The Ordway new era., 1920-08-20

I YOU.
NO. bnt wait minute, /"
The vice presidents refusal was
] 3tap and definite.
( i can't say another word. Not an
other one. II you know him. that's
sufficient" And he strobe away across
the lobby. leaving HilIiard dunn
founded.
Mr.. Harmon. smiling broadly. hnIf
arose FROM his chair us the masquer-
F, ader came slowly back TO the table
and sat down hard.
Well" lie said. "More businessY
Hiiliard shook his head
ION the contrary" His voice had in
/ IL Il curious dullness which the broker
was quick 10 catch.
"No bad news. ] hope?'
I'm not sure. Let's go on discussing
the mine"
"Not much else to discuss. Is theref
! It's the same old mine" He looked
intently at Hilliurd. Whats got into
you. anyway, In the last couple of min
utes? You've lost all your pep. You
look as though you've seen a ghost"
Maybe / have" said Hilliard.
"Well7'
/ illiluru EeeuTutu MIN Win an ouu
intermingling of respect and alarm.
The respect was holdover from the
past-from the early impression he
had formed from Harmon's resplend-
ent offices i'm New York and Harmon's
contempt for money. He had consid-
cred his employer. at worst. weak
principled vendor of legitimate securi-
| ties.
mfr. Harmon" Hilllard said re-
luctantly. I'm in a mighty awkward
position. We can't afford 10
let anything spoil this campaign. can
weY'
Not II we can very well help IT.
What's bothering your
''For over ten weeks now, I've been
building up n reputation-you know
what I've been doing: you know how
much depends on 1t. Your name hasn't
been mentioned once I've been selling
this thing on my own personality
holding myself out us the principal.
Well. the man who called me outside
Just now-und he's one OF the solid
banking crowd up here-he spoke OF
you as though he knew you. In fact-
to be perfectly frank-he called me
out there to ask me about you. Now.
don't know what dealings you've
ever had with him, or with anyone else
up here but 1t struck me that If there
is anything between you and Syracuse.
or any of Its fairly big men. perhaps
1t would he better II l knew it. You
see, this thing I'm selling is SO darned
personal"
"Who was heY" Harmon's voice
rasped.
"Embree-of the Trust and Deposit
company"
"Oh. yes" Harmon smoked reflec-
, lively. Yes. we know each other.
What did he have to say?"
at wasn't so much what he said ms
the way he said 1t. suppose you've
had some disagreement with these peo-
? ple?"
"Some disagreement" admitted Har-
man, grinning. "1'hese upstate farm
ers and love each other like couple
, of strange bulldogs. Still"
"ff It isn't Objectionable to you"
said Hilllard. hesItating, I'D rather
4 iIke to know bit about it. Mr.. Har-
. mon, The subject might come up
later. It's almost sure to. now that
T |
4 about you. And II you've had any
!. quarrel with this crowd. even II II
wasn't your fault, and II it came out
r that Fin working for you. and there
a was any talk abou, 1t. you can SET
S how I'd have to be on the defensive
:. So II you could just give me q
e faint idea-"
il "Plnin English is n lot better thnn q
n faint idea" said Harmon carelessly
e Il floated some steel bonds up here
once. Prettiest bonds You ever saw IL
: your life. too"
Il "Oh! And they didn't turn on
II well?"
g "Not exactly. The company was too
u much like Silverbow. | guess-all foa
l. and no lode"
" For n moment Hililnrd thought tina
lr he hadn't heard Alright.
what was that you said?" he nun
1t aged.
Harmon reiterated It.
"Too much Sllverbow. Only the,
% pumped the water out of 1t soone
10 thnn we Will. That was five year!
5 ago"
al At first. Hiiliard was untouched b.
the shock; the force of 1t seemed t,
IT pass over him entirely; then all a
once. as he was caught by the drift o
n it, his hands began TO tremble violent
is lily; and his palms were clammy witt
.. sweat. His stomach seemed to drol
out of him. and he was nauseated b.
,r the tremendous purport of his employ
Il. er's cynicism.
MIR. Harmoni" he painted. unGe
a, I,Ie hranth MIR IIarmoD
The New Yorker looked at him Il
II genuine surprise.
.sWhat's the matter Hilliard? Yo