The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-26

l2Sth Street. Tho site was first ciaas,
the rental not too high for such a
neishborhood, and the chance for the
development OF q fair patronage In the
course Of time excellent, If the business
was conducted on proper lines. hut
me SLOW process by which the general
run OF restaurant keepers build un
trade was too monotonous for SO active
person as Mr.. Flodden. He preferred
TO leave that TO others. So soon as he
had .hc place in good running order he
wrote an advertisement that would be
sure 10 appeal 10 any one seeking an
investment In the restaurant line who
read It. The day the advertisement
was printed he got most promising
response, and the next day he had the
pleasure or meeting Charles Harper.
Much OF Mr.. Flodden's success might
DC ascrihed to the good impression he
mace unon people he met for the frat
time lie was so genial and smiled so
often and had such an air of sincerity
that he inspired confidence Mr.. Hur-
per was young. small and unobtrusive.
He was SO frank In his statements that
Mr., Floddcn warmed TO him At once.
Mr.. Harper explained that he had
oeen In the restaurant business In n
small way, and it was the ambition of
MS life 10 have good place OF his
own some day, but that day he feared
was far off. He was from the West.
and was in New York on q visit with
q friend. q Mr.. Honan who had no ex-
perience In the restaurant line, but who
lately mad come into mouest fortune.
lie and AIR iionan were tired OF the
W est and would like 10 live in New
York, they had discussed vari,aus
branches or BUSINESS ana he had pre-
vailed upon Mr. Honan TO look with
1aVor upon the idea OF purchasing a
good restaurant AIR. Harper knew OF
nothing better. more STAPLE or more
profitable IMAM properly conducted,
nign-ciass restaurant. People ate,
whether times were good or bau. Nom
Ing seemed 10 .Ir. harper more secure
from an investment STANDPOINT than q
"cll-managcd establishment, on a me
thorougniare. AS for Mr. Honan, he
would be guided 10 some degree Dy MIR.
HarPer's juugmcnt. but he nau mino
OF MS own IN fact, some persons
thought he was rather brusauc
Mr.. F'lodden was charmed. Did Mr.,
i1onan have any experience in the res
tuurant business?
none at all, Mr.. Harper informed him.
Mr. ionan had been in the steel bus
mess. He had worked hard all his
life. and now desired some OF the crea-
ture comforts. lie was too active 10. be
idle, and II he had a business that
would employ fair amount of his
Tine and give good return on the
money invested. II would be Just the
thing for him. Possibly it was seltish
on Ar. liarper's part TO want 10 get
hlm In the restaurant business, for il
would mean thai Harper would be the
manager, but ne assured Mr.. Flodden
mat his main desire was 10 have his
friend we'll settled
Mr.. Flodden assured Mr.. Iarper that.
far from being selfish, he was acting
;,if. Flodden was equally sure that no
better opportunity in all New york
was open TO Mr.. Honan than Mr.. tlod-
Harper through the restaurant Every
,hing was new. Everything was neat
ana ans orderly. a visit to the kitchen and
ne ne, st3 ore. was equally satisfac-
lory, The inspection trip over Mr.
r ,odden got down TO his fine work. He
told Mr.. Harper it was not necessary
or course. 10 tell person OF his ex-
Aside from the fixtures, every thing
depended upon the volume of business
Nothing could induce Mr. Flodden TO
sell but the fact that his wife was
her 10 more favorable climate OF
course, Mr.. Harper did not know so
much about New York as did Mr.. Flod-
Den, but If he made inquiry he would
broadway of upper Manhattan. IT had
many theatres, many great stores
many big business houses and great
population TO draw upon. The growth
OF Harlem was amazing, The restaurant
did eSceilently. Possibly Mr.. Harper
did not know IT, but New Yorkers
patronized restaurants more literally
than any other people in tho world. II
would surprise Mr.. Harper to see the
trade Flodden's place did on Satur-
days and Sundays 1t had good
profitable business every other day
but on Saturday and Sunday dozen
extra walters were employed, and
there had TO be extra help In the
Kitchen. And the people spent freely
too. No one could make Mr.. Flodden
believe times were hard. Too many Of
his patrons took Wine with their
meals to make him consider that hard
times chatter as anything but idle
talk.
MI; Harper listened with rapt At
tentl6n. TO every one Of Mr.. Flodden's
statements he nodded assent. When
Harper told him he knew how great a
thoroughfarc One Hundred and
Twenty-ffth Street was. how surpris-
Ing had been the development OF Har
lem and how excellent was the oppor
tunity for such O restaurant as Mr..
Flodden owned. Bat possibly Mr.. FIod-
den held the place at too high a fig
urc. Would he mind stating tho price
at which he would sell?
Mr.. Flodden said If Mr.. Honan would
pay cash nc would be willing to sell
mt a sacrifice. He did not want to ap-
pear inuuisitiyG. but would Mr., Harper