Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1920-05-20

beC L could !!
"And you wouldn't be afraid to keep
on working for me? That is, if we got
this Silverbow scheme all Numbered
clean before we started something
else?"
"Not if YOU"
"Then listenr The brokers' voice
was soft and hOmiletical. you've
thought some hard things about me.
Maybe you had some cause; I'm not
disputing that. But | guess you've for
gotten something. Something / told
you when we first got together. told
you If you got me what l wanted I'd
help you get what you want. Well
you've done your best. l 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
l haven't given you a square deal.
Well-let the past bury its dead. I've
got more than one string to my bow;
TIN 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
safe. Am I right or am I wrong? All
the cards on the table-Tm no fool,
Hilliard-and the bottoms falling out
of this promotion game. SO If you
think you can blossom out into legit-
innate salesman of high-grade bonds
of course there wouldn't be nearly as
much in it for you've got more than
half a mind to give you the chance.
It's a risk, but guess l owe it to you"
He slid his pudgy hand across the
table and smiled Practically. give
taken a strong fancy to you. son-let's
be respectable together. What do you
Say to that?'
In his feverish JOY Hilliard was will
ing to ignore the obvious fact that the
brokers' repentance was considerably
overdue, and that it was founded on
expediency and not ON principle The
thought Of working longer for Har-
mon-even if the securities he had to
sell In future We're most conservative
filled him with nausea; but if that
were the only way to save the stu
alton how could billiard decline? How
in his duty to himself could he refuse
to work again for Harmon, if this were
the only means to save his friends
their money already lost? He felt his
veins throbbng to his agitation.
rs is that a bona fide of
fer?" 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 it with
your
mo, /"
The brokers' face darkened. "Where
is it?"
Hilliafi was disinclined to tell how
and why ae had intrusted it to Cullen.
''Its 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
magcally come true. 1t was warped
honesty but it was honesty no less.
Harmon licked his lips.
well, We'll clean up the whole
transaction today and start with a 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. Sure! Give
him q little surprise, Ell? If he's the
man who's been bombarding us Wen
pike his guns flrst.-What" He
laughed nCisily and Hilliard was al
most too excited to dislike the laugh.
Don't bother to telephone the Onon-
daga; we'll just walk over"
'+3ut I thought you wanted to stay
away from thereT Hilliard was dis
playing many of the symptoms of in
toxication.
ooh, not when everythings going
along so smooth and nice! We can
20 up in your room and have Waring
up there and be just as private as
anywhere els
Accordingly, and to the chagrin of
q lowering waiter, they quilted their
booth and went out to the open air.
They reached the Onondaga; they ar
rived at the mezzanine floor; they
were safe in billiards apartment.
"Myw said Harmon loosely. II
wish I could afford to live like this !
But you've got rich hacker, and I
haven't" He rubbed his hands in
great good nature; his eyes were spar
king and his fat body was a-qulver
with vanity. "Well, the first thing to
do Where did you say you
keep that contract of ours hidden?" q.
as there any hurry about that now?''
billiard was fairly beside himself with
Joy.
"well-" The sudden whirr of the
telephone buzzer seemed TO ruffle the
brokers' nerves, for he started vio-
1ently. "Who's thatW