The Argosy, Vol. 84 No. 1 — page 144: what you’re looking at

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

134 your fine sentiments when you left Southampton I wouldn’t have come back so soon. As it was I had a picture of you this way, all the time.” “Wrong, my boy; you do me an in- justice,’ returned Preston. “As a mat- ter of fact, you see me resting after an extremely arduous morning. I collected interest on three mortgages and it looks as though I had that Belle Avon pros- pect on the skids.” “ All right.” Finch turned grudgingly to his desk, and presently bounced up from his chair and came over to Pres- ton’s side. : “ Preston,” he said, “ here’s this note ot Renault’s. It’s due day after to- morrow. We can’t meet it. Run down and see him, will you, and get a three months’ extension. He always seemed to like you. Go ahead. In the mean time T’ll see if I can get old man Squires to take up that option we hold on that Twenty-Third Street property. If I can put it over we’ll be on Easy Street.” Preston, true to his new resolution, arose without grumbling and put on his hat. “TI don’t know about Renault,” he said. ‘I don’t think he’s particularly stuck on doing us any favors. However, I'll see.”’ ‘All right.” Finch, seated at the tele- phone, nodded, and then gave Squire & Company’s number as Preston: left the office. Finch had no difficulty in getting into communication with Amos Squires and was delighted to find that the man was in an amiable mood. “T have looked over the property quite carefully,” he told Finch, “ and if everything is all right I think I can put it to good use. Yes, I mean [’ll take it, provided, of course, my lawyers give their sanction. You might send the pa- pers down to them at once, as I’m rather anxious to close the matter. The lawyers are Redmond & Redmond at 50 William Street.” Finch’s tongue was tipped with honey. THE ARGOSY. Oh, of course, he would send the papers down at once, and he was quite certain that no flaw would be found as he had studied the property very carefully in the original instance. Ringing off, he bundled up the documents carefully, tied them with tape, and summoned a mes- senger boy. With the papers on their way, Finch got Redmond & Redmond on the tele- phone. ‘“T am sending the papers in the mat- ter of the West Twenty-Third Street property option matter for you to look over, at the request of Amos Squires,” he told them. ‘“ Do you suppose you could give me an answer on them to-day, as I have another party who is _ in- terested?” He was assured that the papers would receive immediate attention. Mr. Squires had requested it and they did not be- heve that the process would consume more than three hours, provided every- thing was clear and straight. “Oh, I’m sure you'll find no difficulty at all,” chirruped Finch, who then hung up the receiver and chuckled delightedly. If this thing could be swung it would be a big piece of business, and while Preston did not know it, Finch had ar- ranged details in such a way that Pres- ton’s percentage would be considerably less than his own. If, with the deal com- pleted, Preston wished to protest, why, Finch did not care. Yet Finch had come in contact with Squires through Preston. He leaned back in his chair, quite con- tent to remain inactive until the lawyers had given an opinion, which he had no doubt would be favorable. And in the meantime Preston had gone down to the offices of the private banker, Jacques Renault, to obtain grace upon the three months’ note. The banker received him courteously. He had always liked the young man, a fact, indeed, which had induced him to discount the firm’s note. But he was not inclined to grant Preston’s request. “It is not on your account, Mr. Pres- COMMICLOOOKS (C@