The Princeton union., 1900-01-11
CHAPTER XIV.

If bad beginning pressages good
ending, the two amateur company pro-
noters ought to have been well pleased,
but, such is the Inconsistency of human
nature, they were not. Wentworth was
the least depressed by the ominous
start, although he admitted that the
letter received from the manager of the
china manufactory asserting that the
spar shown to him was of no particular
value, was a serious setback. Kenyon
maintained that Melville and Brand, his
manager of the works, were either ig-
norant Or falsi6ers of fact. The mineral,
he insisted, was all that he claimed it
to be. ' ~ 80 -
I II hardly see how that helps u.s. said
Wentworth. ''They can't be ignorant,
for they know how to make china, while
we don't. On the other hand, why should
they lie to us? What object coulc,
they have in not telling the truth?'
That was question that John was
not prepared to answer, so, being SEN
sihle man, he remained silent.
When he read Edith Longworth's let.
ter he felt more encouraged, and, in
due time, William Longworth himself
wrote, asking for an appointment, say
ing he had reconsidered the matter, and,
If satisfactory arrangements could be
made, he would be glad to assist them in
forming a company.
When the three young men met in
| Wentworth's Office, Longworth ap-
peared to have become reasonably en-
thusiastic about the project, but as
sured them that a company could not he
formed in the economical manner they
had intended. Much depended on ap-
pearances in the city; handsome Off
ces would have to be obtained, a good
firm of solicitors should be chosen and
there would be much printing and ad
,vertising to be done.
Kenyon pointed out that all this re-
quired time and money, both of which
requisites were short.
I'VE are making strike for 100000
each," said Longworth, calmly, focus.
ing his glittering monocle on Kenyon.
THAT sum of money is not picked up
in London every day, and it is never
|
little risk. If you economize on your
sprat you will not catch your gudgeon.' -
"But we haven't the money to risk ~
persisted Kenyon.
'Then, my dear sir, !" said Longworth,
"cease to fish for gudgeon, and return
to the. highly respectable profession of
mining engineering. If I am going to
! join y ou can't afford to go on to cer-
tain failure. If you can't pay for the
lottery ticket, it is foolish to expect to
draw the grand prize now, isn't it?"
Wentworth, who knew more of the
city and it's ways than his partner did,
at once recognized the truth of Long
worth's theories on the subject.
| s*"You are quite right, Mr.. Long,
WORTH" he said; ''and think that all
we need now discuss are the terms of
our agreement with each other" r>.r
"There will be little difficulty on that
ecore." replied Longworth. IT will take
q third of the risk and third of the
profits, if that is satisfactory to you.''
The agreement was completed on this
basis, and Wentworth felt that a, lone,
! step had been taken toward the
end desired, but Kenyon wondered why
their new partner had SO suddenly.
changed his mind. Offices were taken
near the bank, and much time and
money were spent in fitting them up.
Both Kenyon and Wentworth chafed
at the delay, but their partner pointed
out that nothing was to be gained by un-
due haste. Any attempt to rush things
would have q bad effect IN the city.