"A PECULIAR BRICK"
It was Fenton who most nearly voiced the public sorrow at the death of
Warrick Raridan. His address at the memorial meeting of the Clarkson Bar
Association surprised the community, which knew Fenton only as a
corporation lawyer who rarely made speeches, even to juries. Fenton put
into words the general appraisement of Warry Raridan--his social grace
and charm, his wit and variety. People who hardly knew that Raridan had
been a lawyer were surprised that the leader of the Clarkson bar dwelt
upon his instinctive grasp of legal questions, "the thoroughness of his
research and the clarity and force with which he presented legal
propositions." Raridan was a lawyer with an imagination, Fenton said,
thus seizing what had been considered a weakness of character and making
it count as an element of strength. Fenton was not given to careless
praise, and what he said of Raridan had much to do with formulating the
opinion that was to pass into Clarkson history. The last few months of
Warry's life had won him this eulogy--the work which he had done for
Evelyn. Fenton had learned to know him well after the appointment of
Saxton as receiver. He had thrown a number of important questions to
Warry to investigate, and he had been amazed at his young lieutenant's
capacity and industry. He did not know that a woman had been the
inspiration of this work; he thought that it proceeded from Saxton's
influence and the pleasure Warry found in labor that brought him near
his friend.
It was not alone Warry's death, but the sharp, tragic manner of it, so
wretchedly inconsonant with his life, that grieved and shocked the
community. But this too had its compensations; for many read into his
life now a recklessness and daring which it had lacked. They spoke of
him as though he had been a young soldier who had fallen at the first
skirmish, without having been tried in battle; all spoke of his promise
and mourned that his life had been harvested before he had finished
sowing. On every hand his good deeds were recounted; many unknown
witnesses rose to tell of acts of generosity and kindness which would
never have been disclosed in his lifetime. Those who had really known
him no longer lamented his erratic habits. They now magnified his
talents; and his whimsical, fanciful ways they attributed to genius.
It was much easier to account for Raridan than to explain Wheaton. Most
of the people of Clarkson did not understand his flight, if he had
neither stolen the bank's money nor killed Warry Raridan. There was a
disposition for a time to reject the story of the tragedy at the
Poindexter ranch house as it had been given out by Bishop Delafield and
John Saxton; but the bishop's word in the matter was final; he was not a
man to conceal the truth. Those who had seen most of Wheaton were the
most puzzled. The men who remained at The Bachelors' were stunned by
the whole affair, but in particular they failed to grasp the curious
phase presented by Wheaton's connection--or lack of connection--with it.
They expected him to return, and even discussed what should be their
attitude toward him if he came back. As the days passed and nothing was
heard, they gradually ceased talking of him; but by silent assent no one
took the seat he had occupied at their table. When presently the
landlord sent Wheaton's things to be stored in the cellar, and new men
appeared in the places of Raridan and Wheaton, they exchanged the oblong
table for a round one, to take away whatever ill luck might follow the
places of the lost members of their board.
The chief shock to William Porter was a shock to his pride. He had
trusted Wheaton as implicitly as he trusted any man, and while his trust
at all times had limitations, he had extended these beyond precedent in
James Wheaton's case. Saxton and Bishop Delafield had gone to him as
soon as possible, with Fenton. It was important for Porter to understand
exactly what had occurred at the Poindexter ranch house. The newspapers
had now announced Wheaton's flight; it was natural that the bank should
fall under suspicion, and that all of Porter's interests should be
jeopardized. A cashier implicated in some way in a murder, and in full
flight for parts unknown, created a situation which could not be
ignored. But Porter met the issue squarely and sanely.
The expert accountants who were put to work on the bank's books made an
absolutely clean report, and the minutest scrutiny of the securities of
the bank proved everything intact. Wheaton had been a master of order
and system. The searching investigation of experts and directors
revealed nothing that was not creditable to the missing cashier.
"Well, sir," said Porter, "you've got me. I guess Jim was crooked some
way, but he didn't do us up. I guess there's nothing we can say against
him."
"His case is unusual," said Fenton. "I think we'd better leave it to the
psychologists."
It was necessary to fill Wheaton's place, and while they were casting
about for a cashier Porter and Thompson received offers from a Chicago
syndicate for their stock in the bank. The offer was advantageous; both
of the founders were old and both were in broken health. They debated
long what they should do. The bank was a child of their own creating;
Porter was particularly loath to part with it; but Evelyn, to whom he
brought the matter in a new spirit of dependence on her, finally
prevailed upon him. They closed with the offer of the syndicate, parting
with the control but remaining in the directorate. Porter had other
interests that required his attention, chief among which was the
Traction Company; and after the bank question had been determined, he
gave himself to a careful study of its affairs.
"I guess this thing ain't so terribly rotten after all," he said one
day, at a conference with Saxton and Fenton. The earnings were steadily
increasing.
"No, it's making a showing now, and unless you want to keep it for a
long run you had better sell it before you get into a strike or a row
with the city authorities or something like that, to spoil it. And I
fancy that Saxton's making a showing that the next fellow can't beat.
One thing's sure," said Fenton, "some extensions and improvements have
got to be made the coming summer, and they will take money."
"Well, we won't make them," Porter declared. "We'll reorganize and bond
and get out."
While the newspapers, and the judge of the court to whom he reported,
praised Saxton, Porter never praised him. It was not his way; but Fenton
took care that Porter should understand fully the value of Saxton's
services. Praise had not often been John Saxton's portion, and he was
not seriously troubled by Porter's apparent indifference. He was not
working for William Porter, he told himself, at times when Porter's
attitude annoyed him; he was working for the United States District
Court; and he went on doing his duty as he saw it. He was, however,
anxious to be relieved, but Fenton begged him to remain through the
reorganization. He liked Saxton and admired his steady persistence.
Together they worked out the problem of the proposed new company, and
managed it with so much tact and self-effacement that Porter believed
all their suggestions to have originated with himself.
"It's simpler that way," said Fenton, speaking to Saxton one day of the
necessity of this method of procedure. "He's a perfect brick, and he'll
like us a lot better if we let him think he's doing all the work."
"He is a brick all right," said John thoughtfully, "but he's a peculiar
brick."