The Argosy, October 1906 — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

-*. half <h the che! hoists. com- tee and putting into shape the wealth ; fe data he had gathered. — - The last page of his presentment was Sap off the typewriter when his expected a visitor was announced. -Still in his Tain- coat, for he had not dared remove it a a ~been doing his. dictating, Pisrace stepped . quickly forward > and, grasping the other’s hafid, led the way to his rooms. ‘“T think we have a big thing on hand, ‘Mr. Barron,” he said when their cigars . Were well: aglow and they were finally Cee to get down to business, “a good deal bigger thing, indeed, than i had in view when I spoke to you this morning. _ Just glance over these papers and tell me what you think of ny deductions. ~ You will see that I have widened the - original scope, and now propose to take in not only the peanut-stands, but also LE = ae “candy, ice-cream, lemonade, and -* knickknack vendors, and eventually per- te) ¥ te haps the news-stands and bootblacks.” Pir The magnate took the \-report he gee _ handed over and perused it attentively, ie p y pausing occasionally to ask some intelli- gent question, which in every case Horace 2 was able to answer perrsy and satis- 2s a ey At last, iS ane fully digested the mat- ee ter, he laid it aside and sat for a mo- = ment smoking in silence. . . == ___ Clarkson waited in an agony of sus- <= pense. “Upon ‘the millionaire’s next mE _ words hung the issue as to whether he a ~ was to remain a penniless and homeless vagabond or to take the place to which __ he felt his talents entitled him. Ze = But the decision was not jong delayed. - Tt’s_a great proposition,” broke out : = Mr. Barron with sudden enthusiasm. “ I = -am simply overwhelmed by the possi- = bili ilities of ‘which you show it is capable. No eo will = me know | how ee to our association—that 1S, a _ Horace in the next two days. pore ee J feel. re is only d ine to you to. : know the real causes which have led up care to enter into partnership with one — who is traveling under false colors.” “TJ don’t see why not?” erected SSS eZ “T don’t blame you a “te in the lobby of, the hotel, where he had bit for dropping that ridiculous name, for I can readily see how it would - pre ve ny-— . self, I consider your feline me very hon-— Se Barron warmly. a detriment to your career. As for I - orable. S Now, let us get down to business - again,” B he ‘continued, “Do you really = mean to tell me that you had no ‘idea. of © this scheme at all until that girl spoke — to you on the corner. this morning, and that you have gathered all these statis-_ tics and formulated this entire Proposi- tion in one day’s time?” | “Yes,” assented. Horace modestly ; = kept me hustling a bit but I knew I had to be able to satisfy you to- night, or not at all.” “Well,” commented Che J. .Bar-. ron, aoe have often heard the expression chain lightning,’ but I never before = a > ‘had an adequate conception of what the mord really means. You are the kind of a fellow I want to get hooked up with, © and if you | say the word, we will close up the deal - The - Mr. Horace M. Clarkson ; between us right here and~now. money you require will be forthcoming as soon as you want it.’ “Then give me twenty. dollars “Orr ac- count right now,” Horace said. “JT have been living on peanuts and water for two days and not much of that. Now, Sig So8 Sek going to blow myself to the most expensive feed that this old tavern can — furnish. It’s time for me to jubilate.” ee if you still 3 = Me oe — Gs on s ~ < es ce And surely he had some cause for con- = gratulatien. ing» a poverty-stricken. peanut-vendor ; to-night he was the prospective vice president and general manager of “ The New York Corner Refreshment 206 4s | _ with the millions of Clarence J. Barron — back of him. o- . CHAPTER XI. A. ‘BUNCH. OF SURPRISES. ‘He had arisen that mern- _ = THERE was no lack ‘of occupation for With- = tireless energy which characterized hi & (© a (