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The Bransford Morning Herald contained no account of the meeting atthe Fourth Avenue Church. News of the rebuff as administered to thebetter element by a rank outsider was slow in gaining circulation. Butthe incident was not wholly suppressed. Judge Parker, who had beenpresent, chuckled the incident to a few friends; Holstroff, themerchant, recited the details to a few customers as they discussed theprobable outcome of the state elections now being held; and JoeDansford, the church janitor, told the incident of how the meetingended in a general row, without the formality of a motion to adjourn.Lacking a correct account, the general public of the little cityelaborated the story to include fisticuffs and swear words.
Carson Wells, of the Wells National, heard the story and was muchconcerned. It affected his leading customer. Just now, banks wereclosing in increasing numbers, local factories were shut down,retailing limited to bare necessities, and only one concern in thecommunity earned money. Carson, as well as the managers of the ModelTrucking Company, realized that in the event of the repeal of theamendment, ruin was inevitable. It was Carson's problem to stop suchpublicity. Shirley must be silenced. He was found at the publiclibrary and was invited to come to the bank after three o'clock.
"That vindictive speech you made at the church meeting is proving verycostly," said Carson as the brothers seated themselves in the littleconsultation room in the rear of the bank. "It affects your ownpersonal affairs, and seeks to wreck the only concern in the city thatis functioning and making money. Your interest in this bank demands aretraction of what you said at that meeting."
"Why, I didn't know I had an interest in this bank," said Shirley ineven tones. "In the years past, I have been shunted around from pillarto post, living on the few small fees received from receiverships andbankruptcy petitions. And I didn't think that I had banking interests.I certainly am an object of personal negligence, but hereafter thematter will have my attention."
Carson was nonplused at both the answer and attitude. He had plannedhis remarks, however, and he proceeded along prepared lines.
"Your remarks at that meeting were uncalled for. Your insistencecreated enemies. No one at the meeting was in favor of repealing theamendment and restoring the unwanted saloon. Yours was the attitude ofthe drinking ne'er-do-wells of the underworld. Two of those present atthat meeting have withdrawn their account, others will do the same.You were simply undermining your own foundations."
"And just what sort of a structure stands on my foundations?" drawledShirley. "I am a sort of a misfit in the community structure. I do notlive in my family home, am not employed in my family bank, was movedaway from my family's farm, have never been consulted on business orsocial affairs since my parents died. Really, I have no foundationsthat could be undermined."
Carson's face reddened as he listened to the truth. He walked to thewater-cooler, took a drink, and returned to his seat. "In some thingsyou are right," he confessed. "When you came home from France, I hopedyou would seek a professional career--would turn to politics and makea name for yourself and the family. It seemed my business to work hardand aid in building that career, but you didn't go the way I hoped."
"Just what aid did you render in building such a career? It takesmoney to acquire a profession. How much did you contribute?"
Again Carson was unable to make a specific answer to the cutting,personal questions. He cleared his throat. "I didn't make anycontributions. I wasn't asked. I was...."
"Do you have to ask for your own property, in this day and age?"demanded Shirley. "When Father died, I was an heir to one half of whathe possessed: home, farm, bank, bonds, and money on hand. Veryproperly, in the absence of the other heir, you took charge of theproperty and managed the business. But on the return of the other heiryou made no accounting. In fact, you resented his interest in anythingconnected with the business."
"When you returned from the war," said Carson, "we were approaching adepression that grew to disastrous proportions. Banks are the first tofeel such a calamity. My whole time has been devoted tocurtailment--to restricting loans and seeking deposits. Truly, wehaven't earned a cent since the war ended."
"So that's the reason you bought the fancy, high-priced limousine andgave several parties at the country club! That's the reason why youmaintain those luxurious quarters in Chicago! You were wanting to showthe public that...."
"Never mind what I was doing," interrupted Carson angrily. "It's whatyou have done that is the matter under discussion, and we are gettingnowhere. We might as well adjourn."
"Not yet," demanded Shirley hastily. "Keep your seat. The show has nowreached the second act. Let's sit it out." It was Shirley who stood upas Carson resumed his seat.
"Our family was always reticent. We avoided publicity; didn't wantMister John Q. to know about our affairs. You surely remember howreluctant our father was when it was found that his private bank mustbe nationalized. One little share was issued to Aunt Carrie, one toJohn Powell, his old, trusted employee, and he held the rest. Hedidn't want the public to know about his private affairs.
