THE STEADFAST HEART
was no exception…. And because this was so it is manifest that temptation walked hand in hand with opportunity.
In the safe at his office were securities—under his control. It is true he was under bond as executor, administrator, or trustee—but a bond is effective only in the moment of final accounting. Temptation whispered to him that it would be an easy, a safe matter to borrow some of these securities to tide him over his immediate difficulties, to pledge them outside Rainbow, and to redeem the pledge when the oil commenced to flow and his dreams were realized. It would seem that this particular form of crime is the one best calculated to overturn the normally honest man. It was a “borrowing….”
Early in September Angus Burke was in Deal in consultation with the local banker. After the business was satisfactorily completed Mr. Richards, who had a liking for the young man and a generous admiration for his sound qualities, invited Angus to drive behind his new team…. It was during this drive that the name of Judge Crane entered the conversation—when Mr. Richards spoke with some show of curiosity of Crane’s rising financial star. “He was here in Deal a few days ago,” said Mr. Richards. “I did a small jag of business with him—loaned him
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