“I don't know why not,” said the other. “I asked Gary if he was going to put it in, and he said 'Yes.' 'It will make another panic,' I said, and he answered, 'Panics are news.'”
Montague said nothing for a minute or two. Finally he remarked, “I have good reason to believe that the Trust Company of the Republic is perfectly sound.”
“I have no doubt of it,” was the reply.
“Then why—” He stopped.
Bates shrugged his shoulders. “Ask Waterman,” he said. “It's some quarrel or other; he wants to put the screws on somebody. Perhaps it's simply that two trust companies will scare the President more than one; or perhaps it's some stock he wants to break. I've heard it said that he has seventy-five millions laid by to pick up bargains with; and I shouldn't wonder if it was true.”
There was a moment's pause. “And by the way,” Bates added, “the Oil Trust has made another haul! The Electric Manufacturing Company is in trouble—that's a rival of one of their enterprises! Doesn't it all fit together beautifully?”
Montague thought for a moment or two. “This is rather important news to me,” he said; “I've got money in the Trust Company of the Republic. Do you suppose they are going to let it go down?”
“I talked it over with Rodney,” the other replied. “He says Waterman was quite explicit in his promises to see Prentice through. And there's one thing you can say about old Dan—for all his villainies, he never breaks his word. So I imagine he'll save it.”
“But then, why give out this report?” exclaimed the lawyer.
“Don't you see?” said Bates. “He wants a chance to save it.”