"You know there's a meeting of the Consolidated directors next week. Instruct me about that note of yours--whether to renew or take it up." "What note?" "Covered by the twenty-five thousand in Food Products' paper. You borrowed ten thousand from Consolidated, if you remember, on behalf of the Armstrong Company, and turned the money over to Deming." "Oh, that!" Armstrong thought for a moment. "Why, I'll renew the loan to Food Products for another three months--to pay me now would rather handicap them. No use taking up the paper from Consolidated until Food Products can make good. Suppose you renew for three months--or better make it four months. Then Food Products will be on its feet." Macgowan nodded. "I'll tell Jimmy Wren, and if Findlater objects we'll show him who runs the voting Trust. By the way, you people going to be in town over Christmas, or not?" "No, we'll be in Evansville. Dorothy's folks are going to Europe right after the holidays, and we'll spend Christmas with them, then bring 'em East. Christmas in Evansville listens good, Mac!" Armstrong's rare smile leaped out. "Real juleps, remember 'em? And the kind of turkey that isn't grown around here. And 'possum. And ladies with the Kentucky slur to their tongues--the soft slur that leaves mighty few bachelors in those parts! Better come along with us, old man. What say?" Macgowan shook his head. "Thanks, but I can't. Deming isn't doing anything?" "No, he's definitely out of business. By the way, we had a caller at the house the other evening--that chap from Evansville who's a relative of yours. Ried Williams." Macgowan glanced up in astonishment. "Williams! Is he in town? Hope he doesn't look me up." Armstrong laughed. "Why? Aren't you on good terms?" "I suppose so." Macgowan shrugged lightly. "I never had much use for that chap; he's no good. Look how he cut up when we threw him out of Food Products!" "While I never claimed to love him, I'd hate to insult your relatives, Mac," and Armstrong laughed cheerily. "His injured dignity has recovered; at least, he appeared very amiable. He's an old friend of Dorothy's; not a dear friend, but he forms a link with her home town, you know." Macgowan stirred uneasily. "He isn't locating here, is he?" "No." Armstrong leaned back. "He's in the brokerage business in Indianapolis, I gather. You recall that other man on the Food Products board, the one who looked like a dissipated Adonis, and who aspired to Dorothy? Pete Slosson?" "Yep," grunted Macgowan. His eyes, under veiling lids, were very bright and keen. "The two are in partnership and doing well, according to Williams. I always thought they both hated me like sin for dumping them out of Food Products, but they've gotten over it. Williams showed up pretty well, though I'd not trust him very far."