“Well, I suppose it means be jumped on with both of Uncle Sam’s feet.”
“I’ll try to raise the money for you on time,” said Merwin, interested in his plaiting.
“All right, Tom,” concluded Longley, as he turned toward the door; “I knew you would if you could.”
Merwin threw down his whip and went to the only other bank in town, a private one, run by Cooper & Craig.
“Cooper,” he said, to the partner by that name, “I’ve got to have $10,000 to-day or to-morrow. I’ve got a house and lot here that’s worth about $6000 and that’s all the actual collateral. But I’ve got a cattle deal on that’s sure to bring me in more than that much profit within a few days.”
Cooper began to cough.
“Now, for God’s sake don’t say no,” said Merwin. “I owe that much money on a call loan. It’s been called, and the man that called it is a man I’ve laid on the same blanket with in cow-camps and ranger camps for ten years. He can call anything I’ve got. He can call the blood out of my veins and it’ll come. He’s got to have the money. He’s in a devil of a——— Well, he needs the money, and I’ve got to get it for him. You know my word’s good, Cooper.”
“No doubt of it,” assented Cooper urbanely, “but I’ve a partner, you know. I’m not free in making loans. And even if you had the best secu-
