Extravagant Living CHAPTER 27.
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Not like a strong oak did Mark Pinkerton battle with the tempest which now began to sweep over him; but, like the weak bullrush, he yielded at once — bending low and powerless to the very earth. He knew that to struggle with the tornado would be hopeless; and he scarcely made a show of resistance.
Well was his grief-stricken wife assured that something more than sorrow for the death of her father caused him to walk the floor of their chamber from midnight until the dawn of day; and if vaguely terrifying fears haunted her sleepless hours — they were too sadly confirmed by the haggard countenance which the cold light of morning revealed. To the many earnest entreaties addressed to him, he had maintained a rigid silence, or answered them with vagueness and impatience.
"Oh, Mark! What ails you? Why are you in such distress?" urged Mrs. Pinkerton, all her fears and anxieties aroused anew as she saw, by the searching daylight, the change which had been brought upon his face. "Do speak to me, husband! Your looks frighten me terribly! What is the matter?"
"Is not the sudden death of your father cause enough for affliction?" was replied evasively.
A gush of tears and sobs was the wife's response. But, could such an answer satisfy her? No — no. The personal attachment between her husband and father was not strong enough for this. His words were but a cloak to hide from her, a more terrible calamity that now impended, or had actually fallen upon them. Of this she felt assured; and the impression so filled her mind with anxious fears — that for a time the death of her father seemed but a light affliction. But neither by tears nor entreaties, could she break the stern reserve of her husband.
Early in the day Mr. Pinkerton sent for a carriage, and was driven to the house of mourning, accompanied by his wife. After a brief interview with the family concerning the last sad rites which must soon follow, and a preliminary conference with the undertaker, he returned alone to his dwelling, where he shut himself up, and with as much courage and calmness as was possible under the circumstances, endeavored to look the approaching calamity in the face. In the absence of memorandum and account books, memory supplied sufficient data to show that his financial obligations, in connection with those of his deceased father-in-law, were so far beyond his available resources, that to attempt their liquidation was utterly hopeless. The death of Mr. Allen, cut off the very means of raising money which had been so long and so liberally used. The two men could no longer play into each other's hands — and the less skillful player felt himself to be wholly at the mercy of his opponents.
Ah! Those long hours of self-communion, how full of bitterness they were to Mark Pinkerton! A little while before, though on a pinnacle, he had stood firm, and imagined his footing secure. Now, alas! the downward plunge was inevitable, and he could see nothing below but a dark and fearful abyss! No wonder that he shrank back and trembled.
Many times through the day had the sound of the ringing door-bell met his ears, and each time he waited and listened for the servant's approach, to announce some visitor who wished an interview. Ah, those coming interviews! How the bare thought of them, made him sick at heart! Not, however, until late in the afternoon, came the expected tap at his door.
"A gentleman — Mr. Lee — is in the parlor," said the waiter.
All day Mr. Pinkerton had been in hourly expectation of a visit from his partner; yet now, as his name was announced, he startled.
"Tell him that I will be down in a moment," he replied to the waiter.
The man withdrew. For several minutes Pinkerton walked the floor, striving to think clearly. The fact that his partner came at this particular hour, clearly indicated his errand. A large amount of the paper which in consequence of the death of Mr. Allen, had to come under protest — bore the endorsement of Pinkerton & Lee. The notary had, of course, called at the store of the endorsers, thus exposing to his partner, the dishonorable transactions in which he had been engaged; transactions which he feared were likely to involve their business in the ruin which must inevitably fall upon him. At last, feeling that longer delay was useless, Pinkerton descended to the parlor. The compressed lips and knit brow of his partner, showed that he had rightly guessed the purpose of his visit. The two men bowed distantly. Without making allusion to the death of Mr. Allen, Lee said —
"Are you aware that certain notes of large amounts, and bearing your name, either as drawer or endorser, have come today?"
"I have presumed as much," was the subdued yet somewhat firm answer of Pinkerton.
"I am not very greatly surprised at this result," said Mr. Lee, coldly, "but there is one thing at which I am surprised." And he looked fixedly at his partner. No reply being made, he continued —
"Over five thousand dollars of this paper bears the endorsement of Pinkerton & Lee. Will you explain the meaning of this?"
"It need no explanation," said Pinkerton, doggedly.
"I beg your pardon," returned the other, quickly. "It does need explanation. By what authority did you use the name of the firm outside of our regular business?"
