Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-03-16

SHORT STORY
OF THE DAY

frcu, b Cycle.

NoRRlTT'S FL0TArI0N.
Frm tie Cycle.
Ths premises occupied by the Merritt
Cycle Company were. TO put 1t modcs,ly.
unrretentsous They consisted OF . small.
dirty looking factory. situated down a mar
rev alley OF Birmingham, and q stiil dtrtisr
cfice. with . small square aperture In the
wall bearing the label ABOVE Il, I'm
SQuiriex."
The Norrit, Cycle Company first made
It's appearance on the cycling horizon In
the year 1886. when the fashionable boom
MAS on, and after a lavish expenditure on
Ras pipe tubing and hose pip tires, a
gtfbi.c at the modest figure Of go each.
BY means Of copieus advertising in the
actSaIly managed TO dispose of these. and
more OF the same were speedily put on the
Merritt Cycle Company that at the end
OF a seasons trading the head Of The firm
VAS able to take q coy villa in the sub
she person Of his wife. settled down. From
being plain BIZ Merritt he sprouted out
20 William Merritt. ESQ, and instead OF
he wore a good honest tweed. his copious
expanse OF waist Qor his figure hao de-
veioped with his %fortunesl being
~ va n ASSNy dtfo 8OlO GUdlul
and a gigantic seal. In fact, everyone was
made aware OF the fact that "Old Bill
Merritt" had struck oil. Society opened
fair d.nghter Of Brum.
One day q visitor turned mp at the ONCE
quired for william Merritt. The dirty
faced urchin who poked his face through
The ap pna asked the .i Esnt Y =. IL for his
the visitor tha, Mr.. Merritt was too busy
e Sow sss nam and a az last aa'' e r run p peies sa.
heard from the interior granting the
ietraneer admission In a manner anything
Good morning." began the f~rock-coa4ed
nd tail-hatted indlvidusi. as he entered.
well. what the devil do you want?
What's your business. eh!"
with the utmost urbanity the stranger re-
my business, Mr.. Merritt, is Of such a
natare that it may put thousands into your
Tin. said the head Of the firm, .1
ssoashs you were an advertisement cam
but I'm not. Mr.. Merritt: I'm a company
g 8 sssi W sah p pSs s0f bi 8 ssnf sortu 10 G int
SoSE pockets than you'd make selling BIZ
sittfs visitor had Quoted the ruined feafh-
ers Of the head Of the Merritt Cycle Com
S scs and q cspaciou' cigar box was pro-
'sThe Merritt cycles" continued the visit
Of: are now 60 we'll known that We ouEht
Che public to subscribe half a million Of
money 70. the business. II We 60 sbont II
r; re si.ht Esy; ! haze haze s ~ fs fixed . up
two or three other big pots who will join
the boards. II W. can come to terms. 0f
Ssis s. retained sass a. MANAGING direcior."
j BY this tire Mr.. Merritt was absolutely
2mesmeriEed by his visitor. though he had
SufncIent comnon sense to keep his feelings
"fhe TACT Of the matter is. Mr.. Tooley."
Re aid I'm not realty anxiou e., TO- 20, Efe r.
can b done. Where are you stopping?"
NJ ! =, you ' sssn ou Ct r az hete and Sr nave = sI bii
81 lunch. We can 90 into the details more
fully and work out the hEnresn
after giving . few instructions. to the of
with his visitor. TO tell the truth. ne was
ins Ills company, for things had lafterly
harder to dispose Of his machines than Il
the whirlpool OF gambling that had drawn
% mar magnates Of the cycle trade into
s &, sss. sif; an. aSa ,h seid T paee ans from OF 1h sim people
3 The lunch was excellent, n the cham
payne SO GOOD that = further supply was
II snjoyinE himself. His Companion Was
talking about millions. In q way that made
poor Norritt'e head fairly reel. and was
cIofh. nc the two adjourned to. the
we're ordered. So agreeable did Mr.. Nor.
his host that he found Il diiicuIt to drag
himself away even when the clock struck 5.
Look here he said. as he stepped into
siderately hailed for him. you must come
OUT and spend Tomorrow night at Merritt
lodge With me and the missus. Come In
time thn , for dinner. and Wen put you up for
"Deiighfcd!" said the other. md Mr.. Nor
lfasf h drove vsv away g. with 18th, the 3 Inn impression ssaS f. thai
4 The next night arrived. and with It Mr..
desli Into the good sraces Of Mrs. Worritt.
10 g; Norriti when their visitor had de-
Norritt was delighted, and could dream Of
Snothing but millions al! the night. Visions
proepectuses, in which the name Of W.
could see himself with the magic letters J.
j. attached to hts name. Why not even in
sa%s Il Il. ~; .,e. Ana II 20 I'M Mr. b MS5.sss i man night sba
has done . good stroke Of business. =
lust 9 the hall clock OF Merritt lodge
yas strssinE 3 o'clock a. cab came around
littls way from Mr.. Norritt's residence. A
man jumped out and gave some instruc.
olonE the street. The strange who had
allghtsd came up to the ratings Of Merritt
ledge and gave q peculiar whistle. A few
minutes moro and the hall door was gently
opened and Mr.. Eorritt's visitor appeared.
Ah feet being minus boots.
WELL" said the new arrival ia q low
voice. .'got the swag?"
'Yes." replied the other softly. ITS all