. . well . . . er . . . Sam, if you saw a chance to get a
real smart young feller in Lute's place in the bank you'd take him,
wouldn't you?"
"Would I? Would a cat eat lobster? Only show him to me, that's
all!"
"Um-hm. . . . Now of course you know I wouldn't do anything to
hurt Lute. Not for the world I wouldn't. It's only if you ARE
goin' to let him go--"
"IF I am. Either he'll have to let go or the bank will, one or
t'other. United we sink, divided one of us may float, that's the
way I look at it. Lute'll stay till we can locate somebody else to
take his job, and no longer."
"Ya-as. . . . Um-hm. . . . Well, I tell you, Sam: Don't you get
anybody else till you and I have another talk. It may be possible
that I could find you just the sort of young man you're lookin'
for."
"Eh? YOU can find me one? YOU can? What are you givin' me, Jed?
Who is the young man; you?"
Jed gravely shook his head. "No-o," he drawled. "I hate to
disappoint you, Sam, but it ain't me. It's another--er--smart,
lively young feller. He ain't quite so old as I am; there's a
little matter of twenty odd years between us, I believe, but
otherwise than that he's all right. And he knows the bankin'
trade, so I'm told."
"Gracious king! Who is he? Where is he?"
"That I can't tell you just yet. But maybe I can by and by.
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