The Washington times., 1912-09-19

tie city In the West!" Elsford went on
meditatively. Owner of half the out.
At or better-lights, houses, hotels
offices and all! l presume that the
trolley cars belong to you as well?'
ne concluded with some dryness.
| Grafton sat up suddenly.
We'll, not exactly, Jim, but"
You're not so very far off. however,
did finance the road"
Yes, a fellow named George Col
son-he's lived here for several years
-nrst conceived the idea of a really
satisfactory trolley system for our
every respect, and he wanted, to raise
| the money privately rather than go
to the expense and bother of peddling
And you put up the cash?',
How much % asked Elsford bluntly.
well" Grafton smiled family.
| Seven million dollars!'
| "Phewr The visitor sat back and
stared. Grafton's smile broadened.
Where did 1 raise it?" murmured.
81. didn't say that. John"
nevertheless. we'll, it was a tight old
squeeze, but I set out to do It, and I
did do 1t I mortgaged about every last
| thing l own on earth for every last
that 1000 900 for our little trolley road"
And handed 1t over to Colson?"
We'll, gf course"
Was II wise, John?''
| tolerantly. Remember that I'm toler-
ably well acquainted with conditions
hereabout We needed the road, and
that was the best and most economical
Now she's built and giving eminent
satisfaction, and a big public necessity
has been supplied"
Il was questioning the wisdom Of
handing handing It al oyer for one man to
"Colson? Oh. he's all right. Jim. I've
known him for several years. and his
connections are first class. He's made
Ing finely, and has from the start
I'm Elsford stroked his beard.
And the final settlement with Col
soa neednt 1s only three bdays omso
gay Gays the he. 18th 1 Of May. isn't it?
all the affairs on the 21st"
And he's going to take up his Sc
Gurities then for the whole seven mil
Yes; I'm holding his notes and bonds
for them: Two days after tomorrow
things will resume their old footing, so
far as my Investments are concerned
nWellmyou're to be congratulated.
John. You've cut out a wonderfully
successful career for Yourself
"Bosh! But Oh. Elsford!" Graf
tons ton face lit up suddenly. i've never
sfnnts s9la you Ssvs about %1 the best of all my
"Eh? And what is thatg"
The Grafton building
The Grafton building? What Is it?"
IT'S an office building, Jim. and you
won't find its equal between here and
Chicago. I'll guarantee! why, my lit
tie building includes every blamed i'm
provement that's been thought up"
Elsfor laughed in turn.
well, let's hear about that tOO-h
I'm the first place, she's made Of
granite-ten stories high! There was
a great call here, among some of the
best business men. for really up-to-
date structure. and when l went to
work to give 1t to them I called a
council of the whole crowd and em-
odied all their views that were feas-
foundations to the roof. We've got our
own contract with the lighting COM
pany by which we get electricity twen-
ty-four hours every one Of the 365
We've got the finest system of VEN
tilating that was ever put into a busi-
ness house. We sweep the rooms by a
vacuum system. We own the best
heating system that money could buy.
We've, got the four best electric eleva-
tors that could be built"
Good gracious! cried Elsford. It's
enough to induce man to move to
ness, John. Anything else?"
Yes. there is something else-also a
rather modern improvement"
And that Is a restaurant-or per-
haps It Is roof garden. John?"
Neither the one nor the other. 1t
happens to be mail chute"
"Good!
Not only that. but It's the most COM
plete mail chute that was ever installed
anywhere-or so the builders assured
me. Instead of having single slot on
each floor, I had them arranged to
branch out on every story.
I'm the Grafton building II isn't
necessary for a man to walk the length
Of the hall to post his letter-he lust
steps outside his office door, drops her
into the chute, and returns to the Job OF
making millions, serenely confident that
his letter landed in the mail box down.
stairs within three or four seconds"
Grafton sat back. Elsford shook his
head.
you seem to have made a pretty
job Of II. John"
Did the best that lay within me
and it's big satisfaction. Why, that
office building of mine has been men,
toned among architects and held up for
a considerable model during the last
year as far east as New York"
"Well-it's n Dity I'm not storripo o.