The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-11-06

neal SnIAsInas. lnaCS business, and |
this is a purely business proposition.
II you'd like to think it over, I'll 20
and take little walk before dinner"
1T sounds like a dream!" Margaret
answered, in wondering tone.
Moneys an awful reality" Van
Torp remarked. I'm talking bust,
ness, and as I'm the one who's going
to put up most of the capital, your
DO me the credit to believe that I'm
quite wide awake"
DO you really, really, really mean
it,? She spoke almost like a child.
1t was not the first time in his life
that the financier had seen the stun.
ming eject of big sum. projected
with precision, like a SHE'LL at exactly
the right moment. He was PLAYING
the great game again, but for a prize
he thought worth more than anv he
had yet won. and the very magnitude
OF the risk steadied his naturally
steady brain.
Yes" he said quietly, II do. Per.
haps I've startled you a little. and 4
shouldn't like you to make a decision
TILL you feel quite ready to. I'll Just
say again that I've thought the whole
thing out as genuine venture, and
that l believe in it, or I wouldn't pro.
pose 1t. Maybe you've got some sen.
s1Die lawyer you have confidence in,
and would like to consult him first, II
you feel that way, I'd rather Won
should. A business partnerships not
a thing to go into with your ewes
shut, and If we had any reason for
distrusting one another. it would be
better to make inquiries. But 80 far
as that goes, it appears to me that
we've got the facts to go on, which
would make any partnership succeed.
You've certainly got the musical
brains, besides little money of your
own, and I've certainly got the rest Of
the funds. I'd like you to put some
money 1t, though, If you can spare It.
because that's guarantee that you're
going to be in earnest, too, and do
your share in the musical side. You
see I'm talking to you just as l would
to man in the same position. Not
because l doubt that if you put your
name to piece of paper you really
Will do your share as a partner. but
because I'm used to working in that
sort of way in business. How does
that strike you? l hope you're not
offended"
"Offended!"
There was no mistaking the SUP.
pressed excitement and delight in her
voice. If he had possessed the intel
1gence of Mephistopheles and the
charm of Faust he could not have said
anything more subtly pleasing to her
dignity and her vanity.
"Of course" he said, ut needn't ha
a very large sum. Still it ought to be
something that would make a differ
ence to you
She hesitated moment, and then
spoke rather timidly.
II think perhaps-if we did fl
could manage a hundred thousand
pounds" she said. would that he
too little, do you Think"
The large mouth twitched and then
smiled pleasantly. '"'; :; 100 a.
That's too much" he said, shaking
his head. "You mustn't put all your
eggs in one basket. A hundred thou
sand dollars would be quite enough
as your share of the capital, with op.
ton to buy stock of me at par, up to
million, or so, If it's a success"
Really? Would that be enough?
And. please, what is stock in such a
case?"
Stock" said the financial, lis a it,
tie plant which, when we'll watered,
will grow like the mustard seed, till
all the birds of Wall street make their
nests in its branches. And If you don't
water 1t too much, it'll be all right. In
our case, the stock is going to be
that share of the business which most
people sell to raise money, and which
we mean to keep for ourselves. l al
ways do it that way, when circum-
stances allow. once bought all the
stock OF a railroad for nothing, for
instance, and sold all the bonds, and
let 1t go bankrupt. Then 1 bought
the road one day, and found all the
stock was in my own pocket. That's
only little illustration. But I guess
SSo SaA ACofO LuS uuduCldl SlO6 IN my
hands. You won't lose by it, I'm pref
ty sure"
Il fancy mott" Margaret's eyes
were wide open, her hands were
clasped tightly on her knee, and she
was leaning forward a little. BE
Sides" she went on, ut would not be
the money that should care about!
l can earn more money than want,
and l have little fortune of my own
the hundred thousand offered you.
On, no! 1t would be the splendid
power to have the most beautiful
music in the world given as it could
be given nowhere else! The Joy of
singing myself-the parts 1 can sing
in the most perfect surroundings!
An orchestra picked from the whole
world Of orchestras, the greatest liy-
Ing leaders, the most faultless chorus!
And the scenery. and the costumes
everything as everything could be. IL
1t were really, really the best that