Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1920-11-05
CHAPTER xIlI-contInusd

pusSiointy OI HOuOr tnHt IL coutuihcu-
'Yes" he said thickiy. 'Yesl You
bet could"
And you wouldn't be afraid to keep
on working for mel That il. II we got
this SiIverbow scheme all laundered
clean before we started something
eisef"
Not II you
"Then listenm The brokers' voice
was soft and homiletical. you've
thought some hard things shout me.
Maybe you had some cause; I'm not
disputing that. But guess you've for
gotten something. Something I told
you when we first got together. ] told
you II You got me what wanted I'd
help you get what you want. Well
you've done your best. I got to give
you credit. And maybe you've changed
some of my ideas too. Maybe you've
sort of worked me around to believing
I haven't given you a square deal.
Well--let the past bury its dead. I've
got more than one string to my bow;
I'm sort of tired of the old line of
stuff; I'm thinking seriously OF cut
ting It all out and going in for the safe
and sane 1t isn't so juicy. but It's
yafe. Am right or am wrong7 All
. :he cards on the table-Tm no fool.
Hilliard-snd the bottoms falling out
of this promotion game. So IL you
think you can blossom out into legit-
innate salesman Of high-grade bonds
Of course there wouldn't be nearly as
much in II for you've got more than
half n mind to give you the chance.
N v-ic h.tt II tn
He slid his pudgy hand across the
table and smiled pacifically. 'T've
taken strong fancy to you. son-let's
be respectable together. What do you
say to that?"
In his feverish 10Y Hillard was will
ing to ignore the obvious fact that the
brokers' repentance was considerably
overdue, and that 1t was founded on
expediency and not on principle. The
thought of. working longer for Hnr-
mon-even II the securities he had to
sell In future were most conservative
filled him with nausea; but II that
were the only way to save the stu
alton how could Hilliard decline7 How
in his duty to himself could he refuse
to work again for Harmon. II this were
their money already lost7 He felt his
veins throbbing to his agitation.
''Is is that n bona fide Of
fer7" he faltered. Harmon's hand
slapped the table for emphasis.
straight as a string. To tell the
truth you're sort Of on my conscience.
You're with me? All right! Then as
far as I'm concerned the contracts
cancelled here and now. Got 1t with
your"
mo, +"
The brokers face darkened. "where
is itT'
HIlliard was disinclined to tell how
and why he had intrusted 1t to Cullen.
-It's safe" he said. He could hardly
contain himself; he looked and looked
at Harmon. trying faithfully to recon
cile the man and his appearance and
HIS principles, and he failed-but here
was the great reality confronting
him-and the millionth chance had
magically come true. 1t was warped
honesty but 1t was honesty no less.
Harmon licked his lips.
"Well, we'll clean up the whole
transaction today and start with new
deal That's settled. Oh, don't carry
on like that, Hilliard.-Now ABOUT this
chap. Waring-"
"Oh, you still want to see him. do
your"
Harmon hesitated. "SureI Give
him a little surprise. eh? If he's the
man WHO'S been bombarding US we'll
spike his guns first.-WhatT BE
laughed noisily and Hilliard was al
most too excited to dislike the laugh.
Don't bother to telephone the Onon-
daga; we'll just walk over"
But I thought you wanted to stay
away from there?" Hilliard was dis
playing many of the symptoms OF in
toxication.
"Oh, not when everything's going
along 30 smooth and nicel We can
70 up in your room and have Waring
up there and be just as private as
anywhere else"
Accordingly, and to the chagrin of
a lowering waiter they quilted their
booth pnd went out to the open air.
They reached the Onondaga; they ar
rived at the mezzanine floor; they
were safe in Hiiliard's apartment.
my" said Harmon jocosely. II
wish I could afford to live like this
But you've got rich hacker, and
haven't" He rubbed his hands In
great good nature; his eyes were spar
king and his fat body was a-quiver
with vanity. "Well. the first thing to
do Where did you say you
keep that contract of ours hlddenT"
rs there any hurry about that now7"
Hiiliard was fairly beside himself with
Joy.
''weil--" The sudden whirr of the
telephone buzzer seemed to ruffle the