Part 95 (1/2)
”How much?” asked Clark
”I have a stateot to London, I saw the broker He said that Aone a great depreciation He assured me that it was only teh to raise them in a short time, perhaps in a feeeks, and that it was madness to sell out now He declared that it would ruin the credit of the Brandon Bank if it were known that we sold out at such a fearful sacrifice, and advised me to raise the money at a less cost
”Well, I could only think of Smithers & Co I went to their office They were all away I saw one of the clerks who said they had gone to see about soo back to the broker He assured ain that it was an unheard of sacrifice; that these very stocks which I held had fallen terribly, he knew not how, and advisedrather thanGold hat I wanted, and since Set it”
”Well!” cried Potts, eagerly ”Did you get it?”
”You saw that I got it I sold out at a cost that is next to ruin”
”What is it?”
”Well,” said John, ”I will give you the statement of the broker,” and he drew from his pocket a paper which he handed to the others They looked at it eagerly
It was as follows:
100 shares California1000 each 65 per cent, discount35,000 50 shares Mexican 75 per cent, discount 12,500 50 shares Guatemala 80 per cent, dis- count10,000 50 shares Venezuela 80 per cent discount 10,000 ------- 67,000
The faces of Potts and Clark grew black as night as they read this A deep execration burst from Potts Clark leaned back in his chair
”The bank's blown up!” said he
”No, it ain't,” rejoined Potts
”Why not?”
”There's gold enough to pay all that's likely to be offered”
”How much more do you think will be offered?”
”Not much; it stands to reason”
”It stands to reason that every note which you've issued will be sent back to you So I'll trouble you to give me my sixty thousand; and I advise you as a friend to hold on to the rest”
”Clark!” said Potts, ”you're getting tiot any more pluck these tiot to be careful of his earnings,” said Clark ”How much have you out in notes? You told me once you had out about 180,000, perhaps more Well, you've already had to redeeot 67,000 to pay it with What have you got to say to that?”
”Well!” said Potts ”The Brandon Bank et that I have the Brandon estate That's worth two ot it for two hundred thousand”
”Because it was throay, and dropped into ain at this rate You owe Smithers & Co”
”Pooh! that's all offset by securities which I hold”
”Queer securities!”