The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-06-16

friend. and you are a stakeholder il
his bankrupt company. You took {
chance for your own hand and put The
bank in the hole Now I'd like to ash
what you are going to do about it,"
Smith looked up quickly. Somewhere
/ inside of him the carefully erected
4 walls of use and custom were tumbinl
IN strange ruins and out of the debris
| another structure. formless as yet, but
obstinately sturdy, was rising.
! Il am not going to do what YOU want
me to do, Mr.. Dunham-step In and be
your convenient scapegoat," he said
wondering little in his inner recesses
how he was finding the sheer brutal
man-courage to say such a thing to the
president Of the Lawrenceyille Bank
and Trust. Il suppose you have rea-
sons Of your own for wishing to shift
the responsibility for this particular
loss to my shoulders. But whether you
have or haven't, decline to accept it,"
The president tilted his chair and
locked his hands over one knee.
ut isn't a question OF shifting the
responsibility, Montague" he said.
dropping the bullying weapon to take
up another. "The loan was made in
my absence. You have taken the bank s
money to bolster up q failing concern
in which YOU are a stakeholder. Go to
any lawyer in Lawrenceville-the best
one you can Finland he'll tell you ex-
actly where you stand"
While the big clock over the vault
entrance was slowly ticking off a full
half-minute the young man whose fu-
ture had become so suddenly and so
threateningly involved neither moved
nor spoke, but his silence was no meas
ure of the turmoil of conflicting emo
tons and passions that We're rending
him.
Il may not prove quite the easy
mark that your plan seems to prefig-
ure. Mr.. Durham" he returned at
length, trying to say it calmly. Just
what are you expecting me to do?"
"Now you are talking more like a
grown man." was the presidents crusty
"You are in a pretty bad
boat, Montague, and that is why sent
for you tonight"
"Well?" said the younger man.
You can see how it will be. IF
can say to the directors that you have
already resigned-0nd if you are not
where they can too easily lay hands on
may not care to push the |
charge against YOU. There is a train |
vest at ten o'clock. If l were in your |
place, I should pack a couple of suit
'ases and take it. That is the only
'afe thing for you to do. If you need
my ready money"
1t was ut this point that J. Montague
smith rose up out of the stenographer's
hair and buttoned his coat.
IF I need any ready money" he
epeated slowly, advancing a step to-
yard the presidents desk. THAT is
where you gave yourself away, Mr..
)unham. You authorized that loan,
nd did 1t because you were willing to
Sc the banks money to put Carter
Vestfall in the hole so deep that he
ould never climb out. Now, it seems,
GU are willing to bribe the only dan
erous witness. / don't need money
ably enough to sell my good name for
!. shall stay right here in Lawrence
lille and fight it out with YOU"
The president turned abruptly to his
esk and his hand sought the row Of
lectric bell-pushes. With a finger
nsting upon the one marked police"
e said: "There isn't any room for
'gument, Montague You can have one
ore minute in which to change your
ind. If you stay, you'll begin your
rht from the inside Of the county
H."
Now there had been nothing in John
Ontague Smiths well-ordered quar-
r century of bOyhoOd, youth, and
lSinesS manhood to tell him how to
pc with the crude and savage emer-
ncy which he was confronting. But
the granted minute of respite some
ing within him. thing as primitive
id elemental as the crisis with which
was called upon to grapple, shook 1t.
IL awake. He stepped quickly across
e intervening space and stood under
e shaded desk light within arms
ach Of the man in the big swing.
air.
"You have it all cut and dried, even
the setting Of the police trap. haven't
W" he gritted, hardly recognizing
J own voice. "You meant to hang
, first and try your own case with the
'ectors afterward. Mr. Durham, ]
ow you better than you think do:
u are not only a crook-you are a
coward, as we'll! You
Mt dare to press that button!"
While he was saying it, the president
4 half risen, and the hand which
been lowering over the bell-pushes
1t suddenly under the piled papers
the corner Of the desk. When 1t ~
ne out it was gripping the weapon h,
ich is never very far out of reach in f.
'ank. =,