David Lannarck, Midget

by George S. Harney

  12

  The State Bank of Adot had been an important institution in anunimportant community. It employed three people and enlarged itschartered rights to perform many services in the little community. Inthe prosperous days following the World War it added to its surplusand paid fair dividends to scattered owners of limited shares. Itsservice was appreciated by home folks; its prosperity attracted theattention of Aaron Logan.

  Logan, with limited capital and an alert mind, operated a petty loanbusiness. He traded for what-have-you. In the early twenties, heexchanged his chips and whetstones for single shares of bank stock.Arriving at a favorable status, he persuaded the bank directors toenlarge the capital to absorb his petty loan business. In 1924, hequit the "street" to accept a cushioned chair in the rear room of thebank. His experience would add caution and prudence.

  For, just now, the cattle business was slipping; prices were fallingbelow the cost of production. Home folks were not buying; the rescuedEuropean nations forgot, as usual, their benefactor and dickered formeager supplies of meats and grains at other marts. America's foreigntrade sank to a new low. Her thousands of merchant craft rockedlistlessly and rusted quickly in stagnant waters while the falseprophets of Mammon urged idle capital to pyramid a luring stock marketto a glorious peak and final crash.

  The banks of America were the first to feel the pinch. Some waited toolong--waited to dole out to a frenzied public all available cash andclose the doors too late for solvency. But not so with the Bank ofAdot. Aaron Logan got his order for receivership before his publicwent frantic and while cash was yet available. Under court order hewas proceeding to thaw out the frozen items of assets, and planned toopen the institution to those who would limit their withdrawals tostated amounts. He made progress in these endeavors until he bumpedinto the stone wall of the Barrow loan. Really, it wasn't a giant sum,as such sums are rated in banking circles, but in the present instanceit represented the difference between opening a bank or keeping itclosed.

  Aaron Logan had given the matter of this Bar-O affair much thought. Hehad canvassed every available prospect. In all the community therewasn't a person that would give a thin dime for a property with adefiant oldster thereon, who would certainly kill or be killed ifpossession was to be gained. And a killing was bad advertisement, apoor prelude to opening a bank.

  But in the very hour he planned to execute this last resort, a rankoutsider, an unknown and uncanvassed source, a little runt of a manwith more confidence and assurance than his size would warrant, wasoffering to take over the ranch and assume the problem. Aaron Loganregarded it as a slender chance--could not believe that one so smallcould have earned so much--but he would take the chance. He headed hiscar up Willow Street to stop at the bank's rear door. He waved Adineto a favorable parking space.

  "I will call Mr. Limeledge, my lawyer, to draw up a contract," he saidas the party of five were seated in the back room.

  "Well, that's hardly necessary," said Davy. "If you jot down a memothat you will make a deed to David Lannarck to the Bar-O ranch uponpayment, on or before October 18th, 1932, of four thousand dollars incash and a probable expenditure of two hundred dollars in gettingpossession, and sign it, I will also sign it and it will be anagreement. But before we do anything, I want to get on the phone tosee if I can contact Ralph Gaynor. None of you folks really know me. Iwant you to listen in so that we can get acquainted. Here's the moneyfor the long distance call," he added. "Tell the operator that it'sOK."

  Aaron Logan didn't like being told what to do, especially by a littlecocksure midget. But there was the matter of getting rid of a badproblem. He complied with Davy's request.

  "This is David Lannarck at phone fifty. I want to talk to RalphGaynor, at phone BA two hundred in the Dollar Savings Bank inSpringfield. Yes, that's the state. I should have said so, for it's agrand old commonwealth. I'll be right here for an hour."

  In the lull of waiting, Aaron Logan wondered--wondered how one sosmall hoped to depose one so fierce and stubborn. He would find out."Do you think you can get Hulls and Maizie out of there byThanksgiving?" he inquired politely.

  "It doesn't really matter," said David languidly. "But I must try toget acquainted with 'em; make friends with 'em if I can."

  "Why do you hope to persuade 'em to get off?" exclaimed theastonished receiver. "I've seen 'em. They're impossible."

  "Maybe you didn't see 'em at their best," replied the midget quietly."I've never seen either of them, but I've had several descriptionsfrom others and this Maizie shows possibilities."

  "Possibilities for what?" snorted Logan. "That woman is a she-devilthat would commit murder to gain her ends. She wouldn't listen to agovernor granting her a reprieve. And anyhow, what are herpossibilities?"

  "I understand, from descriptions, that she is of the gypsy type--dark,languid, glamorous. If she's all that, I can place her." Davy's replywas slow and indifferent. Now he brightened up to add: "Say, when Iget on the phone, shall I tell him to send me a draft on a Denver bankor shall I tell him to ship the cold cash by express, or wire it toCheyenne by Western Union?"

  "Cold cash is never out of place in paying a bill, but if you have adraft sent to the First National in Cheyenne, we can go there and makethe transfer. I need to go to Cheyenne anyhow."

  "And I need some added cash," said Davy Lannarck. "I'll have 'em makethe draft for five thousand. The First National can split it as wedirect."

