The state herald., 1910-02-11


your personal appearance, but that's
just one more item in the assets. An.
other big one is that you're first.
class musician. whereas half these
singers can only bang the box like
great, laundering overgrown school
girls. Allow that?"
Il suppose / must allow anything"
laughed the prima donna.
We'll, now, I've told you. You've
got the name | need, and you've got
the voice, and the talent, and you've
got the science and culture. suppose
you'll let me say that I've got the
business ability, won't you?"
The iron mouth smiled n little
grimly.
Rather! I fancy some people have
wished you had less,"
And the moneys here, for always
have a blank cheque in my pocket. If
You like. I'll I'LL 1t in, and wen de-
post 1t wherever you say. in the
name OF the 'Cordova Opera Company
or Nine. da Cordova, Rufus Van Torp
d CO. We can make out our little
| agreement in duplicate right here, on
the corner of the table, and sign It;
and before we leave here you might
go around and speak to the best sing
ers about an engagement in New York
for n Wagner festival. year from
next Christmas. That's business, and
this is n purely business proposition.
IL you'd like to think II over, I'll go
and take little walk before dinner"
1T sounds like dreaml" 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. you'll
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.
It was not the first time in his life
that the financler had seen the stun.
ming effect of a big sum. projected
with precision. like n shell, at exactly
the right moment He was playing
the great game again. but for n prize
he thought worth more than any he
had yet won. and the very magnitude
of the risk steadied his naturally
steady brain.
yes" he said quietly. Il do. Per
haps I've startled you little. and |
shouldn't like you 10 make n decision
till you feel quite ready to. III lust
say again that I've thought the whole
thing out as n genuine venture. and
that believe In II. or ! wouldn't pro.
pose 1t. Maybe you've got some sen.
sible lawyer you have confidence In,
and would like to consult him first. II
you feel that way. I'd rather you
should. A business partnerships not
n thing TO go into with your eyes
shut. and If we had any reason for
dlstrusting one another, II would be
better TO make inquiries. But so far
as that goes, II 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 In II, though. II you can spare II,
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 would
to n man In the same position. Not
because ! doubt that II you put your
name TO n piece OF paper you really
| tkgll do uhu
because I'm used to working In that
sort OF way In business. How does
that strike you? | hope you're not
offended"
offended"
There was no mlstaklng the sup.
pressed excitement and delight In her
voice. II he had possessed the intel.
llgcnce OF Mephistophelcs and the
charm OF Faust he could not have said
anything more subtly pleasing to her
dignity and her vanity.
"of course" he said, 1T needn't be
very large sum. Stlll II ought TO he
something that would make dlffor-
onco TO you"
She hositatod n moment, and then
spoke rather timidly.
II think porhaps-lf we did It'll
could manage hundred thousand
pounds" she said. Would that be
too little, do you Think
Tho large mouth twltohcd and then
smiled pleasantly.
That's too much" he aald shaking
HIS head. you mustn't put all your
eggs In one basket A hundred thou.
sand dollars would be quite enough
ms your share Of the capital, with op.
tlon to buy stock OF mo at par, up to
u million. or 80. II IT'S u success"
Really Would that bc cnough7
And. please. what IN stock In such a
cAAc7"
Stock" said the fnanoicl, rs n III.
Tie plant which, when we'll watercd.
win grow like the mustard seed. tn
all the birds OF Wall street mako their
nests In It's branches And II you don't
water II too much. it'll be all right In
our raHo tho Htork Ia roinr In bo