Then Mr.
Bingle managed to give expression to the fear that entered his heart
as Force concluded his amazing remarks.
"Anything--anything wrong at the bank?" he inquired, swallowing hard.
Was the man about to tell him that the bank--the great bank--was going
under, that there had been defalcations, that--but even as he pictured
the collapse of the bank there shot into his brain another and still
more ghastly thought: had the Supreme Court decided against him in the
long-fought case of Hooper et al vs. Bingle?
"Certainly NOT," exclaimed Mr. Force, with sudden irascibility. His
nerves WERE at a high tension, there was no denying that. "Nothing
whatever to do with the bank, sir. What the dev--what could have put
such a thought into your head, Bingle?"
"You looked so--so blasted serious," said Mr. Bingle, with surprising
heat.
"Thomas!" cried his wife, aghast.
"Beg pardon, Force," muttered Mr. Bingle, very much ashamed of
himself. "I didn't mean to be profane. I guess I'm a little nervous
myself."
"Can't I look serious without putting the bank on its last legs?"
demanded Mr.
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