Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1917-09-21
Copyright by Chas. Scribner's Sons
CHAPTER ix--continued.

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 IS well as / do. Still, you did
It."
RinE,e threw up his hands and tried
70 defend himself. 1T was q 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-
feet our customers first. In the pres
ent instance you thought your Gus
toner was a dead one, anyway, so it
wouldn't make much difference If you
should throw smother shovelful of dirt
or SO onto the coffin. Wasn't that the
way of it?"
The president was fairly pushed to
the ropes, and he showed it.
Answer me one question, both of
you" he snapped. "Are you big enough
to fight for your own against Stanton's
crowd?"
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.
as 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-
Eng 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 !;
little business loyalty, for one
thing"
"And checking balance for imme-
date necessities for another?" sug-
geSted the banker.
With all his trained astuteness-
trained in KinZie's own school, at
that-Smith could not be sure that the
gray-faced old Westerner was not set
ting final trap for him, after all. But
ne took the risk, saying, with a decent
show of Indifference: "Of course it
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 raper
from a pigeonholc and wrote /, 2 dly
upon 1T. Once more his optimism as
locking horns with prudent caution. 1t
was the optimism, however, that was
driving the pen. Baldwin'S word was
worth something, and it 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. 81
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 1t. 1t 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.
I'VE don't want this at all, Mr.. Kin
zie, unless the banks goodwill comes
with it," he said with becoming gray
ity.
I'll stand by you" was the brusque
rejoinder. "Bur 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 if you can tell US anything
mat we don't already know" said
smith coolly, as he put his name on
The note; and when Baldwin had
signed: "Let this go to the credit of
Ilmanyoni Ditch, if you please, Mr..
hlnzie, and Wen transfer it later. It's
quite possible that we sha'n't need it,
out we are willing to help out a little
on your discount profits, anyway. Fur
ther along, when things shape them
selves up a bit more definitely, you
shall know all there is to know, and
Wen give you just as good a chance
10 make money as you'll give u.s."
When they were safely out of the
uank and half a square away from it,
Dexter Baldwin pushed his hat back
and mopped his forehead. "They say
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 lid you get
your nerve, boy? You made him be-
ueve we'd go+ outside backing from
somewhere"
Il didn't say anything Ike that, did
No; but you opened the door and he
walked in"
that's all right; I'm not respOn-
slote for Mr.. Kinzie's Imagination.
" We're obliged to have a little adj
'eFusing capital; we couldn't turn
-Fat