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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1929-06-14, Page 7H r„d Publish= Ms Ransom rook Company, VAL 1"io»nt (Gon.tiaucd fro= East weak) It was plain that Buddy did mind; nevertheless, he withdrew. When Swope and., Lowe arrived, Gray could with difficulty restrain himself from blurting out the reason for his urgent summons, but he con- tented himself by asking them..to wait in the president's office. Henry Nelson entered the bank with his head up, with a contemptu- ous smile upon his lips and an easy confidence in his bearing. His hand was outstretched toward the 'knob of riskow's door, when the one adjoin- ing opened and, from the office he himself had so long occupied, Calvin Gray spoke to him. "Please step in here, Colonel" Nelson recoiled. "No, thank you!" he said, curtly. "Briskow and I are amateur hank- ers; there is a matter upon which we need your advice." "Indeed? Finding it isn't as easy to run a bank as a drilling rig? :' e said you were out, otherwise—" ' "Will you come in?" Stiffly, reluctantly, as if impelled by some force outside of himself, Nel- son stepped within, but he ignored the chair that was proffered him. Gray closed the door before say- ing: "The deception was mine, not Briskow's. You prefer to stand? Iia-m—Y, appreciate your feeling of formality. I felt a bit ill at ease on the occasion of my first call here, 'then our positions were reversed—" "If you got me here just to be nasty—" "By no means. Nevertheless, it gratifies my vanity to remind you that you considered me a braggart, a bluffer, whereas—" "I haven't changed my opinion." "So be it. One matter, only re- mains between us. Y am about to ring up on the last act of our little comedy." "Theatrical, as always, aren't you." Nelson's lip curled. For a moment Gray stared at the speaker curiously; his tone had,alter- ed when he said: "You're a better poker player than Y thought. You're almost ' as good a bluffer as 1 am. That, by the way, is probably the kelt compliment I shall. pay...you." "Come! I've no time to waste." "You will soon have ample time— not to waste, at least to meditate—" "What do you mean by that?" The amery came sharply. c''Pve had an examination of the ink's books. That, as you will readily understand, explains why I sent for you." "Why—no. I don't—" "I wondered how you and your father got the money to keep going son long, for I discovered you were in a bad way even 'before 1 tattled up. It is no longer a mystery. When you and he, as directors of the Security National, lent yourselves money, as individuals, you must have realized that you were—+welh, arranging ample leisure for yourselves in which to meditate upon the stringency of the banking laws—" "Nonsense! That's n-nothing—no- thing serious." Nelson's ruddy color had slowly vanished; with uncertain hand he reached for the nearest chair and upon it he leaned as he continued jerkily: "Irregular, perhaps—I'll ad- mit it was irregular, but—there's no- thing wrong— 'Oh, you'll made it look as bad as possil'le, I dare say! But you don't understand the circum- stances. Anyhow, father is getting it straightened out; all he needs is time. We'll 'be able to handle it, all right. We're good, you know, perfect- ly good—" "You're broke! Everybody else knows it, if you don't. tlrregular'! He! There's a choice of words!" The b+ stpesiker laughed silently. "It is an 'irreg'ularity' that carries with it free board and lodging at the state's ex- pense." An incoherent protest issued prom Nelson's throat. W'hen next he man- aged to make himself audible, his words were such as realty to amaze his hearer. "I didn't do it," he cried, in a panic-stricken voice. "It was father's idea! You had us crowded— there was no other way. I warned him -,r "Wait a minute! You blame it on hfm?" Gra$'s inquiry was harsh, in- credulous. After a momentary pause his lips moved, but for once he stam- mered his ready tongue refused its duty. He exploded, finally, with an oath; he jerked open a drawer in his desk. From his pocket he removed his revolver, flung it inside, then jam- med the drawer back into place with a crash. "You—rat!" he exclaimed He turned his back upon Henry Nel- son and made a circuit of the little room. "Itis a thing you and 1 can easily uP," the latter feeJbly insisted. "]"Tow that pereonah matter of pairs --' Perhap$ I could help you reopen it somehow, clear it up." "Ah! Weedy q' "Give and 'taItm, ii sty. I'm willing to do anything I seam if—" "Theile won't he any !ifs'! No con- ditions vsohateever." m 7"Ada> e sound in trop,.; !bat pew . 