The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-12-17

nose and read the few lines with sinking
heart. The communication came from a
firm of stock brokers of worldwide repute,
and was written from their head office in
LOthbury:
Dear Sir: With reference to your in
quiFy as to the Finden Copper mine, we
have to inform you that the shares Of this
undertaking are no longer quoted upon
this or any other market, and are, in fact,
quite unstable. Our personal opinion of
the mine is exceedingly unfavOrable, and
we do not think there is the faintest chance
of any recovery in the value Of the shares.
AS security, therefore, we should consider
them absolutely valueless. Faithfully yours,
BLAND, Carryer, Harrison & Co."
Mr.. Baker returned the letter, replaced
his spectacles in the case, and the case in
my Jim don't write that way" he re-
marked.
Mr.. Tidd INDUCED in a slight cough.
81 fear your son has fallen in with indif-
ferent advisers out in Cape Town. He him
self, Of course, has no knowledge of mining,
and he can only believe or disbelieve what
he is told. However, Mr.. Baker, we need
not go into that. You will understand, 1
am sure, that in the face Of that letter it
would be useless for me to propose to head
quarters the extension Of the Overdraft you
require"
Mr.. Bakers tired eyes looked around the
room, as though in search of some object
from which they could derive inspiration.
81 don't see how I'm to raise the money
last.
1t was an i'll confession for a bank man
ager to hear. Mr.. Tidd frowned.
Can you not make a special effort to
get you accounts inn" he asked.
i've had most Of what's owing" was the
dreary reply.
Mr.. Tidd scented a bad debt, a cOntin-
gency from which his whole being recOileC
in horror.
"T trust, Mr.. Baker," he said, "that if yOJ
Fs-1 1ourcoIf Il, diffiou1ffoo vOr will 70
member your moral as we'll as your finan
cial! indebtedness to the bank. l have per
haps indiscreetly allowed you to sell nearl!
the whole of your securities whilst Leaving
your Overdraft untouched"
9Th whole of the moneys gone out t
JIM" the irOnmOnger declared. The bust
ness has never made a loss"
do I need to point out to yOu," Mr.. It'd
said stiffly, 'that to withdraw tn
: capital from your business to finance you
sons speculatiOns is not honest to you
, trade creditors or your bank? 1 conside
your sons conduct most reprehenSible."
Jim always believed I'd be able to rails
. the money on his share of mine" Mr.. Ba
. ker sighed, looking at the document whic
+. Mr.. Tidd had pushed across the table {
s him. However, that's neither here no
there. You ant do anything for me, nj
Tidd?' SIN the way of a further advance
certainly not" was the firm reply. On th
p contrary, Headquarters insist that you
Oyerdraft is at once reduced from the sey
q enteen hundred and sixty POUNDS IL SCanO
at today to the five hundred pounds ORIG
7 81 can't do it, Mr.. Tidd,," the iron
monger confessed. There's nothing but
miracleu see me through next fourth, witt
= out any question Of reducing the owe
draft"
"The long and the short Of it IS" M
: Tidd wound up, with as much anger in b
tone as he ever permitted himself to shey
"that you have parted with the capital
your business to assist you sons III ADVISE
SYou can put it that way II you like
Mr.. Baker replied, rising heavily TO q
feet. You see-you haven't got q son."
/, Mr.. Baker left the bank with scant leay
; ltakings and walked slowly down the pri
I cipaT street Of Melhampton. Most Peep
E had a word to say to him, but he answert
IS few greetings. His mind was In q sta
A. Of confusion. He could barely realize q
morass into which he had slipped. be w
flfty-nine years Of age, and Tor thirty yea
he had conducted a small but successL
business 10 the heart Of the ~
le years Of hard but pleasant work, spent
Q. close association with the neighbors WI
WhOm he had grown up, ana with Wnol
~ in the course Of the years., be had drift
~ into q familiarity which passed the boun'
be OF ordinary friendship. he was Tom
a. everybOdy-"Hsve-a-Drin Tim" as sol
y wag had once cnristeneo MN, OWlne 70 l
-, well known prOclivity for being the III
to offer hospitality on suitable occasion
His seat IN the bar parloc at the ny
= hampton Arms was sacred, as Indeed
might be, considering that he had occupi
st Il for q small portion Or nearly every q
for thirty years. The history Of the tor
- had been r~ecounted times without numt
in that coy apartment Men had been {
We'd for their good fortune, blamed
their shortcomings, discussed IN every p
sible manner. For, 80 q small town, To-
news is the salt Of life. The world outsl
rolls on through unreal spaces.