The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1917-07-27
Copyright by Chas. Scribner's Sons
CHAPTER lx-Contlnued.


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..
Khzie. 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 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 a dead one, anyway, SO 1t
wouldn't make much difference II you
should throw another shovelful of dirt
or so onto the coffin. Wasn't that the
way Of TT"
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
crowdT
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, Dexterf
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-
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 Tor imme-
diate necessities for another?' sug-
gested the banker.
With all his trained astuteness-
trained in Kinzte'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
he took the risk. saying with a 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 slip Of paper
from pigeonhole and wrote rapidly
upon 1t. Once more his optimism was
locking horns with prudent caution. 1t
was the optimism, however. that was
driving the pen. Baldwin's word was
worth something. and il 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. II
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 1t. 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.
I'VE don't want this at all, Mr.. Kin
zie, unlsss the banks goodwill comes
with it," he said with becoming grav-
ity.
"1'll stand by you" was the brusque
rejoinder. "But it's only fair to you
both to say that you've got the biggest
kind Of a combination TO buck you
national utilities corporation with
the strongest sort of political backing"
Il doubt If 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 go to the credit of
Timanyoni Ditch, if you please, Mr..
Kinzie, and we'll transfer it later. It's
quite possible that we sha'n't need II,
but 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
we'll give you just as good a chance
to make money as you1l give u.s."
When they were safely out Of the
bank and half square away from 1t,
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 n the name
of jumping Jehoshaphat did you get
your nerve, boy7 You made him be-
lieve we'd got outside backing from
somewhere"
II didn't say anything like that, did
r.
mo; but you opened the door and he
walked In"
That's all right; I'm not respoa.
sible for Mr.. Kinzie's Imagination
We were obliged to have a little ad.
vertising capital: we couldn't turn q
whesa without II Put me In touch