4x Q 1 n V777r4l rol',ios sheets Into *kola's la's h Bund, thein, Pat�inn ` the- vacant chair, said; siggn th4tr, The wretched recipient of this curt eomugna:nnd' red the lanes oaareicuully. ' e ;arid them twicea .thrice, for lois mind fio ]longer functioned clearly. He rais- ed a sickface, ally, and shook his head. °tWoufldn it be a fool?" he queried. "Listen, yoan—`n Grayds body was shaking, his wor were uneven. "I'm sorry for 'Bell, bint not fee you. I'll never forget nor forgive what you did to me. Nothing can undo that. Dis- grace clings to a lean. You're going to get yours, now, and you can't squirm out of it, or lie out of it, no matter how you try, for Z sha'n't let you. You're ruined, discredited, blown up, but—I don't think you walking the streets with dandruff on your collar. I'd rather keep you to look at. Anyhow, you'll have to sign that." "If you'll guarantee to keep this bank matter quiet -if you'll protect me, I'll sign. Otherwise, you can go to hell. We'lI beat it out, somehow. We can do it." Inflexibly Gray asserted: "I'm go- ing to turn you over, whether or no. But ?'ll help Bell get the money to repay those loans. He'll probably manage to save himself and—save you, too." "I won'tdo it!" Nelson flung down the pen. "Not on those conditions. You can't bulldoze me. It's your day to crow, but I warn you, don't push me too far." Gray voiced an epithet. It was low pitched, but its explosive force, the impelling fury back of it, fairly caus- ed the room to vibrate. He was white of lip, his rage had reached the foam- ing point. • "Don't make me lay hands on you choke you into it," he cried, hoarse- ly. "If you do, by God, I'll fi •lish you!" Like a man fighting some hypnotic influence stronger than his will, Henry Nelson took up the pen and signed his name waveringly. The next moment Gray smote the door to Bris- kow's office a heavy blow and, as it flew open, he barked: "Come in here! All three of you!" He stood aside as Gus, Bennett Swope, and Senator Lowe entered. "Yonder is a statement which 1 want you to read and witness. Wihen you have done that, I'm going to tell you why Henry Nelson signed it. The rest will be up to you." It was midafternoon. Swope and Lowe had left the bank. Briskow drew a deep breath and said, with genuine relief: "I'm glad that's ov- er. We can hadle the debt between US, $n➢,_ after, .a}ll, 9ld dell's . a . Pretty good citizen. As for Henry, I s'pose he'll wiggle out of it, somehow. 1 dunno as I'd of been so easy on him if I'd been in your place" "P11 tell you why I was easy on him," Gray confessed. "I'm tired of fighting; I'm worn out. I've won my point, and he'll carry the sort of load I've been carrying. But there is this difference: for him there will be no vindication at the end." Taking from his pocket Nelson's statement, he stared at it, then slowly his face lightened. "I was blind mad at first: 1 felt as if 1 couldn't keep my bands off him. It was such a dirty trick he did me and so reasonless! He had no excuse whatever for injuring me, Gus. However, 1 suppose most quar- rels sprout from tiny seeds. Well, I'm square with the game! I—I'm afraid, even yet, that it's all a dream. I've wanted to yell—" The speaker chuckled; the chuckle grew to a laugh. "There's magic in this docu- ment, Gus, old boy. I've grown young all at once." "You needn't of took it so hard. Us fellers would have stood by you if you'd turned out to be a