  Davy made much of jotting down notes; Landy Spencer sat quietly, hisface immobile; Adine Lough went to the window ostensibly to dab onmake-up, but really to suppress smiles and stifle laughter. A man ofimportance--a bank receiver, an arm of the court--was being kidded andhe didn't know it.

  In the drive across country from the B-line ranch, the three in theroadster planned and outlined their conduct at this proposedconference at the bank. Landy related fully the incident as to why heknew that Hulls Barrow and Maizie planned a quick getaway. Landy hadcontacted Ike Steele only a day or two ago and Ike's story of thewagon trade unfolded the plot. Stripped of inconsequential details,Ike's story follows:

  Ugly Collins, a former resident, was back on important business. Uglyhad left the country a decade ago, following his acquittal for pettythieving. In his driftings about, he landed in Las Vegas. There hecontacted another former resident in the person of Archie Barrow.Archie was in the money. He was sole proprietor of a big rooming housein a community that was being congested with trainloads of steel,cement, derricks, and cluttered with humanity who had come to build,and were building, a great dam in the nearby Colorado River. Archieneeded help to carry on a business that had increased a hundredfold.He recalled his brother Hulls, who might be useful, but heparticularly recalled the executive capacities of Maizie. She wasbadly needed to prod the Mexican women in their labors of making bedsand sweeping rooms that were occupied twice daily.

  But Archie knew it would be useless to write to a brother that neverwent to the post office and was remote from rural deliveries. He washappy to contact Ugly Collins. And just now, Ugly had two objectives:one, to get away from a place where work was paramount; the other, toget back to Adot and look after a possible inheritance. He understoodthat his mother had died, leaving the little homestead that surelyshould have sold for more than mere funeral expenses.

  A deal was quickly made. Archie would pay train fare and Ugly wouldcontact Hulls and Maizie; would move the bankrupts out of trouble andpoverty to an Eldorado of prosperity. For once in his varied anduseless career Ugly performed a successful mission. Hulls and Maiziereadily agreed to the plan. They would drive through--taking with themneeded and useful plunder. Having seen Maizie, Ugly decided he wouldtravel back with them. All details for the trip were now completed,except that a little more expense money was badly needed.

  Landy cautioned Ike Steele not to disclose the proposed move toanyone else. Vaguely, Landy entertained the hope that someone--justwho, he had not planned--would buy the Bar-O. Acting on a hunch, he"touched" his sister Alice for a hundred. On the d
rive-in, Adinestopped the car while Davy invoiced his available cash at sixty-fivedollars. These conspirators now planned that immediately after acontract was signed, Landy would search out Ike Steele, give him thehundred dollars, to be given to Ugly Collins when the party was loadedand on their way. Ike would be paid a personal ten, if he got it done.

  And these conspirators made other plans. Knowing that in the intervalof getting phone connections they would be beset with furtivequestions from a curious executive. What was he going to do with theranch? how did he plan to get the resisters off? and other pertinentquestions, they planned for evasive answers.

  "Leave that to me," said Mr. Lannarck. "I think I can parry everythrust, can lead him through a mystic maze of information that willpile up a lot of useless knowledge." And the little man was gettingalong very well with his assignment, as Adine polished her nose at thewindow and Landy Spencer sat quietly, seeming uninterested in mereworldly affairs.

  "You were speaking of employment awhile ago," said the persistentLogan. "You spoke of 'placing' Maizie. Do you conduct that kind of anagency?"

  "No," said Davy, still busy with his notes. "In Maizie's case, I wouldhave to buy out the business, plan the details of her dress andappearance, and 'plant' her as a 'front'--a 'come-on'--for thesuckers' money."

  The bewildered receiver had let the craft of conversation drift intostrange waters. Was he dealing with a moron or a maniac? Except thatthis was the only bid he had ever had--the only prospect in sight--fora deal that would open a bank, he would take the phone, cancel thecall and dismiss the conference. In desperation he would make anothertry.

  "Well, I don't know what you are talking about, but I do know thisMaizie woman. If these places you speak of call for a stubbornhellion, then you've got the right party. But I would like to knowjust where she could be made into a useful thing?"

  "I wasn't thinking of her temperament," said Davy as he folded up hismemorandum. "She's described as the gypsy type. Such a type isvaluable when properly placed. Were you ever at Coney Island?" heasked abruptly. "No? Well, it's a resort, a playground, down New Yorkway. Henry Hudson landed here, and many another Dutchman has been'landed' and made regrettable discoveries right on this same spot. Ithas a bathing beach where the gals show what they've got and fat menflounder and cavort far beyond their capacities. Up from the beach isthe midway proper--a carnival or street fair, with bandstands anddance platforms, peep shows, free shows, and legits. At the properseason these places are alive with spenders. They bring in carloads ofmoney and take away nothing more tangible than experience. Why, MisterLogan, a man of your talents could spend profitable days at ConeyIsland in the study of financial circulation, could write a book,entitled 'The Slippery Dollar; Its Origin, Its Travels, ItsDestination'! Some of these dollars have origin in work and sweat andsome stem from blood and tears, but all--"

  "And just where in this mess would this Maizie woman belong?"interrupted Logan desperately. "Your recital is interesting, but itdoesn't get to the point. Where and why would you place her?"

