ut
an absolutely necessary part of his equipment for the businesses in
which he was engaged. That reputation was now in great danger. He
wondered if Duncan would tell the story of that scrap of paper. He
wondered still more, whether Duncan might not report the matter to the
comptroller of the currency at Washington, and thus bring about a
criminal prosecution, even after the sum irregularly borrowed had been
repaid. Then he remembered, with something like a spasm round his heart,
that the bookkeeper, Leftwich, had heard the whole conversation, and he
remembered also that he had been, as he put it, "rather hard on
Leftwich" upon several occasions in the past. If Leftwich cherished
resentment on that account, his malice now had its opportunity.

On the whole, Napper Tandy could not recall another day in all his life
on which he had suffered so much in spirit as he did now. But there was
no time for brooding or lamenting. He felt that he was in Guilford
Duncan's clutches, and, while he knew little of conscientious scruples
by virtue of any soul experiences of that kind on his own part, he had
so far learned to understand Duncan as to know that he would, as a
matter of conscience alone, enforce the strict letter of his demand.

He hastened to find Captain Will Hallam, and to him he made almost a
piteous appeal for a loan of fifteen thousand dollars through the Hallam
bank.

"So Duncan carries too many guns for you, eh?" was the flippant remark
with which Captain Hallam received the appeal.

"Will you let me have the money?" almost frantically pleaded the now
thoroughly frightened man. "You see time is precious. I've less than an
hour in which to raise the sum. You _must_ help me out, Hallam."

"I really don't know whether I can arrange it or not. I'll see Stafford
and find out how far our loans are extended. What security can you give?
You know Stafford is very exacting as to the character of the security
on which he lends the bank's funds."

"Yes, I know--and that is very awkward just now. I'm a good deal tied
up, you know. I've been buying property along the line of our proposed
railroad. I've bought rather heavily, and as I hadn't expected to be
called upon to raise money just now, I have gone in pretty deep on
credit. You know how impossible it is to realize on such property, even
at a loss, when a man must have money at once."

"Then what can you offer?"

"Well, I've a pretty large block of stock in the Memphi