e Sugar Creek Furniture Company failed to
rouse the town. The Sugar Creek Company, one of the industries that Paul
Fosdick had promoted, had seemed to escape the dark fate that had
pursued his other projects, so that the abruptness with which it shut
down gave the local financial seismograph a severe wrench.

The factory had been one of the largest employers of labor in
Montgomery, and its suspension was reported to be due to the refusal of
the First National to advance money for its next maturing weekly
pay-roll. To several of the workingmen who consulted Waterman about
their claims, he broached the matter of a mass meeting in the circuit
courtroom to discuss the business conditions of Montgomery. Two hundred
men and boys were thrown out of work by the failure of the furniture
company; rumors as to the relations between the company and the First
National caused the stability of the Holton bank to be debated
guardedly; and April 1st was fixed definitely in the minds of the Main
Street gossips as the date for drastic action in Sycamore matters.

* * * * *

Mr. Amzi Montgomery's frequent absences in Indianapolis had occasioned
comment of late. He returned, however, on the evening of the 28th, and
before the "Bank Open" side of the battered tin sign was presented to
Main Street on the morning of the 29th, a number of citizens had called
to ask his opinion of the local financial conditions. He answered their
anxious inquiries with his habitual nonchalance, leaning against the
counter, with his cigar at an angle that testified to unruffled serenity
and perfect peace with the world. Amzi had brought home from the capital
a new standing collar, taller than he was in the habit of wearing, and
from its deep recesses his countenance appeared more than usually chaste
and demure. The collar, a dashing bow tie, and a speckled waistcoat that
was the most daring expression of sartorial art available at the
capital, gave to Amzi an air of uncommon jauntiness.

"What about this, Amzi? Is the whole town going to smash?" asked Judge
Walters.

"Nope. Worst's over. Nothing to worry about."

"I've got to appoint a receiver for the furniture company in a few
minutes. I hope I'm not going to have to run the whole town through my
court."

"You won't. The Sugar Creek Furniture Company is a year behind time; I
thought it would go down last year. Then they bounced Fosdick, and it
naturally picked up a little;