"I am in no state of mind to discuss this matter with you, Mr. Lee," said Pinkerton, "in no mood to answer sharp interrogatories. You have the fact before you, and that admits of no controversy."
"But I want explanations, Mr. Pinkerton. There is too much involved — too much at stake. I am not to be put off in this way."
"What do you want to know?" said Pinkerton, rousing up, and assuming something like a defiant air.
"In the first place, I wish to know," said Lee, "by what authority you used the name of the firm outside of our legitimate operations? And in the second place, I wish to be informed as to the extent to which this has been carried?"
"As to your first question," replied Pinkerton, "it requires no answer; and as to the second, I am not at present under circumstances to speak advisedly. All my affairs are inextricably involved with those of Mr. Allen, whose sudden death has produced the present unfortunate state of things. I cannot get immediate access to his books and papers; nor do I know the value of his estate, after his obligations are met."
"You at least know," said Mr. Lee to this, "whether there is any more paper out, bearing the endorsement of our firm. This is a matter in which I am vitally interested, and I, at least, have a right to expect from you all the information now in your power to give. If the amount is hopelessly large, I wish to know it at once — so that my course of action may be promptly determined. The five thousand dollars presented today, lies under protest. Is there as much more of this paper in the market?"
"Yes — five times as much more," replied Pinkerton.
"Unhappy man!" exclaimed Mr. Lee, starting to his feet, and moving hurriedly about the room. "Into what a desperate strait has your miserable folly driven you, and all who are so unfortunate as to have any connection with you whatever!"
Both of the men were now silent for a long time; but the thoughts of each were busy. At length Mr. Lee said —
"Do you think that forty thousand dollars will cover the whole amount of this paper?"
"It ought to do so," replied Pinkerton.
"But will it?" was the quick interrogation. "Will it? — that is the great question now."
"Fifty thousand will, I know, more than cover everything," said Pinkerton.
"Fifty thousand dollars!" ejaculated his partner, "Fifty thousand! And what property have you to set off against this?"
"Enough, I trust, to liquidate the whole, provided hurried sales, involving ruinous sacrifices, are not made."
"Pinkerton," said Mr. Lee, somewhat sternly, "don't mislead me in this matter. I shall suffer wrong enough, at best. What is this property of which you speak?"
"There is my house, which cost over thirty thousand dollars, to begin with."
"But I am told that it is heavily mortgaged."
"Only for some fifteen or sixteen thousand dollars."
"Very well — what next?"
"I have many hundreds of shares of good stocks."
"Not under security for loans, or as security for endorsements?"
Pinkerton hesitated to answer. A deep sigh passed the lips of his partner, who said —
"I see how it is. Mortgages and securities will render valueless, a great proportion of what you call property. And, doubtless, it will be so with the estate of Mr. Allen. Let me ask another question. For how much paper are you responsible, either as drawer or endorser, beyond the fifty thousand dollars just alluded to?"
"It is impossible now to tell. My bill book is in Mr. Allen's office," replied Pinkerton.
"Will the sum fall short of fifty thousand dollars more?"
"Perhaps not, including endorsements. But then, Mr. Allen's estate will be responsible for his obligations, though they do bear my endorsement."
"Some light, at least," said Mr. Lee, abstractedly, as he paced the floor. "But what a condition of things it reveals!" Then, after a pause, he asked —
"When is the funeral to take place?"
"On the day after tomorrow," was replied.
"Very well — until that is over, little can be determined upon. Will you be at the store in the morning?"
"I presume not."
"Can I see you here at ten o'clock?"
"Yes."
"Can you not, in the mean time, draw up a statement of your affairs so accurate, that the true position in which you stand may be fully determined?"
"I think so."
"Will you do it?"
"I will."
"But have you the correct data? Have you, in this intertwisted business of note-giving and note-endorsing, which it appears you and Mr. Allen have carried on to an enormous extent, been careful to keep reliable memoranda?"
"As soon as I get my books from Mr. Allen's office, which I will do today, I can make up a statement very nearly approximating the truth."
"And this you engage to do at once?" said Mr. Lee.
"It shall be ready by ten o'clock tomorrow morning, if it requires the whole night for its preparation," answered Pinkerton.
"Very well. I will lift the five thousand dollars at a venture — thus saving the credit of the firm, and personal exposure to yourself. Tomorrow will determine my future action."
Without further remark, the two men separated.
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