"I think I inherited most of his secretive qualities," Shirleycontinued. "I listened to a lot of rumors and then I began toinvestigate. My findings lead to but one conclusion: you alliedyourself with gangsters in the hope of participating in their enormousgains only to find that you are the biggest sucker on their list."
"I didn't favor anybody," said Carson hotly. "Our relations weresimply that of banker and customer."
"And to maintain cordial relations you deeded to them a fine butisolated farm where, uninterrupted, they could produce 'rotgut' tosupply the entire Chicago area. Have you been out there lately? Fatherused to call it Forest Home. The Hereford cattle that he reared toppedthe market. It's different now. The gates are locked. A thug standsout in the roadway to divert traffic. In the night, truckloads of cornand coal arrive to produce the 'hell-fire' that is bottled, labeled,and distributed over the district."
In the midst of this recital Carson dropped his head down on his arms,folded on the table.
"I don't know a thing about the conditions here at the bank," Shirleycontinued in softer tones, "but there are public records that tell anincriminating story. The records at the courthouse show a mortgage tothe Reliable Insurance Company on our home here in the city. Mysignature on such a mortgage was forged. I didn't know about thisuntil I was forced into this investigation. You, and your bank, musthave needed money very badly and you committed forgery to get it.Based on this fact alone, one has a right to believe that you arefooling the busy bank examiners with forged securities. It's just aquestion as to what hour you will be uncovered and convicted."
Carson still reclined his head on folded arms. Shirley was preparingto leave. "We are broke, Carson. I haven't a dime and you have less.But I am not going to stay in Bransford and be a party to yourdownfall. My word alone would prove your guilt. I don't know where Iam going, but I intend hiding out until this thing blows over. Butbefore I go, Carson, I want an interview with your criminal friends totell 'em what a set of dirty, crooks they are."
Late in the afternoon, as Shirley was busy in clearing his desk ofunneeded papers, his friend Townsend dropped in to confer on somepending matters.
"I am sorry, Fred, to tell you I am leaving," said Shirley as heclosed the desk. "I don't know where I am going and I don't want thepublic to know where I am located. If you have the time, I would liketo tell you the cause of it all and put you wise to some incidentsthat seem sure to happen."
"I think you are going to confirm some suspicions I had formed inconnection with the Larwell estate. The account at the Wells Bankdidn't conform to the little credit slips as issued."
"You are on the right road, oldtimer," said Shirley, and he proceededto relate what was said in his recent conference with Carson. He citedthe incident of the forged deed and detailed conditions at the farm."The Wells National is not only broke," he added, "but Carson isinvolved in several criminal activities. I don't want to be presentwhen the crash co
mes; I don't want my evidence to convict him. I amgoing to hide out where a summons-server cannot find me."
"Maybe you are right," said Townsend thoughtfully, "but there are somethings you should do before you leave. The crash will come, no doubt;Carson's share of the estate will be charged with his criminalactions; yours is not involved. Before you go, you should give tosomeone a full power of attorney to take care of your interests. Inthe midst of juggled accounts and forgeries, there may be somethingleft, and anyhow, the receivership cannot be closed without yourconsent."
"You are right, as always, Fred, and you are the very person to havethat power. Let's get it done right away. I have another thing on handthat must be taken care of after supper."
"When are you leaving, and have you enough money to get you out oftown?" asked Townsend as the two returned from across the hall wherethe instrument had been notarized.
"I think I will leave tonight. The bubble may not burst for a while. Iwant the public to become accustomed to my absence. As for money, whenI pay for my supper, I may have as much as forty cents left."
"You are braver than I thought and as stubborn as I suspected," saidTownsend as he searched his pocketbook. "Here's a twenty. That may getyou across the river and on your way. You will make your way allright, but if your case becomes desperate draw on me under the nameA.Z., and I will understand. Your financial affairs are in desperatecondition but the case is not hopeless. You are young and healthy butyou lack a definite plan of life. If someone will throw you a linewhile you are floundering in this slough you will come out all right.Now what's this thing you are to do after the evening meal?"
"I've made a phone date to tell Anzio and his set of crooks what arotten set of gangsters they are. It won't take me long to tell 'emand then I am ready to leave."
"You might not be able to make a get-away from those mobsters. Takingan enemy for a final 'ride' is one of their favorite pastimes. Andanyhow, you can't tell 'em anything that they don't already know. Youhave no right to do such an uncalled for thing."
"Oh, yes I have," said Shirley as he took his hat preparing to leave."My visit might precipitate an incident. Anyhow, I'm on my way."
Shirley left the office. Townsend went to the telephone in the frontroom.