The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1910-04-28

NOh WHAT \ utulnu npNl Oh llltm.
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 first.
class musician, whereas half these
singers can only bang the box like
great, laundering overgrown school
girls. Allow that?"
81 suppose / must allow anything"
laughed the prima donna.
We'll, now, I've told you. You've
got the name l 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, I'll fill 1t in, and Wen de-
| post it wherever you say, in the
name of the 'Cordova Opera Company,
or Nine. da Cordova, Rufus Van Torp
& Co We can make out our little
agreement in duplicate right here, on
the corner of the table, and sign 1t;
and before we leave here you might
| go around and speak to the best sing
ers about an engagement in New York
for Wagner festival, year from
next Christmas. That's business, and
this is purely business proposition.
If you'd like to think 1t over, I'll go
and take little walk before dinner"
TT sounds like dream!" Margaret
answered in wondering tone,
Moneys an awful reality" Van
Torp remarked. "Im 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
II was not the first time in his life
that the financier had seen the stun
ming effect of a big sum, projected
with precision, like hhell, at exactly
the right moment. He was playing
the great game again, aut for a prize
he thought worth moro than any 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
shouldn't like you to make 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
| hot n holt L., IL \
pose it. Maybe you've got some sen.
sible lawyer you have confidence in,
and would like to consult him first. If
you feel that way, I'd rather you
should. 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 50 far
as that goes, 1t appears to me that
VIC e 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 it. though, If you can spare It,
because that's guarantee that you're
going to be in earnest too, and dc
your share in the musical side. You
see I'm talking to you just as ! would
to man in the same position. Not
because | 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? hope you're moi
offended"
, offended"
There was no mistaking the sup
, pressed excitement and delight in hel
, voice. If he had possessed the intel
/ ligence of Mephistopheles and tn,
, charm of Faust he could not have sale
, anything more subtly pleasing to hel
, dignity and her vanity.
, "Of course" he said. ut needn't b,
q very large sum. Still it ought to b,
| something that would make a differ
ence to you"
- She hesitated moment, and thei
spoke rather timidly
!. Il think perhaps-if we did it
g could manage a hundred Thousand
A pounds" she said Would that b.
+ too little, do you Think"
n The large mouth twitched and thel
n smiled pleasantly
a That's too much he said, shaking
p his head. You mustn't put all you
v eggs in one basket. A hundred thou
+. sand dollars would be quite enoug
as your share of the capital, with OF
ton to buy stock of me at par up t
o a million, or so, If it's a success"
q Really? Would that be enough
r And, please, what is stock in such
a case?"
8 stock" said the financial sis If
II tie plant which, when well watereC
'. will grow like the mustard seed, ii
a all the birds of Wall street make thei
n nests in its branches. And if you don
[. water it too much, itll be all right /
d our case, the stock is going to b
| that share of the business which mos
II people sell to raise money, and whac