“It is an iron-clad rule of mine never to have business dealings with personal friends. I prefer to make a gift of the amount than to regard it as an investment.” The colonel was frowning quite fiercely.
Tommy's heart leaped, for Colonel Willetts was a very rich man indeed. But he said, “A gift is, of course, out of the question.”
“That is why I have to break my rule two or three times a year. You wish friends to be interested in your Mr. Thompson's experiments. I don't blame you. No, I don't! But they might prove rather expensive. Yes, yes, I know you think they will be successful. Rivington telephoned to me that you were going to see Mead and Jim Wilson, and a few other unfortunate fathers of chums, but I'll save you the trouble. I shall make them think the experiment worth trying and we'll take a sporting chance. You owe it to us to warn us in time if things don't go right.”
Tommy hesitated. Loyalty was due to whom? Then his doubts cleared. Thompson, the wizard, wanted him to work for both the men and the stockholders! That would keep Tommy from doing injustice to either. That was Thompson's reason undoubtedly.
“I shall watch your interests as if they were mine—no, I'll watch more carefully.” Tommy spoke with decision.
“I have inquired about your company's standing. I find its rating high. Your father—” The colonel caught himself abruptly.
“Yes, sir?” Tommy's lips came together while Willetts walked to his desk and went through the motions of looking for some papers.
Then the colonel pursued: “Your father told me what you had been doing. He evidently thinks as much of Thompson as you do. And he gave me some confidential reports from the Metropolitan Bank's correspondents in Dayton. I—I guess the money is safe enough.” He looked at Tommy a trifle dubiously, but before Tommy could reassure him he went on, lightly, “And Marion wants me to send Rivington out there to have a miracle performed on him.”
“I wish he'd come,” said Tommy, eagerly.
“I don't!” said the colonel, shortly. “He is no black sheep in need of reform and—I don't mean to insinuate that you are, Tommy; but Rivington is all the son I've got, and I need him here, where his business interests will be. I expect him to come into the office next year. There's plenty of time.”