at every time you buy on a
margin the bank puts up the rest; and if that stock goes down they'll
call your loan and you're legally liable for the loss. You'll have to
step lively if you buck Whitney H. Stoddard--he's liable to smash the
price down to nothing."

"I'll show him!" gritted Rimrock, "but I'll call up that bank first and
find out just how far I can go. A man like me, worth fifty millions at
least----"

"Ye-es!" jeered Buckbee, and as the broker hung up Rimrock called the
president of the bank. It took time to get him, but when Rimrock
stated his case he promised an immediate report. The answer came
within half en hour--he could borrow up to five hundred thousand.

"All right," said Rimrock, and calling up Buckbee he told him to go
ahead and buy.

"How much?" enquired Buckbee.

"Buy all you can get," answered Rimrock briefly and hurried off to the
bank.

"Now about this loan," said the president pleasantly, "I find we have
already given you money on your note up to nearly the entire five
hundred thousand. Of course there's no question of your ability to
pay, but wouldn't it be more businesslike if you could put up a little
collateral?",

"For instance?" said Rimrock and at the note of antagonism the
president was quick to explain.

"Of course you understand," he went on cordially, "you are good, as far
as I'm concerned. But we have such troublesome things as bank
examiners, and the law is very strict. In fact, a loan of half a
million dollars on the unendorsed note of one man----"

"How much do you want?" asked Rimrock and fetched out a great sheaf of
Navajoa.

"Well--not Navajoa," said the banker uneasily, "we have quite a lot of
that already, on brokers' loans. Mr. Buckbee, you know. But if you
would just put up, say two thousand shares of Tecolote----"

"No!"

"We could loan you up to two million."

The president paused and glanced at him mildly, but Rimrock had thrown
down his stock.

"No," he said, "you can take this Navajoa or I'll quit and go somewhere
else. I wouldn't put up a single share of Tecolote if you'd give me
your whole, danged bank."

"Very well," said the president with a fleeting smile, "we'll accept
your Navajoa. My secretary will arrange it--but mind this is on a call
loan! Give him credit for five hundred more," he added and the clerk
showed Rimrock out.

There are certain formalities that the richest must observe before they
can borrow half a million