The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-09-13
Copyright by Chas. Scribner's Sons
CHAPTER Ix--Continued.

excuse me III / say that you haven't
been altogether fair with Timanyonl
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."
Kinzle threw up his hands and tried
TO defend himself. at was O straight
business transaction. Mr.. Smith. As
long as we're In the banking business,
we buy and sell for anybody who comes
along"
"No, we don't, Mr.. Kipzie; we pro-
tect our customers first. In the pres
ent instance you thought your Gus
toner was dead one, anyway, SO II
wouldn't make much difference IL you
should throw another 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 II.
"Answer me one question. both Of
you" he snapped. "Are you big enough
to fight for your own against Stanton's
crowd?"
"You1l see; and the sight is going
20 cost you something" said Smith,
and the blandest oil could have been
no smoother than his tone.
''Is that right, DexterT
"That's the way 1t 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 !;
q little business loyalty, for one
thing"
sand checking balance for imme-
diate 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
he 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 paper
from a pigeonhole 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. Baldwin's word was
worth something, and II might be dis
astrous to let these two get away with
out anchoring them solldly 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
mt II. II was an accommodation note
for twenty thousand dollars. With the
money fairly in his hands, he paused
10 drive the nail OF independence
squarely before he would begin.
"We don't want this at all. Mr.. Kin
zie, unless the banks goodwill comes
with it," he said with becoming grav'
ity.
"rll stand by you," was the brusquC
rejoinder. 'But it's only fair to YOU
both to say that you've got the biggest
kind Of combination TO buck you
a national utilities corporation will
the strongest sort of political backing.
II doubt II you can tell us anything
that we don't already know" sale
Smith ccolly, as he put his name oil
the note: and when Baldwin haC
signed: 'Let this go to the credit o
Timanyoni Ditch, II you please, Mr.
Kinzie, and Wen transfer il later IT.
quite possible that we sha'n't need II
but we are willing TO help out littl,
on your discount profits, anyway. Fur
ther along, when things shape them
selves up bit more definitely, 20,
shall know all there IL to know, an,
wen give you just as good a chanc
to make money as you'll give u.s."
When they We're safely out of tn
bank and half square away from II
Dexter Baldwin pushed his hat bacl
and mopped his forehead. "They sa,
man can't sweat at this altitude" h
remarked. "I'm here to tell you
Smith, that I've lost ten pounds in tn
last ten minutes. Where in the nam
of jumping Jehoshaphat did you sc
your nerve, boyf You made him be
lieve we'd got outside backing fror
somewhere"
II didn't say anything like that, di
IT.
"No; but you opened the door and h
walked In"
''That's all right; I'm not respor
sibls for Mr.. Kinzie's Imagination
We were obliged to have a little at
vertising capital; We couldn't turn
wheel without It. Put me in touc