Judge — November 22, 1919 — page 21: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

son, Clinton and Vander streets for a new soap fac- tory—one of the largest in the world!” “Soap! What wonders are achieved in thy name! Well, little girl—my little girl !—we shall wait a while, as you wish. But we can’t wait forever, you know!” Their hands dropped to a meeting that no one could note. The pressure was mutually thrilling. And they talked on, but it was love talk. Two weeks afterward, having sent in his card, waited in the anteroom of the elaborate offices of the » Corporation, of which Hiram Paxon Guy hardly expected the courtesy, but Gu Universal was president he was asked in. Hiram Paxon swung in his easy office chair and 1 his visitor, but his countenance was not cordial and he did not indicate a seat. “Well, young man, what is it?” he asked raspingl “I want to marry your daughter, Marjorie,” bluntly. replied. “You do, ch? Rather ambitious. What is vocation, if the question is not impertinent?” could have been distilled from Hiram’s tone. “I'm experimenting, sir. Haven't yet fixed upon what I may really de “A dilly-dallier, eh? But that is a genteel name for it. Well, young man, my daughter, for whom I have ambitious plans, may think something of you. I should worry about it if I were not convinced that a girl's fancy is ephemeral. I heard you play the Guy your Acid piano and sing to her one evening when neither of you knew I was in the house. A mere girl thinks a lot about such things. I have casually asked her about you, though with no design whatever that you should become my son-in-law. She says you are also a beauti ful dancer.” The contempt in Hiram’s tone was meant to be withering. “And possibly you play games as well—say poker, for instance?” “Oh, [have played poker in a strictly social environ- ment. And I also play tennis, golf and bridg “Ah! Quite accomplished! Apparently a young man of leisure. But from my slight knowledge of the arts in which you assume to be proficient I doubt if you ever become a virtuoso in any of them. Doubt- less you imagine that you can take the place of Pader- ewski—who has become a politician—as a pianist?” “Oh, no, sir.” EP singer? “Hardly. I'm a baritone.” “Maybe you can dance as well as some of the per- sons who are said to command large salaries in that field ?” “Mr. Paxton, you'll ¢ amateur in all those things. for public applause.” hen what is your bent?” “I'm thinking of going into real estate.” “‘Going into’ is good!” Hiram laughed cynically. “But one has to start in anything, ibly you think you can succeed Caruso as a cuse me—but I'm an And I have no ambition Drawn by L. C. Puiren Ladies (waiting to use public mirror while Triggs is trying to remove a rhe nerve of that conceited little shrimp! painful speck of dust from his eye)— He'll powder his nose next, most likely. 2 you know Hiram’s laugh became raucous. “Say, young man, I’m busy, but I want to give you a pointer. You've heard of Wall Street shark: “In a general way—yes, sir.” “Well, they’re simple sunfish com- pared with the species in real estate. I'll tell you something: My com- pany has been trying to get hold of a certain block on the west side of town where | improvement has kept the prices low. We worked quietly, and bought three-quarters of the block only to find that the most desirable quarter had been tied up on an option. There’s no record of the matter yet and we can’t imagine who the devil could have got wind of our plans. You see what an opu- lent opportunity you have to ‘get into’ real estate! “Tn the language of the street, you n what they call ‘a fat chane " actly that. A fat chance.” “Well, Mr. Paxon, I'm the one who tied up that quarter of the block. I hold the option.” ibe219 comicbooks.