The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1912-10-04

with audacious ease; this was mere
ly another time, probably.
From anyone else, Dad, that
would sound like ar invitation to
have drink But if I've cot to choose
right off, its only fair to begin al
the bottom and peddle bananas a.
you suggest" said Jimmie gaily.
The old man leaned forward grim
ly. "All right, selling bananas it j.;
I'LL take you at your own word. And, 4
h. added bluntly, If you 20 back On
ii noW-Well-"
'"The banana business y"
Jimmie recognized, trifle late, that
he had really passed crisis. Tn the
momentary whirl and adjustment of
ideas, an impossible picture arose in
his mind of a young man and two
wheeled cart piled high with sprawl
ing yellow fruit. "Oh, say, Dad,
that's only a joke - he exclaimed.
Joke nothing Or If it il, it's
your joke, amt it You make wish,
just like story-book, and here T am
like the fairy godmother that makes
it come true-1ike that =" He crack
ed his big knuckles i'm illustration.
But the harshness died out of his
voice a. he went on: why, Jim
mic, son, T don't care what it isyou're
in; but I'll put you at the top O. the
heap. You needn't worry about
pushing a cart through the streets
I did that, or pretty much that, when
started. But you'll start right
big business modern ideas, and all
that sort Of thing. Bananas ! BY
CAD, Ill show the world what the
banana business ought to be -
He punched button under the rin
OF the big desk, and the faded little
secretary popped into the sanctuary.
Fix up a room for Jim outside some
where Put a desk i'm here for him
till it's ready. The faded secretary
slid noislessly out.
Jim, you'll come downtown with
me mornings after this. Your bust
mostly to stop, look, and listen, as
the railroad signs say. You can 90
up home now and tell Ma that your
salary will be what she thinks your
allowance should be-now that you
won't have time to spend it."
Jimmie accepted the state or af-
fairs with an easy adaptability, though
still trife dazed at the swiftness
with which events had crystalized.
"All right, Dad Hooray for the
banana business If you say so-this
automatic choice is q great load off
my mind. Want me to 90 home by
way OF the docks and pick up few
bargains i'm leftover bunches?"
you don't know enough" retort-
ed the old man CURLY. don't
reckon you know enough about bust
ness to start anywhere but at the
top" His face hardened i'm abstrac-
ton for an instant.
IF anybody cares enough to know,
you might say that you are the sec
Rotary of the Consolidated Tropical
Fruit Products Development Com
pany."
Jimmie whistled. Swell name
that, Dad When T can reel out an
offhand inspiration like that, I'll be
qualified to sit among the big guns,
too. After this I'll never be able to
look a banana in the eye without
taking off my hat to it,
The old mans harsh features soft
ened again, and he walked across
and laid his heavy-knuckled hand on
the younger mans shoulder. why,
Jimmie, son, there's no greater world
to conquer than that of modern bust
ness. You've got brains-ain't /
your father ?-2nd with me back of
you We'll found one O. these financial
what-d' ye-caM- 'ems- destinies no
dyn-asties that's it, dynasties. I'll
show you. Tell Simmons L want to
see him." he concluded abruptly as
they reached the door together.
Before the old man had returned
to his desk Simmons, the drab little
Office secretary, was again at his ell
bow. "Mr. Jim said you wished to
see me, sir %
Eyes; everybody gone Well, call
up Griscom and tell him to meet me
at the club this evening; important.
Get Foote on the wire-tell him to be
there, too"
Griscom was chief of the old mans
staff of permanent counsel, and Foote
was his chief cOnsultant on legal mat
tiers of Importance. Big-boned,
gaunt, and taciturn, after GOrem's
own pattern, Foote had risen by the
sheer force of cold and powerful
brain from the shady twilight zone
where he had been the chief legal
bulwark of long-dead political
gang, until he was now almost a
symbol Of adroit legal and intellectual
ability The old man had once remark
edit was the nearest he ever came
to a compliment: "Foote don't waste
any time telling me what the law
won't let me do; he shows me how 70
20 ahead and do it !"
ITO be continued