Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 28, 1928 — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

516 “That place has been an eyesore,” he declared. ‘ We expected this fel- low to walk out any day. I don’t know that we can agree to his assigning the lease.” It developed that there was a clause in the lease requiring the consent of the owner to a transfer of it, but Les- ter got over this by agreeing to pay ten dollars more a month. He then presented the late proprietor of the stand with fifty dollars, and telephoned to the contractor who had made his old stand so attractive, to come and esti- mate upon the new one. If good locations could be picked up so inexpensively, he thought, there was no sense taking their proprietors in as stockholders, but for the present he would have to employ them to run their old places until he could get bet- ter men, if any such were available. The ‘transaction which placed him in control of a second place of business had not occupied an hour, but he thought he had better return to find out how Chipmunk was getting along. It was nearly time for the advance guard of noonday lunchers. There are those who devote their noon hour to the business of lunching leisurely and pleasantly, and those who consider five minutes enough to waste on eating, and use the other fifty-five minutes to do errands, window shop, sit in the parks, or stroll about the streets. He was pleased to see a group in front of his stand, and he hastened to don his white garments and aid Col- ter, who was swamped with trade. For nearly two hours both men were too busy to talk. Lester estimated that the lunch trade was nearly as good as during his prosperous days; but in his new mood he was almost sorry, for other venders would also do well and not be eager to retire from business. During a lull after two o’clock, Col- ter informed him of the new arrange- ments with the agent. “T thought we had to fall for his terms,” he apologized. “ And I knew ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. you could refuse to sign if you thought we ought to pull out.” “An increase of a hundred fifty per cent in our rent,” Lester said ruefully, “Somebody is after our lease. You did the right thing, Chip, and I’ll go round and sign up. He might lease the place without consulting us if we were slow in closing the new deal.” Chipmunk was jubilant to learn that they had a second stand, and his mer- curial temperament had mounted high because of the excellent noon business; he was sure now that their troubles were over. He had become a swift and efficient counter man, even if he was unable to compete with Lester as a barker. “Hold the fort,’ commanded Les, “while I battle with the agent.” He entered the narrow doorway of the old building, and was lifted in the poky old elevator to the third floor, where Mr. Fanshaw, the agent, had his office, a gloomy, dust-begrimed room with ancient oak furniture and dirty windows. There are many such offices in many such buildings in lower New York, buildings which are darkened by high steel-frame structures on all sides, and whose revenue from rentals barely pay the taxes, so tremendously has the value of the land upon which they stand risen, and whose owners are holding on to sell some day at fabu- lous prices. Fanshaw had no private office; so Lester came upon him arguing with a tall, red-faced man with savage black eyes. ““T don’t care what they pay, I’ll top it,” he declared. “ You get those fel- lows out of there.” “T beg your pardon, Mr. Fanshaw,” said Lester. “Tl wait outside until you are free.” “That’s all right, Mr. Lucus,” re- plied the agent. ‘“ That young man, your partner, agreed to pay one hun- dred and twenty-five dollars a month rent on a six months’ lease. I don’t (eo) DOO ANU S (C@