"I'll see if something can't be done for you," he said. "If I had a
little more time I could arrange it, I am sure, but I have my hands
pretty full now. As it is, I can't be of much help to you till
to-morrow." And he passed on.
There was a stimulating influence in his tones, and, though I had little
confidence in his power to arrange for aid, his words sent me back to
the office in better spirits. I had need of all my courage, for Brown
met me with word that the money was going out rapidly, and that without
a turn in the tide we should not last beyond noon.
"God bless you, Hampden!" cried a familiar voice as I entered the
waiting-room. "I was wondering whether some of your long-haired
Bedlamites hadn't got you and hanged you to your own lamp-post." And
the fiery face of General Wilson beamed at me with lively interest as he
hastened forward to grasp my hand. "How's Kendrick coming on? I see by
the papers that you've been having the devil of a time here."
I admitted the plutonic nature of the city's recent activities, as I led
General Wilson into the private office.
"I've been in Stockton," said General Wilson with explosive energy. "To
tell the truth, I went up to file that contract for the sale of the tule
land. I didn't know how Kendrick's affairs were going to turn out, so I
didn't lose any time getting it on record. I've never been caught
napping yet, and it wouldn't do to begin at this late day. Now, how are
things going? Will Kendrick pull through, or is he up against the
wall?"
My heart misgave me at having Wharton Kendrick's business on the tongue
of this loquacious boaster, and I was of a mind to deliver to him the
same cheery lie that I had poured into the ears of a dozen inquisitive
acquaintances. But I remembered the substantial proof of friendly
interest that he had already shown, and thought it better that I should
once more be frank with him.
General Wilson shook his head with sympathetic concern when I had
finished my tale.
"That has a bad look," he said. "You can't get through, unless you get
help. Now if it was only fifty thousand, why, I would strain my
authority so far as to let you have it--or, by Jove, I'd advance it out
of my own pocket, to help Wharton. But the chances are that you'll want
ten times that amount, so I can't risk it. You can count on my
services, though, if you have to call a meeting of the creditors. I'm
famous for managing such affairs, and in Chicago they have a joke about
Wilson's Elixir Vitae for Broken-down Corporations. If the business
stops, I can put it on its feet, if anybody can. Why, I've managed
twenty big failures if I've managed one, and I brought 'em all through
with flying colors. It wasn't three years ago that I was called in to
help Seymour, Peters and Blair. They had failed for four million, and
their affairs were in the devil of a tangle. I wouldn't have touched
the thing for money, but I couldn't resist the pleading of my old friend
Seymour. He came to me crying like a baby, and was ready to blow his
brains out if I failed him. So I took hold, worked like a beaver for
three weeks--night and day--got the creditors to scale their claims and
take six-, nine- and twelve-months' notes, and had the concern going
smoothly inside of thirty days. To-day you'll find Seymour, Peters and
Blair one of the soundest firms in Chicago. Why, I've reorganized three
railroads, and--"
General Wilson's flow of reminiscence was interrupted by the sudden
entry of Brown. I saw by his distressed face as he beckoned me that a
crisis had arrived.
"What is it?" I asked. "You can speak before General Wilson. He is our
counsel now."
"The El Dorado Bank has just presented notes for a hundred and fifty
thousand," he gasped.
The El Dorado Bank! I had no need of second sight to tell me from whose
hand the blow had come. Peter Bolton had brought together another packet
of Wharton Kendrick's paper, and had put it through the bank for
collection. My heart sank, and my face must have grown as long and
white as Brown's. Was the game up at last? Had the struggle ended in
defeat?
"I'm afraid you're going to need my services," said General Wilson with
a shake of his head. "Send out a hurry call to Kendrick's friends, and
if they don't come to time, I'll see you through a meeting of the
creditors." General Wilson spoke with professional cheerfulness, as
though he would convince me that a meeting of the creditors was one of
the pleasurable experiences of life.
As he spoke, the door opened, and I was startled to see Laura Kendrick
enter. Her face was flushed, and excitement sparkled in her eyes. She
paused irresolute, as she saw the two men with me, and I jumped to my
feet and hastened to meet her.
"Am I too late?" she gasped.
"Too late?" I echoed in wonder.
"For the money--uncle's money, you know!" she cried impatiently, as she
saw no sign of comprehension on my face.
"Why, I guess we can let you have whatever you need," I said. "It had
better go to you than to the creditors' attorneys."
"No--no!" she cried, grasping my arm and looking up in my face, "I don't
mean that. I mean the money that uncle put away. It's in the safe
deposit vaults."
"The safe deposit vaults!" I cried, grasping her meaning at last. "Why
didn't I think of that?"
"I ran as soon as I heard the words," she said. "Am I in time?"
"To the minute," I said. And at the words she sank into a chair with
the reaction from the stress of anxiety.
Brown knew nothing of any safe deposit vault, so with a hasty word of
explanation to General Wilson, I seized my hat, and said to Laura:
"You had better come over with me."
"I suppose I'd best go," she said. "It's a feeling I have, and as I
don't have such inspirations very often I'd better obey this one."
"How did you find out about the money?" I asked as we descended the
stairs.
"Why, uncle got dreadfully uneasy this morning, and I couldn't quiet
him. He went over and over his words--'million,' and 'notes,' and
'five-sixteen'--and sometimes he called your name, and sometimes he
called for Mr. Brown, and he was much vexed that you didn't understand
him. Then about half an hour ago he cried out angrily, 'Go over to the
safe deposit and get it. Why don't you do as I tell you?' At that I
flew, and here I am." And she looked up in my face with an anxious
smile.
The safe deposit building was but half a block away, and we were soon in
the office. There was a minute or two of consultation between the
officials when I had delivered my credentials as the representative of
Wharton Kendrick. Then one of them asked:
"Have you the key number of the box?"