A Call Loan

O Henry

In those days the cattlemen were the anointed. They were the grandees of the grass,

kings of the kine, lords of the lea, barons of beef and bone. They might have ridden in

golden chariots had their tastes so inclined. The cattleman was caught in a stampede of

dollars. It seemed to him that he had more money than was decent. But when he had

bought a watch with precious stones set in the case so large that they hurt his ribs, and a

California saddle with silver nails and Angora skin suaderos, and ordered everybody up

to the bar for whisky--what else was there for him to spend money for?

Not so circumscribed in expedient for the reduction of surplus wealth were those lairds

Long Bill was a graduate of the camp and trail. Luck and thrift, a cool head, and a

telescopic eye for mavericks had raised him from cowboy to be a cowman. Then came

the boom in cattle, and Fortune, stepping gingerly among the cactus thorns, came and

emptied her cornucopia at the doorstep of the ranch.

In the little frontier city of Chaparosa, Longley built a costly residence. Here he became

a captive, bound to the chariot of social existence. He was doomed to become a leading

citizen. He struggled for a time like a mustang in his first corral, and then he hung up his

quirt and spurs. Time hung heavily on his hands. He organised the First National Bank

of Chaparosa, and was elected its president.

One day a dyspeptic man, wearing double-magnifying glasses, inserted an official-

"Well, how do you find things?" asked Longley, in his slow, deep tones. "Any brands in

the round-up you didn't like the looks of?"

"The bank checks up all right, Mr. Longley," said Todd; "and I find your loans in very

good shape--with one exception. You are carrying one very bad bit of paper--one that is

so bad that I have been thinking that you surely do not realise the serious position it

places you in. I refer to a call loan of $10,000 made to Thomas Merwin. Not only is the

amount in excess of the maximum sum the bank can loan any individual legally, but it is

absolutely without endorsement or security. Thus you have doubly violated the national

banking laws, and have laid yourself open to criminal prosecution by the Government.

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A report of the matter to the Comptroller of the Currency--which I am bound to make--

would, I am sure, result in the matter being turned over to the Department of Justice for

action. You see what a serious thing it is."

Bill Longley was leaning his lengthy, slowly moving frame back in his swivel chair. His

hands were clasped behind his head, and he turned a little to look the examiner in the

Government doesn't think so. I guess I'll see Tom about that note."

Mr. Todd's dyspepsia seemed to grow suddenly worse. He looked at the chaparral

banker through his double-magnifying glasses in amazement.

"You see," said Longley, easily explaining the thing away, "Tom heard of 2000 head of

two-year-olds down near Rocky Ford on the Rio Grande that could be had for $8 a head.

I reckon 'twas one of old Leandro Garcia's outfits that he had smuggled over, and he

wanted to make a quick turn on 'em. Those cattle are worth $15 on the hoof in Kansas

City. Tom knew it and I knew it. He had $6,000, and I let him have the $10,000 to make

the deal with. His brother Ed took 'em on to market three weeks ago. He ought to be

back 'most any day now with the money. When he comes Tom'll pay that note."

through Chaparosa on my way back. At twelve o'clock to-morrow I shall call at this

bank. If this loan has been cleared out of the way by that time it will not be mentioned in

my report. If not--I will have to do my duty."

With that the examiner bowed and departed.

The President of the First National lounged in his chair half an hour longer, and then he

lit a mild cigar, and went over to Tom Merwin's house. Merwin, a ranchman in brown

duck, with a contemplative eye, sat with his feet upon a table, plaiting a rawhide quirt.

"Tom," said Longley, leaning against the table, "you heard anything from Ed yet?"

"Not yet," said Merwin, continuing his plaiting. "I guess Ed'll be along back now in a

few days."

o'clock to-morrow, and then I've got to show the cash in place of that note or--"

"Or what, Bill?" asked Merwin, as Longley hesitated.

"Well, I suppose it means be jumped on with both of Uncle Sam's feet."

"Cooper," he said, to the partner by that name, "I've got to have $10,000 to-day or to-

morrow. I've got a house and lot there that's worth about $6,000 and that's all the actual

collateral. But I've got a cattle deal on that's sure to bring me in more than that much

profit within a few days."

Cooper began to cough.

"Now, for God's sake don't say no," said Merwin. "I owe that much money on a call

loan. It's been called, and the man that called it is a man I've laid on the same blanket

with in cow-camps and ranger-camps for ten years. He can call anything I've got. He can

call the blood out of my veins and it'll come. He's got to have the money. He's in a devil

of a--Well, he needs the money, and I've got to get it for him. You know my word's

$15,000 to Myer Brothers in Rockdell, to buy cotton with. It goes down on the narrow-

you."

Merwin went back to his little bare office and plaited at his quirt again. About four

o'clock in the afternoon he went to the First National Bank and leaned over the railing of

Longley's desk.

"I'll try to get that money for you to-night--I mean to-morrow, Bill."

"All right, Tom," said Longley quietly.

At nine o'clock that night Tom Merwin stepped cautiously out of the small frame house

in which he lived. It was near the edge of the little town, and few citizens were in the

neighbourhood at that hour. Merwin wore two six-shooters in a belt, and a slouch hat.

He moved swiftly down a lonely street, and then followed the sandy road that ran

parallel to the narrow-gauge track until he reached the water- tank, two miles below the

With a gun in each hand Merwin raised himself from behind a clump of chaparral and

started for the engine. But before he had taken three steps, two long, strong arms clasped

him from behind, and he was lifted from his feet and thrown, face downward upon the

grass. There was a heavy knee pressing against his back, and an iron hand grasping each

of his wrists. He was held thus, like a child, until the engine had taken water, and until

They walked away together, side by side.

"'Twas the only chance I saw," said Merwin presently. "You called your loan, and I tried

to answer you. Now, what'll you do, Bill, if they sock it to you?"

"What would you have done if they'd socked it to you?" was the answer Longley made.

"I never thought I'd lay in a bush to stick up a train," remarked Merwin; "but a call loan's

different. A call's a call with me. We've got twelve hours yet, Bill, before this spy jumps

onto you. We've got to raise them spondulicks somehow. Maybe we can--Great Sam

Houston! do you hear that?"

They were at the door of Merwin's house. He kicked it open and fell over an old valise

upon the bed puffing at a brown cigarette.

"What's the word, Ed?" gasped Merwin.

"So, so," drawled that capable youngster. "Just got in on the 9:30. Sold the bunch for

fifteen, straight. Now, buddy, you want to quit kickin' a valise around that's got $29,000

in greenbacks in its in'ards."