Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 166: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

636 Then he turned to Remington and -asked: “ The summons and complaint -haven’t been filed yet?” “No. I was planning to send them up to the county clerk’s office to-morrow morn- ing. 3 “You-are sure your sens won't take anything less than thirty-five thousand dollars?” “Tam absolutely certain of it.” “If we pay the money, what do we get?” “Tl discontinue the action without costs and get you a general release from our client.” “ But how do you know she won’t start it again?” ‘““ The general release will be a good de- .. fense to any subsequent action, won’t it?” “ That’s all right, but with a woman like—” Z “Mr. Canfield, stop right there. Your partner made the mistake this morning of referring to blackmail. We put him out of the office, and I tell you frankly that the same thing will happen to you if you try anything of the same kind. There is no blackmail here. This firm, even if it is not as large as yours, is absolutely all right. As a matter of fact, I doubt very much whether we would represent the de- fendant in this action under any circum- stances,” “I beg your pardon. May I use your telephone a moment, Mr. Remington?” “ Certainly. Do you wish us to go out so that you can talk without interruption?” “No, that won’t be necessary.” In a moment or two he was connected with Garretson, who was apparently await- ing him at his office. *‘ John,” he said into the pentane “this is Harlan. They won’t take a penny less than thirty-five thousand dollars.” - He stopped talking then and listened for a few minutes. Then he began again: “No, there isn’t any use. They won’t take a penny less than that. If you don’t pay up, the papers will go on record to- qnorrow morning, and every newspaper in New York will have the story.”” There was a short pause, and then he finished: “ All fight, John. Good-by.” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. He hung up the receiver and Saped to the partners. — “You win,” he said. “ When can you get me the ened release?” ‘““ Suppose you prepare it yourself; then you will be perfectly satisfied. I shall tele- phone Miss Long to come down here the first thing in the morning, and if you will send the check over here with the release about ten to-morrow, I shall have the re- lease executed by her and will sign the dis- continuance myself and deliver them in ex- change for the check.” “ All right. It will be over here by ten in the morning. I assume that my firm’s check will be acceptable to you. To whose order should it be drawn?” “ Certainly your check will be all right. Just draw it to the order of Mildred Long.” Then he went out, and as he leit, Rem- ington told Miss Keyes to call Miss Long up and ask her to drop in at the office next morning. - At ten o’clock the next morning there were two outsiders in the office of Reming- ton & Talmage. In the outer office sat one of the junior partners of Canfield & Victor, the biggest law firm in the financial district, holding in his hand a check for thirty-five thousand dollars, while inside ~Remineton’s office Miss Mildred Long was going over the situation with the two part- ners. “Miss Long,” Remington said, “I be lieve that we have arranged a settlement of your claim against Mr. Garretson on a basis which will be perfectly agreeable to you.” “Good heavens, you haven’t got my fifteen thousand already, have you?” “No; but the young man outside holds in his hand a check for thirty-five thousand dollars, of which twenty-one thousand will belong to you if you will sign a release of all your claims against John Garretson.” “ Thirty-five thousand dollars, twenty- one thousand dollars! I thought we were going to get only twenty-five thousand.” “ Well, Mr. Talmage and I thought that you would not object if we charged him an extra ten thousand for being such a piker and making you work. You an object, do yo | Ly (COWMIE NOOO KS (2)