  "Why, I'd place her as a 'front' down at the fortune-teller's booth,"replied Davy quickly. "I'd either buy out--or buy in--with Tony Garci,who has a concession, and plant Maizie right at the tent-flap as a'come-on.' Her name would have to be Madame Tousan, or PrincessCaraza, or some such, and she would have to dress the part. Black andred, maybe, with plastered hair and a coppery skin. A quart of ringsand bracelets on each hand and arm, horseshoe earrings, and a bigostrich fan. Never a word of English, mind you! She'd just wave thefan to the entrance and inner glories where Tulu Garrat, Tony's wife,would read palms, or the crystal ball, and take the money."

  Davy, too, was getting a bit anxious. He was running out of details.He glanced at the phone, hoping for relief. None came. He rambled on.

  "If I ran this fortune-telling dump, I'd lift it out of theten-twent'-thirt' class, to an even smacker--maybe two. I'd give 'em awritten reading with 'a hunch' in it. They all play hunches downthere. Hoss racing, stock market, numbers rackets, and such. They'dplay my hunches. If they win, I'd have wide advertisement; if theylose, nothing said.

  "Off hand, I'd say the racket was good for a 'grand' a week. Maiziewould get fifty, Tony and his wife a hundred smackers, another fiftyfor the concession. In ten weeks, I could pay for the Bar-O andhave--" The telephone rang. "If that's for me," said the little man toAaron Logan, "get on that extension and listen to the story of amisspent life, for I'll try to get him to tell it."

  As the conversation was both spoken and heard, both are here given.

  "Hello, hello. Yes, this is David Lannarck. Hello, Ralph. This is yourmidget friend Davy. I'm in Adot--yes, that's what I said--what theyall say.... A dot on what? It's out of Cheyenne--a good ways out. ButI want to do business as of Cheyenne. I want you to send a Denverdraft to The First National Bank at Cheyenne for five thousanddollars, to arrive there before the eighteenth of October."

  The phone was working splendidly; even those without an earpiece couldhear the over-production.

  "This is a fine time to separate a bank from assets. What are youbuying? Blue sky or a phony gold mine?"

  "Neither one," said Davy promptly. "It's a ranch--with an old man onit--with a gun, defying all comers."

  "Why, I thought the old cattle wars were all over," came the reply. "Isuppose, on account of your size, you hope to slip through the guardline."

  "Naw," replied Davy, "it really doesn't matter whether the old mangets off or stays on. It's ten sections. If things brighten up a bit,it looks worth the money."

  "Ten sections?" came the astonished inquiry. "How will you ever see itall--you with short legs?"

  "Why, I've got a hoss," said Davy proudly, "I've got the finest hosswest of the Big River. He can do tricks too. By spring I can have himdoing stunts that will make Bill Reviere's act look like a practicestunt."

  "Well, God help poor sailors on a night like this, and midgets too.But at that, I think you are in the right groove. Things will loosenup; they've got to. Have your title examined carefully. See that yourgrantor is responsible."

  "I'm buying it from a bank receiver. It's a part of the frozenassets," interrupted Davy. "The bank is to reopen when this issettled."

  "Now let me get this right. You want a Denver draft, sent to you, careof the First National Bank in Cheyenne, Wyoming, for five thousanddollars." The words were slowly said as if a memorandum was beingmade. "All right. The item will go out this evening. Good luck and aprosperous investment."

  "Hold on, Ralph, just a minute. I'm in that bank that's to reopen. Thephone here has an extension. The fellow with whom I am dealing is onthat extension. No one out here knows me--I need an introduction. Willyou briefly tell 'em who I am?"

  "Well, that's bad," came a laughing reply. "It might ruin everything.But here goes. Mister Receiver, David Lannarck, with whom I amtalking, is a midget--nearly forty inches tall and about thirty yearsof age. He was born here, inherited a comfortable estate that wemanage--collect his rents, pay his taxes and repair bills. We also payhis generous church contributions and charity donations. He has neverdrawn a cent from the accumulations. For the last decade I have seenlittle of him. He travels extensively--in vaudeville, with circuses.He comes back about once a year to deposit his earnings. These we keepseparately because that's the way he wants it. He writes no checks.Simply tells us what to do, and we do it. Only once before this has hecalled on us. That was a train wreck and an injury that interruptedhis routine. He phoned for us to pay bills and we paid 'em, as we arepaying this one.

  "He's affable, charitable to those he likes, talks the jargon of thecircus people, and is, with all, a truthful, likeable chap. Is thereanything else, Mister Receiver?"

  "Thank you, Ralph, and good-by," said Davy as he hung up.

  Hastily Aaron Logan prepared a memo stating the terms of the sale.Adine Lough made a copy. Both were signed by both interested parties,then Davy paid Finch fifty dollars on his contract and the meetingadjourned. Davy and Adine went to Jode's restau
rant for a bite to eat.Landy went in search of Ike Steele to post a deposit for a quickgetaway and, strange as it may seem, Aaron Logan sought the sameperson and with a similar purpose.