Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1910-02-10
81 II DINAS RIJB11

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partnership, and do this kind of thing
brown, as it ought to be DONE Mar
garet opened her handsome eyes wide.
Because continued Mr.. Van Torp,
as coolly as if he were explaining
new plan to board Of directors,
we've got the capital and the ability
between us, and there's demand in
New York for what l propose to do.
It'll fill want, / know, and that
means success and money Why don't
we build a theater together? When l
say a theater, I mean a first-class
opera house and not barn. Well
employ the best architects to build it,
and, of course, I'd leave everything
about it to you. I've got block in
New York just about in the right
place, and it won't take long to build.
I'll give the land and put up the
money for the building, if you'll un-
dertake the management. You'll put
in any money you like, of course, and
we'll share the profits. Maybe they'll
be quite handsome, for We'll lease the
theater to other people outside of the
season. Well have the best talent in
Europe, and pay for it, and the public
will pay JUS back. Well call it the
Cordova Opera, if you like, and you'll
run it according to your own ideas,
and sing or not, whenever you please"
"Are you in earnest?"
Margaret had some difficulty in pro-
nouncing the words clearly. Was
| mhn did
not dream of having the most perfect
theater of her very own, and who
could receive unmoved the offer to
build one from man who could build
20 if he chose? Very rarely in her
life had she been aware of her bodily
heart, but she could feel it now, beat
ing like a hammer on the anvil.
I'm in earnest" Van Torp an
swered with perfect calm. 1--WE
thought the whole thing over in all it's
aspects, just as l would railroad or
canal, or mine, and I've concluded
to try it, if you'll help me, because it's
going to be safe investment. You
see, Miss Donne," he went on slowly,
there's no artist on the grand opera
stage now who's so well equipped for
the business as you are. I'm not fiat
tering you, either. In your own kind
of parts you've simply got no rival
Everybody says so, and l suppose you
won't play kitty and deny it. Let's
start fair, now"
ut would be silly to deny that I'm
one of the first" Margaret admitted.
"That'll do, thank you. One of the
first, and the first is one of them, and
you're it. Besides, you've got before
you what's behind most of them.
You're young. I'm not talking about
your personal appearance, but that's
just one more item in the assets. An
other big one is that you're a first
class musician whereas half these
singers can only bang the box like
great, laundering overgrown school
girls. Allow that?"
81 suppose I must allow anything"
laughed the prima donna.
well, now, I've told you. You've
got the name I 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 a little
grimly.
Rather! fancy some people have
; wished you had less!"
"And the moneys here, for | always
have blank cheque in my pocket. If
you like, TIL fill it in, and we'll de-
post it wherever you say, in the
name of the 'Cordova Opera Company,
or Nine. da Cordova, Rufus Van Torp
e 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 a Wagner festival, year from
next Christmas. That's business, and
this is purely business proposition.
{ If you'd like to think it over, I'll go
and take little walk before dinner.
. ct sounds like a dream!" Margaret
t answered, in a wondering tone.
Moneys an awful reality" Van
Torp remarked. "Tm talking bust
ness, and as I'm the one who's going
t 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 child.
1t was not the first time in his life
l that the financier had seen the stun
1 ming effect of big sum, projected
with precision, like shell, at exactly
. the right moment. He was playing
: the great game again, but for a prize
he thought worth more than any he
had yet won, and the very magnitude
of the risk steadied his naturally
" steady brain.
eyes," he said quietly, ''I do Per
haps I've startled you a little, and
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 a genuine venture, and
that I believe in it, or | wouldn't pro
3 pose it. 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
a thing to go into with your eyes
= shut, and if we had any reason for
distressing one another, it would be
better to make inquiries. But so fan
as that goes, it appears to me that
. | we've got tho facts to 90 on which