“That’s my business! You haven’t explained yet how you come to be buttin’ in here.”
“Presently—presently!” replied Eaton soothingly.
His calm demeanor and refusal to lift his voice further infuriated Eichberg, who breathed hard for a moment, then pointed a stubby forefinger at the lawyer as his wrath found utterance.
“Copeland-Farley’s ruined—busted! If you’ll take a look at their last statement you’ll see they can’t pull out!”
“You anticipate me,” replied Eaton gently. “The fact is I had meant to buy that stock myself, but the bank’s haste to turn it over to you has spoiled that. I was annoyed—greatly annoyed—when I found awhile ago that the stock had been sold—sold, in violation of the stipulation—on the bank’s usual form—that three days’ grace were to be given to the debtor to release his collateral. I don’t believe the Comptroller would like that. I shall consider seriously bringing it to his attention.”
“What good would three days have done him?” cried Eichberg. “The sooner he’s put out the better. His accounts payable are goin’ to bring his general creditors down on him in a few days! Don’t you suppose I know? Haven’t they been telegraphin’ me from all over the country for months askin’ about this house?”
“And, of course,” said Eaton softly, “you did all you could to protect your competitor—neighborly feeling, and that sort of thing. Well, it will be a great relief to you to know that those accounts will be paid to-morrow—just as soon as the exchange window of your piratical bank is opened. There’s a hundred thousand dollars to the credit of Copeland-Farley over there right now. I know, because I went in a quarter of an hour ago and made the deposit. This house is solvent—absolutely solvent. Moreover, Copeland’s stock in the Kinney Ivory Cement Company is now marketable. I take some pride in that fact myself—immodestly, I dare say, and yet—I am only human!”
He drew a telegram from his waistcoat pocket and handed it to Copeland.
“That patent case was decided to-day—in favor of Kinney. Copeland, I congratulate you!”
Copeland read the message, and looked dully from Eaton to Eichberg. He was roused by Eichberg, who had no difficulty in expressing his emotions.