The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-23
NORRITT'S FLOTATION.
TFrom the CycIe.1

rom the 0EGAG-I
The premises occupied by the Merritt
Cycle company were, TO put it modestly,
unpretentious They consisted Of a
small. dirty looking factory, situated
down q narrow alley OF Birmingham,
and still dirtier office, with a small
square aperture in the wall bearing the
IA bel above it. Inquiries"
The Merritt Cycle company first made
its appearance on the cycling horizon
IN the year 1886. when the fashionable
boom was on. and after lavish eN-
penditure on gas pipe tubing and hose
pipe tires. q quantity OF alleged bicycles
were stored together and offered to an
unsuspecIing public at the modest fig
ure Of $50 each. BY means Of cOplOuS
advertising in the daily papers the Nor
r5tt Cycle company actually managed to
dispose OF these. and more OF the same
were speedily put on the market In
fact so successful was the Merritt Cy-
Gle company that at the end OF sea
sons training the head Of the firm was
able 10 take a coy villa IN the SUP
urbs. where he and the company IN
the person Of his wife, settled down
From being plain BIZ Merritt lie
sprouCed out TO William Merritt, Esq.
and instead Of the cheap blue cloth suit
OF former days he wore good honest
tweed. his cOpiOus expanse OF waist (fOr
his figure had developed with his for
runes) being Ornamented with heavy
and ella bora1e gold chain and gigantic
seal In fact, everyone was made aware
Of the fact that odd Bill NOrT1tt' had
struck oil. Society opened its arms to
M and Mrs. Merritt. and the latter 5
Jewels were the envy OF many fair
daughter Of Brunl.
one day a visitor turned up at the
ONCE Of the NOrriIt Cycle company and
inquired for William Merritt. The dirty
faced urchin who poked his face
through the aperture asked the gentle
man for his card and disappeared with
II IN his little black fist He returned
again TO inform the visitor that Mr.
Merritt was too busy to see him The
latter was persistent. however. and at
last a gruf voice was heard from the
interior granting the stranger admission
IL a manner anything but graceful
Good morning began the frock-
coated and tall-hatted Individual as ne
entered. but he was cut short with;
Wei. what the devil do you want?
What's your business. eh?''
With the utmost urbanity the stran-
ger replied
Ny business. Mr.. Merritt, is Of such
q nature that il may put thousands in
70 your pocket
I'm" said the head Of the firm. 7
thought you were an advertisement
But IN not Mr.. Merritt: I'm a com
psny promoter. and I've got a scheme to
OFFER you that VIII put q bigger fortune
into your pockets than you'd make sell
ing bicycles in a lifetime
BY this time the oily manner Of Mr.
Norritt's visitor had quoted the ruffied
feathers Of the head Of the Merritt Cy-
Gle company. and capacious cigar box
was produced
The Merritt cycles continued the
visitor. are now so well known that we
ought not TO have the least difficulty IN
getting the public TO subscribe halt a
million OF money for the business, #
We 20 about il in the right way l have
already fixed up Lord Fitzbroke. the
Duke of LeedrOp. and two OF three other
ID - H.
can come TO terms OF course, the Valu-
able services Of yourself viii be retained
as managing director"
BY this time Mr.. Merritt was abso-
lutcly mesmerized by his visitor, though
he had sufficient common sense to keep
his feelings well under control.
The fact Of the matter is. Mr.. Tooley.
he said. I'm not really anxious to offer
the business TO the public. but III talk
II over with Mrs. Merritt. and we'll see
what can be done Where are you
stopping"
have a bit Of lunch. We can go into the
details more fully and work out the
figures"
and. after giving e few instructions &c
the Office boy Mr.. Merritt stepped out
in company with his visitor. To tell
the truth. he was inwardly delighted al
the prospect OF floating his company,
for things had latterly been slumping
Just little. and he found II harder 10
dispose OF his machines than II used 70
be Besides. he had got caught in the
whirlpool OF gambling that had drawn
SO many magnates OF the cycle trade
into It's vortex. and there were one OF
two people in the city who held paper
from him
The lunch was excellent. and the
champagne so good that q further sup
ply was ordered William Merritt was
undoubtedly enjoying himself. His
companion was talking about millions
IN g way that made poor Norritt's head
fairly reel. and was making lightning
calculations On the tablecIoth- Then
the two adjourned to the smoking room
where liqueurs and cigars were ordered
Sc agreeable did Mr.. Merritt find the
conversation and manner of his host
that ne found IL difficult to drag himself
away even when the clock struck 3.
Look here he said. as he stepped
into the hanson which his companion
had considerably hailed for him You
must come out and spend tomorrow
night at Merritt lodge with me and the
missus- Come In time for dinner, and
weu put you up for the night
Delighted" said the other. and Mr.
Merritt drove away with the impression
that he had never met such jolly good
fellow IN his life
The next night arrived, and with ii
MI Toclsy. who very speedily insinu-
ated himself into the good gracen OF
Mrs Merritt
Such n haHahle young man." she