horse thief. Texas men are, like that." "You proved it. But that wasn't enough. A man's business associates will frequently overlook a lot more than their wives and daughters will overlook. There's a certain loyalty that doesn't apply outside of the of- fice." Gray rose and filled his lungs. "D'you know why I felt this thing so keenly? Why I fought so long? Of course you don't, for I've held out on you. Fact! I've held out on my partner Dad a secret from him. Now then, steel yourself 'for a surprise. I'm suffering from Buddy's complaint only ten times aggravated!" "What?" Bri&kow stared up at the animated countenance above hire. "You thinkin' about gettin' married!' "I'm thinking about nothing else. That's what ails me. Why, Gus, you have no idea what a perfectly charm- ing person I can be when—when 1 can be what I am. 1 thought 1 was too old and too blase ever to become seriously interested in a woman, a- bove all in a girl, mut— Do you re- member when Ma and Allie came to Dallas that first time? Something happened about then to upset all my ideas." Briskow's sun -parched face slowly lightened, his bright, inquisitive eyes grew bluer. brighter. "I'm—mighty glad! I allus hoped—" He tried to finish 'his sentence, then shook hie head and murmured, huskily, "Mighty glad!" Here was a marvel, a miracle, for which he had never dared even hope. He thought of Allie and a lump came into his throat. She had reached the stars. His girld She would be mighty glad, too— a, Wa}4g lAe **to `•n nO isf it trams to lythe loose AR 0110P 044 Irg• r m 4144 4 104 'p., Al PUT «Ys that so?" IV'elson limned forth, in a vnonsevitayy est -plosion of resent- ment. "1P yoi think SL. ti.:terrnd to stand the brunt of this, yr¢itu'tc4n crazy. I can afford to fignre to scandal— banking scandal -JJ glia: I'nrn a Ltvtin -flan. Iffii:1l ..thenal his day.®'a 'old. Yo t ti Ikeatflniu tip. Then taro Ili . tray. tssuie &at. Gray was speaking, and in his voice was a new, vibrant quality, a new vigor. "Now you'll know why this is the biggest day of my life; why 7 thought those men would never go. I'm shaking all over, Gus. Tou'hl have to run the hank for a while; Pm too young and irresponsible. 1•'m going out to buy a hoop and a jumping rope and a pair of roller skates." Again he laughed. hoyishly: then, with slap that knocked the breat4 krona t ry • 'ro the Q x 4',r19FPi 4vi ill •^' 9`' fac-, es may wesed,11% leaving- '' a 'harrnl; he r"tahaeilk that a own ssurist wear a Oran,, kl7A 4.4 . alPite (? bie .i•• :tired] effort �.to ,viva it off, he felt it wider- iiig. 4v h W'! "e 'Ws his doV to grin; his day to acne and caper. people, were to) qrraven 4aybow. They should feel free to vein their joy irn living. Why act ail if thip world were a place of gloom ts*4 shadow? Whey should they not hop, sk'and jump to and froze business, if so inelin, r ? •! e visualized the streets of the city peo- pled with pedestrians, old and young. fat and thin, thus engaged, and he laughed aloud. Nevertheless, it was a good idea, and when he became mayor, or perhaps the junior Senator from Texas, he'd. advocate -public play grounds for grown-ups. "Bob" would help him put it through. There was a girl who would never grow old. They would grow young together. He caught sight of his reflection in a shop window and slowed down his gait, telling himself that pending the time his new idea was definitely plant- ed it might be well to walk-in the old- fashioned manned. Men of substance --bankers, for instance, shouldn't rush through the streets as if going to a fire; they shouldn't dash over crossings and take curbstones as if they were hurdles. It wasn't being done.