‚ÄúBut, Taylor‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù
“Here are one hundred thousand offered at six and three-fourths.”
‚ÄúI tell you, Taylor‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù Cresswell half arose.
“Done!” cried Taylor. “Six and one-half,” clicked the machine.
Cresswell arose from his chair by the window and came slowly to the wide flat desk where Taylor was working feverishly. He sat down heavily in the chair opposite and tried quietly to regain his self-control. The liabilities of the Cresswells already amounted to half the value of their property, at a fair market valuation. The cotton for which they had made debts was still falling in value. Every fourth of a cent fall meant‚ÅÝ‚Äîhe figured it again tremblingly‚ÅÝ‚Äîmeant one hundred thousand more of liabilities. If cotton fell to six he hadn‚Äôt a cent on earth. If it stayed there‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚ÄúMy God!‚Äù He felt a faintness stealing over him but he beat it back and gulped down another glass of fiery liquor.
Then the one protecting instinct of his clan gripped him. Slowly, quietly his hand moved back until it grasped the hilt of the big Colt‚Äôs revolver that was ever with him‚ÅÝ‚Äîhis thin white hand became suddenly steady as it slipped the weapon beneath the shadow of the desk.
‚ÄúIf it goes to six,‚Äù he kept murmuring, ‚Äúwe‚Äôre ruined‚ÅÝ‚Äîif it goes to six‚ÅÝ‚Äîif‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù
‚ÄúTick,‚Äù sounded the wheel and the sound reverberated like sudden thunder in his ears. His hand was iron, and he raised it slightly. ‚ÄúSix,‚Äù said the wheel‚ÅÝ‚Äîhis finger quivered‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äúand a half.‚Äù
‚ÄúHell!‚Äù yelled Taylor. ‚ÄúShe‚Äôs turned‚ÅÝ‚Äîthere‚Äôll be the devil to pay now.‚Äù A messenger burst in and Taylor scowled.