The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-20
THE EVENING STOR Y
Dams Business Course.
(By James Bruce.J


| "But that was downright dishonest
said Dan.
at was business-like,' corrected
Philips. mason should not have
announced his plans. He Dragged
about them, and if Bray jumped IA
and got ahead of him, it simply SHOWS
Bray's superior business ability.
THAT is why you prefer . Bray as nj
son-in-law?" queried Dan. GU want
Mabel to marry business manager
saThat is rather a blunt way of put
ting it, said Phillips uneasy t,st
business qualifications are point
strongly in his favor.
.sWhile my lack of them is to my
discredit % -
.sYou do not have the knack Of
Selling your opportunities, salo
Phillips Now, take my case. L know
that the Smelter and Exploration COM
pany purposes getting concessions IN
Borona 1 am going to take run
down there, and get the railroad fran
chfse through Camar. Camar Is on the
coast and they will have to pay me
handsomely for what Will cost me
practically nothing. That IS business
You might enlarge your fund Of geo.
graphical information, but 1t woulc
never occur to you TO profit by what
you learn"
There is hope yet" said Dan light-
understand that your consent to my
marriage with Mabel is refused ?"
withheld" corrected Phillips. He
never gave a definite answer Wnen
he could help it. "Perhaps-in the
future" Dan nodded. Perchance In
the future his uncle might make him
his heir.
John Phillips turned to his desk
with the consciousness of an unpleas-
ant episode cleverly closed 1t was
not until the next morning that his
eyes were opened. Mabel had run
awav. "I have gone with Dam" she
wrote al want a husband, not val
liable addition to the firm of Philips
and Kent
Phillips shrugged his shoulders and
went his way. Deep in his heart
her desertion hurt, but with several
big operations pending he could not
afford to waste time. He shut his
ears to the talk of his associates, but
as the days went On and Dan ana
Mabel did not appear to ask parental
forgiveness. his anxiety grew He
had supposed that when the honey
moon was over they would come back
He was almost tempted to delay his
trip to Camar.
But there was no one else in the
firm who spoke Spanish Wen enough
to be trusted with the negotiations,
and so the mabel" his luxuriously
appointed yacht, slipped down the
bay and in due course anchored IN
1t took him two days to gain an
audience with the president of the
tiny republic, for there had just been
a revolution and matters were SLOW IN
strengthening out. Alvadora. the new
president spoke English haltingly, but
English he would speak, and Phillips,
tactful but impatient, chafed inwardly
at the delay. He spoke Spanish hu-
emily and in ten minutes he could have
approached the subject had the presi-
70 hi
this was precisely what the president
would not do.
81 spik the English, is it not so?"
he cried. "Bonato not one word could
he spik-he who would be pres1dente-
1t is to chickle-is it nOt?" ."
Another language makes another
man" quoted Phillips from an adver-
Using card he had seen in the street
cars. 81 compliment your excel
My thanks said Alvadora. you
are my friends it not so?'
But about this concession" press
ed Phillips. "Of course. a railroad
would not pay very much, but we are
looking into the future when the road
shall have made Conan great"
''Ah. yes, the railway" said Alva-
dora dreamily. For him you shall
see my business manager"
Your prime minister" suggested
Phillips correctingly.
us it that I spik the English SO
bad?" demanded the president, re-
proachfully. Mon. 1t is you who do
"But a business manager is not an
official of state. but of commerce"
persisted Phillips.
:, my fren." pleaded the president resident
manager in the morning. Look
shall send him to you, yes?"
THANK you," said Phillips. But
meanwhile let me show you the adj
vantage of such a proposition"
Alvadora waved him off. Business
matters were for the business man
ager. He was the president. 1t was
not well that he should interfere.
Phillips went away thoroughly dis
gusted, and his bad temper held the
next. morning as he waited at the
hotel for the advent of this mysterious
official. nor did his wrath cool when
a card was brought to him and he
read:
DANIEL CARTER CURTIS,
Business Manager, Republic of Camar.
"I have been instructed by the
president that you wished to see me
in the matter of some concession"
said Dan as he entered resplendent in
white flannel. 'I presume that it has
to do with the project that we dis
cussed in your office not long ago"
How the devil did you get here?"
demanded Phillips blankly.
"Dicky Etern had his yacht at Palm
Beach. He Drought US over, ex-
planned Dan. you seemed irritated
that 1 had not jumped Mason's
scheme, so came down here to get
in on this railroad matter"
And brought Mabel with your
Mrs Curtis hopes that you will do
us the honor of dining with US this
evening"
"I'll be hanged If do stormed
Phillips This caps the climax You
steal my daughter and my ideas, and
then ooIraIxy invite me TO dine with
you as though nothing had happened"
..Then do not let us air our private