But he had thought out something,
probably something foolish that would have given me trouble without saving
him. A foolish man in a tight place is as foolish as ever, and Corey was
a foolish man--only a fool commits crimes that put him in the power of
others. The crimes of the really big captains of industry and generals of
finance are of the kind that puts others in their power.
"Buck up, Corey," said I. "Do you think I'm the man to shut a friend in the
hold of a sinking ship? Tell me, who told you I was short on Textile?"
"One of my men," he slowly replied, as he braced himself together.
"Which one? Who?" I persisted. For I wanted to know just how far the news
was likely to spread.
He seemed to be thinking out a lie.
"The truth!" I commanded. "I know it couldn't have been one of your men.
Who was it? I'll not give you away."
"It was Tom Langdon," he finally said.
I checked an exclamation of amazement. I had been assuming that I had been
betrayed by some one of those tiny mischances that so often throw the best
plans into confusion.
"Tom Langdon," I said satirically. "It was he that warned you against me?"
"It was a friendly act," said Corey. "He and I are very intimate.
Pages:
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185