The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-06-15
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Perhaps you'll understand when
say that / propose to clear my
SELF
How? When?'
"Soon, l hope"
"And in the meantime ?"
Gray considered this question
| briefly. "In the meantime-if you
will agree to say nothing to Bob, I
will promise not to declare my feel
ings, not to see her alone"
That's a Co." said the father.
Without further ado, the two men
left.
The Nelson's bank was known as
the Security National, and it repre-
| scented the life work of two genera
tions Of the family. Bells father
had founded it, in the early cattle
| days, but to the genius and industry
| Of Bell himself had been due its
growth into one of the influential
institutions of the state. Other
banks had finer quarters, but none
in this part of the country had b
| more solid standing nor more pow
Bennett Swope, for instance, was
.. the richest of the big cattle barons;
Martin Murphy was known as the
Arkansas hardwood king, and Her
man Gage owned and operated a
chain of department stores. The
| other two-there were but seven, in
GLIDING Bell and his son-were
northern capitalists who took no
very active interest in the bank and
almost never attended it's meetings.
For that matter, the three local men
! above named concerned themselves
| little with the actual running of the
institution, for the Nelson's, who
| owned hinetenths of the stock, were
supreme in that sphere. 1t was only
: at the annual meetings when vii
| rectors <re-elected-and invari-
| ably they succeeded themselves
| that they foregathered to conduct
the dull routine business which is a
part of all annual meetings.
In spite of the fact that the pro-
gram this year was as thoroughly
cut and dried as usual, the day pf
| son decidedly nervous, for there
were certain questions of manage
ment and of policy which they did
pot wish to touch upon, and their
nervousness manifested itself in an
assumption of friendliness and good
fellowship quite unusual
Senator Lowe, the banks attorney
and secretary, was arranging his
minute books, his reports, and his
miscellaneous papers, Martin Muir
ply was telling his latest story,
when knock came at the door to
the directors room. Bell him elf
| answered it, but his protest at the
interruption died upon his lips wheh
ne beheld Calvin Gray, Gus Bris-
kow, and the 'latter's son, Ozark, fac
! ing him.
Gray spoke sharply, and his words
fell with the effect of bomb. at
| least upon Bell and Henry, for what
he said was: 1--WE are attending this
meeting as stockholders, and we
came early to enable the secretary
to record the necessary transfer of
our shares"
Designating the presidents gasp
OF astonishment, the speaker pushed
past him and entered, then intro
duced himself and his companions
10 the other men present.
Henry Nelson experienced sick
moment of dizziness; the room grew
black before his eyes. 1t was Bell
who broke out, harshly:
stockholders? Where did YOU
get any stock in this bank, I'd like
to know"
1--WE bought it. Picked it up here
and there"
Il don't believe it," Bell glared
at the speaker, then he turned This
eyes upon Swope, upon Murphy, up
on Gage. did any of you sell out ?"
I'VE don't own enough to make it
worth WHILE" Swope said, dryly.
Murphy and Gage agreed. Bells pc
cullar display of emotion surprised
them; they exchanged chances. II
thought there wasn't any stock out
side of what's owned by our group.
What's the idea?"
Gray answered, easily. "There is
now a considerable amount outside
OF that. A very considerable
amount" .H
! Henry Nelson made himself AUDI.
IDLE for the first time, and sneered
angrily. Quite theatric, Gray, this
eleventh-hour move. How much
have you got? What's your-your
object" In spite of himself his
voice shook.
my object is purely selfish"
Gray's tone was equally unpleasant.
He had expected to create a sensa-
ton, and he was not disappointed.
MIR. Briskow and his son are look
ing for secure investment, and I
have convinced them of the sound
ness of your institution. MY opera
tions make it necessary for me to
establish a close banking affiliation
one where l can ask for and rel
celve consideration"-his mockefy
was now unmistakable-"so where
should turn, except to my friends?
assume You make no objection to
the stock transfer? Very we'll" He
drew from his! pocket a bundle a6.
shares and tossed them across TIE
table to Senator Lowe. IN
Continued in Our Next Issue)