Part 10 (1/2)
But the stock-holders were conservative and cautious men, and the very fact that Lake could not command the money that he needed made them suspicious. As matters stood, they were sure of getting out of a losing venture with a small profit-at least, so it seemed to them-and they preferred that to the risk of losing everything in an effort to secure a larger profit. Furthermore, they were now on the side of the colonel, for his option was at a larger price. And the colonel was very confident-so confident that work was being rushed on details that would prove valueless without the Bington road. This was what made Lake desperately angry; it was humiliating to be treated as a helpless weakling.
As valuable time pa.s.sed, his mind reverted again to the insurance field.
His opportunity-the opportunity of a lifetime-was almost lost. The colonel, wis.h.i.+ng to lose no time, had arranged for a meeting with certain of the majority stock-holders the day the first option expired.
The option expired at noon, and the colonel would be ready to take over what stock he needed at one minute after the noon hour. This would not be very much, in view of the minority stock he already held, but the sanguine stock-holders did not know this: they expected him to take all of it.
”Some of them are going to find they're tricked, just as I am,” Lake grumbled. ”If I could only convince Belden of the ultimate absolute security of a loan! He wants to help me; he's ready to be convinced; but-”
People pa.s.sing saw this moody, depressed young man stop short in the street and his eye light with sudden hope.
”By thunder!” he exclaimed. ”Of course, I can protect him against unforeseen disaster, if he has confidence in my integrity!”
He was almost jubilant when he entered Belden's office.
”Got the money?” asked Belden.
”No; but I know how to get it,” replied Lake. ”You believe in my honesty, don't you?”
”Implicitly.”
”You merely doubt my ability?”
”Your financial ability,” explained Belden. ”You will do what you agree to do-if you can. I have no earthly doubt of your willingness, even anxiety, to repay every obligation you may incur, but, added to other risks, there is the possibility of accident.”
”If I eliminate that?”
”You may have the money.”
”On long time?”
”The time and the terms are immaterial.”
”I'll come for it later,” announced Lake, and he departed, leaving Belden puzzled and curious.
Once outside, Lake stopped to do a little mental figuring before taking up the other details of his plan.
”I advanced five hundred to bind the option,” he reflected. ”That leaves nineteen thousand five hundred necessary to put the deal through. Twenty thousand from Belden will give me just the margin I need.”
Murray was as much puzzled and surprised by the change in the man as Belden had been, and Murray, like Belden, was anxious to help him in any reasonably safe way.
”Am I good for five hundred for thirty days, if I give you my positive a.s.surance that I know exactly how I am going to pay it in that time?”
asked Lake.
”Why, yes,” replied Murray. ”On short-time figuring you're a pretty safe man.”
”Draw me a check for it, and I'll give you my thirty-day note,” said Lake, ”and my verbal a.s.surance that it's a cinch.”
Murray noted the confidence of Lake's tone and manner, and drew the check.
”What are you going to do with it?” he asked.