- No reason, however, why a banker shouldn't throw hiseshoulders back and walk springily upon his toes. When he beheld the familiar paint- ed sign, "Tom and Bob Parker. Real Estate and Insurance,' he '.paused. The mere sight of the little wooden building, the name, gave him an odd shortness of breath. It was weeks since he had been, here. He realized of a sudden that he, had drought nothing -With him; no gift, not even flowers. But there was enough to talk about. She'd forget that. What a shower of gifts he would pour upon her—and upon Old Tom, too! Good Old Tom! Tom had wanted to believe. Tom and he would be great pals. They couldn't help be- ing pals with just one thing, between them, to love; one thing in all the world! It was a disappointment to find the office empty, except for the father himself, but Gray began with a rush, "Well, Y told you I'd clear myself, and—here I am, walking on air." "Yon did it, eh? That's good news." "We' had a show -down at the bank. Henry Nelson and I locked horns and— But here! Read what he sign- ed. That cleans the slate. He'll do anything further that may be neces- sary, officially. 'Where's "Bob's?" "They're fishin' for a bit in one of your Avenger wells. She's out there. "So? I'd forgotten." "Did you see—? Did Buddy have a talk with you? To -day, 1 mean?" "Buddy? Oh, Buddy Briskow! II saw him for a moment only. She'll be, back. soon, $ dare say?" Tom Parker stirred; it was a moment before he spoke, then it was with apparent irrelevance that he said: "I'm sorry you and he didn't have a good talk. 'Bob' asked him to see you—sent him there a -purpose. The sight of Gray's smiling, eager, uncomprehending face caused the old mans steady gaze to waver. He cleared his throat. "Buddy's a fine boy." "Finest in the world! I claim re- sponsibility for him, in a way. He's part mine." Gray laughed; his eyes sparkled. "Him and 'Bob' are out there to- gether. They've been together a lot, Mr. Gray. Both of them young, that - away—" "Of course. I knew you'd both like—" Some quality in Tom's voice, some reluctant evasiveness to his eyes bore a belated message to the young- er man --snapped his chain of thought —dried the words upon his lips. Into his eyes leaped a sudden, strained in- credulity. Sharply, he cried, "What do you mean?" Then, after an in- stant, "Why did he want to see me?" The two men gazed squarely at each other for the first time. "My God! Why—that's absurd! I-41 brought him here. He's just a boy!" "And she's just a girl, Mr. Gray" The younger man shrank as if at a blow. He closed his eyes; he rais- ed a shaking hand to his face, which was slowly assuming the color of ashes. "That's too—rottenly unfair," he said faintly. "I brought him here —made a man of him. Of course he doesn't know—" His eyes opened; eagerly he ran on: "Why, Tom, it's just the boy and girl of it! Puppy love! You know how that is." "I didn't notice how thisms was go- ing till it was too late. We might as well talk frankly, Mr. Gray. Prob'ly it's well you saw me first, eh? Well, when I understood where they was heading, I worried a lot -wafter what you said that day, understand? But those two! Pshaw! It was like they had known each other always. It was like 'Bob's' mother and me 'when we first met; her beautiful and fine and educated, and me rough and awk- ward. Only Buddy's a better boy than 1 was. H'e's got more in him. 1 s'pose all womenfolks have that mother feeling that makes 'em yearn over the unlikeliest fellers." Parker looked appealingly at his stricken hearer, then quickly dropped his eyes, for Gray's countenance was like that of a dying man --'or of a man suffer- ing the stroke of a surgeon's knife. "After all, it's youth. You're a good deal older than 'Bob,' and 1 s'pose you sort of dazzled her. She likes you. She thinks you'ie great. You kinda thrill her, but—I don't'be- lieve she ever dreamed you wax actu- ally—that you actually cared for her. You've got a grand wY y, you know, and she ain't a bit coilceited : bout herself. Why, I know She never fig- gered it that way, beca>gee she made Buddy promise to tell you the first thing; sent him to the bank a -purpose, thinking you'd be so glad on his ac- count." "Then they've, settlor' it between them?" (Continued naostt c ir^k.) 'osier Imlay t t e too U THE 12XTR47-' OOI -Y FULL-SIZE a-DOon SEDAN. 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