The Washington herald., 1913-11-16
p HNZUIVTIT@ I1I0IVI9 VO7NIv uIIIt1V0
% George Randolph Chester

he warned. Keal estate deals are not
always what they appear on the sur
face"
Napoleon Smith grinned sweetly into
the phone.
"Tn guarantee this one to be ali
right he confidently affirmed.
'.All right" said the captain. Come
into the Office and get your check at
any time"
On the way to McShane & McShane
Napoleon had Mrs. McGundy stop a
moment in the lobby of the Kingston
/ Building while he ran up to Capt.
| Hammond's Office and got his check.
Still on the way, he stopped and depos-
tied that check at the bank where he
had a small account, and then was
ready for business. The broad-boned
old lawyer would have made the deal
pompous and difficrit had he been left
alone, but Mrs. McGundy stopped him
as soon as she saw his direction.
! Stop your blath1in' and foolin'
now, Terrence" she commanded. 'Hur-
ry up and finish the business with this
young man. like the cheerful face of
him.
After that, Napoleon went out to
I! Sunnyview and sold lots with particu-
lar vim and energy.
! Mr. Forsythe, having sent for his
new assistant in extreme haste in the
afternoon of the same day, peered up
at that young man with something tig-
erish in the expression of his white
old face.
Il understand that you secured pos
session of a tract OF land in Ham
mondyille," said he, "and that you only
purchased it this morning"
| Napoleon grinned cheerfully.
"All quite true" he confessed.
Don't you know that was most un-
ethical?" demanded Mr.. Forsytte-
why, in our employ, and upon our
time, you took occasion to do some
private business for yourself in our
exact lineP
"Yes, sir" admitted Mr.. Smith, with
no abatement of his pleasant express
sion. How do you come to know
about it,"
Because Mr.. Hammond called US
up early this morning and commits
stoned us to buy that very piece of
ground for him.
The grin of Napoleon was positively
radiant now.
DO you think l ought to turn it
| over 10 you!
well, not exactly that" said Mr..
Forsythe. But as our employe, you
are bound to consult our interests.
Capt Hammond commissioned Us to
secure this piece Of property, which
he imagined could be purchased for
5000. You have purchased it, and
! | presume intend to sell it to him at
an increased price. Now, We might
~,
sythe & Spencer and yourself, and you
and US split the profits"
4 Napoleon paused for an extra special
grin.
mo, l resign" he stated. That's
still better scheme. Now I'll sell you
that land for 5000 cash"
In vast pain Mr.. Forsythe eventual
ly was compelled 10 call up Mr.. Ham
mond, and inform that gentleman that
the land for his extension would cost
him the modest sum of $1,000.
Buy II" directed Hammond.
Il might add,' said Mr. Forsythe
. with malignant glance at his ex-
employe, that the property in ques-
tion is at present owned by young
. Smith, formerly in our employ, but
today resigned
/ Smith, exclaimed Hammond. rs
| he in your office now? If he is put
him on the phone" And as Mr.. For
. sythe indicated the captains desire to
!. Napoleon, he could hear the captain
at the other end of the wire saying
/ to himself "Well, I'll be damned
Look here" demanded the captain
, of young Smith, did you actually have
the nerve to borrow that thousand
/ dollars from me this morning to buy
the very piece of property you knew l
> wanted, so as to compel me to pay you
} $4,000 profit on the loanF
That's right, captain" admitted Ma
i poleon cheerfully.
:, well, Smith, don't you think that
? was a little ungratefui and unfriend-
H? Don't you think you stepped over
. the bounds of both business and social
ethics?"
/ by no means" said Napoleon. You
told me yourself, just the other night,
! that business knows no friendship, and
that a dollar has no sentiments or
/ emotions. Moreover, captain, intend
. to retrieve the reputation my father
| made with you for allowing his feel
: ings to interfere with business. Do
you want this property at So,ooo?
/ ''Of course do, you young migrate,
said the captain.
/ "All right laughed Napoleon. I'll
be right over, thank you"
Thank nothing" snorted the cap
|, tain. Il ought to have you arrested"
That night as the captain sat in the
library, Marjorie came in to use the
telephone, and paused behind hef
/. fathers chair to pull his ears.
who's that you have with you on
!, the porch. Margie% he asked.
/ Pole Smith" she informed him.
!. Hes just telling me all about how
well he's going to like business. He
! says he made two thousand dollars IN
one deal today"
YES, confound it, he didH exploded
the captain. "He made It out of my
pocket and borrowed my money to do
!, it with"
Her laugh upon that was delicious !;
so much SO that the captain stopped
to listen to it in positive joy, all his
annoyances of the day forgotten.
/ Il guess Pm lemon" he confessed,
laughing with her.
:. "A .nickePs worth of them she
agreed, twisting two corkscrews in his
| gray hair. 81 should think that a
shrewd old business tiger like you
would feel Inundated to have mere
[ youngster like Pole Smith come along