Extravagant Living CHAPTER 14.
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The first day of the month came, and Pinkerton was early at the store. Not earlier, however, than his very punctual associate, who was generally at his accounts an hour before Pinkerton came to look after customers.
"A pretty heavy month this," remarked Mr. Ackland, who was poring over the bill book.
"How much to pay?" inquired Pinkerton. His manner was slightly absent.
"Five thousand dollars," replied Ackland.
"So much!" The announcement of so large a sum startled the young merchant.
"Yes, five thousand. We have, however, a balance of over fifteen hundred dollars in bank, and a good many country merchants are now arriving."
"We shall go through easily enough," said Pinkerton, lightly. He had quickly recovered from his momentary surprise.
At this moment, a teller from the Union Bank entered. Both Pinkerton and Ackland knew him, and understood that the little package of papers which he held in his hand, were bank bills. The heart of the former almost ceased to beat, as the young man came forward, so great was his anxiety and suspense. Leaving his partner, he advanced half way down the store to meet the teller. Four notices were handed to him, one of which, from the amount it called for, he recognized as referring to one of his accommodation notes. This he adroitly concealed, while his back was yet towards Mr. Ackland. He breathed freely again.
So much, at least, was safe. But, the danger was still imminent. Three more notices were to come in. In the first, he had been very fortunate; but he could not hope for a like good fortune so far as the others were concerned. Nor was he so fortunate.
"There's something wrong here," said his partner, meeting him with a grave face, as he came in from dinner on that day, about half past three o'clock in the afternoon. Ackland held two bank notices in his hand. In spite of his effort to maintain an air of unconcern, the color rose instantly to his face.
"What is wrong?" he inquired.
"We have no bills out answering to these," said Mr. Ackland, presenting the notices to his partner.
"Are you certain?" remarked Pinkerton.
"Very certain." The bill book was opened, and laid before Pinkerton, who ran his eyes along the various entries.
"You may have omitted to enter them," was ventured as a suggestion.
"No," said Ackland, promptly; "I'm too careful an accountant for that."
"There's some mistake at the bank, no doubt. It's too late to see to it this afternoon; but I'll go over and investigate the matter tomorrow."
"I've already been over," was the reply of Ackland to this.
"You have!" The brow of Pinkerton contracted, and a shadow fell over his face.
"Yes, and have seen the notes. They are drawn to your order — and have your endorsement."
It was on the lips of Pinkerton to pronounce them forgeries; but an instinctive conviction that this would only make matters worse, restrained him.
"Oh!" he exclaimed, with animation, his eyes brightening, and his face breaking into a smile; "I understand all about it now. Didn't I tell you four months ago, when those notes for my furniture came due, that in order to meet them, without taking money from the business, I had drawn two accommodation notes, and got them discounted?"
'No," was the positive answer of Ackland, who received this announcement with compressed lips, and a look of stern displeasure.
"Oh! I'm sure I did," returned Pinkerton, driven now into subterfuge and direct falsehood. "I never would have done a thing like that without speaking of it — never."
"You certainly did it in this instance," said Ackland, firmly; "for I had not the remotest suspicion that any paper of the firm was out, not the representative of some business transaction. And to speak plainly, Mr. Pinkerton, I don't like the look of it!"
"You don't!" The tone of voice, as well as the words of Ackland, were far from being pleasant to his partner.
"No, I do not." Ackland's manner was not in the least softened.
"What do you think it indicates?" said Pinkerton, who was too much irritated by the language of his partner, to maintain a prudent self-control.
"You ask the question, and I will answer it plainly." Mr. Ackland was now quite composed, but very decided in his manner. "It indicates — nay, Mr. Pinkerton, it is — on your part, a direct violation of partnership!"
"Mr. Ackland! I cannot permit this! I will not bear such language from — "
"Calm yourself, Mr. Pinkerton," said Ackland, who was perfectly cool. "This is by far too serious a matter to be discussed in a state of angry excitement. You have no right to be offended with me for using plain language. The act is a breach of good faith, and you would so regard it, were it mine instead of yours."
Pinkerton saw the folly of anything rash on his part, and, therefore, endeavored to recover his self-possession. Glimpses of consequences — ruinous consequences — were already presented to his mind. Clearly in the wrong, it was not for him to play the indignant too broadly, especially with a man of the cool, decided temperament of his partner, whose character he had misapprehended in the beginning, in more than one particular.
"I did not mean it as a breach of the partnership and good faith," he said, with something conciliatory in his voice. "I trust I am a man of better principles than that, Mr. Ackland. My notes were out, and had to be lifted. I had already drawn as much, on private account, from the business, as I felt it right to draw. This being the case, I tried to raise the sum needed on my own notes; but utterly failed in the effort. 'The firm notes can be discounted,' was answered to my application; and on the credit of the firm, I was at last compelled, most reluctantly, to fall back. You have now the whole story. I wish it had been otherwise, but so it is."
Ackland accepted the explanation, but looked very grave about it, and was far from feeling comfortable. On the day following, the fourth and last notice found its way into his hands. He sent immediately to the bank, and ascertained that this note was similar in character to the other two of which he had spoken to his partner. This was more than he was prepared for; and he at once declared his wish to have the firm dissolved.
All confidence in Pinkerton was gone. He had felt, for some time, dissatisfied with his extravagant habits, and dashing business ways, the latter seeming to him often more likegambling, than careful merchandising. They might realize a splendid fortune; but he was afraid of the chances.
A little to Ackland's surprise, Pinkerton was ready to meet him on this new issue, and arrange for a dissolution. He would give or take a certain sum — and retain or leave the business. Ackland had too little confidence in himself to accept the latter proposition, and so, wisely, availed of the former. It was mutually agreed that the cause of their separation was to remain a profound secret — that Ackland was to receive back the amount of capital at first invested, and seven thousand dollars as his share of the estimated profits which the business had made.
The rapid growth of the business, and the reputation which Pinkerton had acquired for capacity, enterprise and great business shrewdness, made it an easy matter for him to secure a new partner with four times the capital that Ackland had possessed. The latter's security was, therefore, ample; while Pinkerton found himself elevated to a new and higher position in business. Both were satisfied with the change.
For a few weeks, the withdrawal of Ackland from the business, was a topic of remark in business circles. Many conjectures as to the cause thereof were made, but none guessed at the true reason. The new firm of Pinkerton & Lee was regarded as a much stronger one, because a larger amount of cash capital was in possession.
Of Mr. Lee, the new partner so suddenly introduced, we have nothing very particular to say at present. Like Ackland, he had not received a thorough business education. But he was a man of better address, higher ambition, and what are sometimes called more "liberal" views, though not competent to take the place of either salesman or book-keeper. Of his principles, we cannot speak with much confidence; and yet, so far in life, he had ever maintained the most honorable courses of action. In all respects, he was a man whom Pinkerton could manage far better than he had been able to manage his first partner, and this because he had less discrimination and less suspicion.
Most fortunate did Pinkerton consider himself in "getting rid" of Ackland — so he mentally expressed it — though he never felt particularly comfortable in thinking over the causeswhich led to a dissolution of the co-partnership.
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