" was the brusque
reloinder. "Blt It's only fair to YOU
both to say that you've got the biggest
kind of combination to buck you
national utilities corporation with
the strongest sort Of political backing"
Il doubt II 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 20 to the credit of
Timanyonl Ditch, II you please, Mr..
Klnzie, and wen transfer II later. It's
quite possible that We shan't need It.
hut We are willing to help out little
on your discount profits. anyway. Fur,
Their along, when things shape them.
selves up bit more definitely, you
shall know all there is to know. and
we'll give you just as good a chance
70 make money as you'll give us"
When they were safely out of the
bank and half square away from II,
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-
lIeye we'd got outside backing from
somewhere"
II didn't say anything like that, did
r.
"No: but you opened the door and he
walked In"
THAT'S all right; I'm not respon.
dble for Mr.. Kinzie's Imagination.
We were obliged to have n little ad-
vertising capital; We couldn't turn a
.yhesl without Il Put me ln touch