Part 65 (2/2)
”And you are acting as our young friend's representative? He has seen fit to take you into his confidence concerning a matter which was supposed to be a business secret between--ah--gentlemen?”
”I could see he was in trouble and I offered to do what I could to help.
Then he told me the whole thing.”
”Indeed? A changeable youth. When I last heard him mention your name it was not--pardon me--in a--shall we say strictly affectionate tone?”
”That so? Too bad. But we are all liable to be mistaken in our judgments. Men--and women, too.”
Again there was a slight pause; Egbert was regarding the speaker intently. The latter's countenance was about as expressive as that of a wooden idol, a good-natured one. Mr. Phillips glanced once more at the clock, languidly closed his eyes, opened them, sighed for the third time, and then spoke.
”So I am to understand that our--ah--juvenile acquaintance has turned his business affairs over to you,” he said. ”I congratulate him, I'm sure. The marked success which you have attained in the--ah--management of--ah--other business affairs has inspired him with perfect trust, doubtless.”
”That must be it. The average man has to trust somebody and I gathered that _some_ trusts of his were beginnin' to slip their moorin's.
However, here's the situation. You got him to buy some stock on margin.
The stock, instead of goin' up, as you prophesied, went down. You suggested his puttin' up more margin. He'd used all his own money, so he used some belonging to some one else. Now he's in trouble, bad trouble.
What are you goin' to do about it?”
”I? My dear man, what should I do about it? What can I do? I have explained my situation to him. I am, owing to circ.u.mstances and the--ah--machinations of certain individuals--both circ.u.mstances and individuals of your acquaintance, I believe--in a most unfortunate position financially. I have no money, or very little. Our--your young protege wished to risk some of his money in a certain speculation. I did the same. The speculation was considered good at the time. I still consider it good, although profit may be deferred. He took the risk with his eyes open. He is of age. He is not a child, although--pardon me--this new action of his might lead one to think him such. I am sorry for him, but I do not consider myself at all responsible.”
”I see. But he has used money which wasn't his to speculate with.”
”I am sorry, deeply sorry. But--is that my fault?
”Well, that might be a question, mightn't it? You knew he was usin' that money?”
”Pardon me--pardon me, Kendrick; but is that--ah--strictly true?”
”Well, he says it is. However, the question is just this: Will you help him out by buyin' up his share in this C. M. deal? Pay him back his sixteen hundred and take the whole thing over yourself?”
Mr. Phillips for the first time permitted himself the luxury of a real smile.
”My _dear_ man,” he observed, ”you're not seriously offering such a proposition as that, are you? You must be joking.”
”It's no joke to poor George. And he's only a boy, after all. You wouldn't want him to go to jail.”
The smile disappeared. ”I should be pained,” protested Egbert, and proved it by looking pained. ”It would grieve me deeply. But I can't think such a contingency possible. No, no; not possible. And in time--my brokers a.s.sure me a very short time--the stock will advance.”
”And you won't take over his share and get all that profit yourself?”
”I can't. It is impossible. I am so sorry. In former days--” with a gesture of resignation--”it would have been quite possible. Then I should have been delighted. But now.... However, you must, as a man of the world, see that all this is quite absurd. And it is painful to me, as a friend--still a friend of young Kent's. Pardon me again, but I am busy this afternoon and----”
He rose. Sears did not rise. He remained seated.
”Jail's a mean place,” he remarked, with apparent irrelevance. ”I'd hate to go there myself. So would you, I'll bet.”
Another pause on Phillips' part. Then another wearied smile.
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