With a shout that startled the other occupants of the room, Balt and
Clyde jumped to their feet and began to caper about in a frenzy. Even
"Fingerless" Fraser's expressionless face cracked in a wide grin of
amazement.
"About noon I was called on the 'phone by Hilliard. He asked me to come down to the bank at once, and I went. He said he had reconsidered, and wanted to put up the money. It's up. He'll back us. I've got it in writing. It's all cinched. One hundred thousand dollars—and more, if we need it."
"You must have made a great talk," declared Clyde.
"I said nothing. He offered it himself, as a personal loan. It has nothing to do with the bank."
"Well, I'm—!" cried Big George.
"And that goes two ways," supplemented Fraser.
"I'm going to tell Cherry, now. She will be delighted."
Alton Clyde tittered. "I told you she could pull it off," he said.
"This was Hilliard's own notion," Boyd returned, coldly. "He merely reconsidered his decision, and—"
"Turn over! You're on your back."