The San Francisco call., 1908-07-19

builder and contractor. sat at the win
dow, moodily tapping his fingers upon
the window sill. Fertig touched him
on the shoulder.
so you want 10 go through bank
ruptcy. too?" he queried.
Campion nodded. Why, is there
anybody else?" he asked.
Come with me-" returned the law
yer. With Peter Campion he retraced
his steps and entered his private Of
fee At the off side Of the desk there
sat another man.
Hello. Pantaneous," exclaimed Cam
pion. Hope you're not indulgin' in
the luxury Of the law
That's what I am" returned Pan
taneous. He hesitated for an instant.
"Oh. thunder he finally exclaimed,
petulantly, you might as well know it.
Peter. I'm broke Ny wife is rails
ing the dickens. We've spent all my
money and all her money. I'm going to
pull up stakes and take a job some
where. I'm going through
bankruptcy. Campion. Fertig, here, is
going to put me through"
Peter Campion, the builder. laughed
uneasily. Well" he said at last. Il
don't mind telling you that I'm go
ing through myself"
Pantaneous rose from his seat. You,
Campion?" he queried. 7 thought you
were good for any amount of money,
sure"
so does the town." returned the
builder. but the town don't know"
Fertig leaned back in his arm chair
with his thumbs in his armpits. It's
great note. gentlemen" he com
mented. when the whole country is
going mad with prosperity that a couple
of solid men in the town OF Cadwalader
are compelled TO join the Down and
Out club so soon. And yet" he smiled.
do you know I've just been waiting
for couple Of ducks like you. Pan
taneous." he asked. swinging suddenly
upon that gentleman. "of what do your
assets consist?"
Pantaneous hesitated. He didn't want
TO talk in front Of Peter Campion. 60
on" insisted Fertig. spit it out"
Three hundred acres Of marsh land
in the hollow. Malaria and mosqui-
toes. Worth dollar an acre to the
right man. But the right man never
came along so far"
Good" returned Fertig; you're
property owner. And Campion here is
an o. x builder and contractor. Great
combination Campion," he queried,
''how much is your credit worth at the
State bank here?"
Not a dollar"
-At the Cadwalader national, then?"
Not a cent" walled Campion; 'if it
had been-well, I'm game If I could
have borrowed ten thousand I could
have bought some good lots and put
up some tenements on building loans
could have pulled through all right
and possibly made money. But as it
Is
How much can you borrow of any
one man here in town, then?" asked
the lawyer.
Possibly thousand. The town be-
lieves I'm good"
Fertig rubbed his hands. "oh. I've
been waiting for two such ducks as
you" he repeated unctuously; two
OF good families-prosperous men like
you"
'Prosperousr' they walled in uni
son. "and on the eve Of bankruptcy"
@Oh. no" returned Fertig: mot
bankruptcy. Why, thunderation. you
can't go through bankruptcy. The law
won't stand for it, you see"
why not?"
Because" protested Fertig. your
assets far exceed your liabilities" He
held out his hand. "oh. yes, they do"
he persisted; here's Pantaneous. He
owns 800 acres, WORTH
Three hundred dollars" said Pan
taneous.
Three hundred thousand dollars"
smiled the counselor at law: "and-
here's Campion. with an established
business and a great scheme
"A great scheme" faltered Campion.
Sure" returned Fertig; you're go
ing to develop those 300 acres. You're
gong to beautify them with little
colonial cottages. Green shingles.
White paint -" Oh. yes. And
here am !, the tail end of the tri-
umvirate. Take US altogether. ideas
and all We're worth a million. Not
that I have a dollar in real cash. Still,
we're worth a million just as we stand.
And behind that million we've got an
pther million"
Another millionr' they exclaimed.
Fertig nodded. Our names, our
solid business regulations" he ex-
planned. ARE worth at least that much.
Come now he commanded; sit down
and let US reason together.
For Is minutes he did all the talking
Finally Campion snorted in disgust.