The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-04-11


On the way to McShane and Me
Shane Napoleon had Mrs. McGundy
stop n moment in the lobby OF the
Kingston building while he ran up to
Captain Hammond's office and got his
check. Still on the way, he stopped
and deposited 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 difficult
had he been left alone, but Mrs. Nc
Gundy stopped him as soon as she
saw his direction.
Stop your blatherin' and foolin'
now, Terrence" she commanded.
Hurry up and finish the business
with this young man. 1 like the cheer
full face of him."
Sunnyview and sold lots with particu-
lar vim and energy.
MIR. 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.
81 understand that you secured pos
session of a tract of land in Ham
mondville," caid he, and that you
only purchased it this morning"
Napoleon grinned cheerfully.
"All quite true" he confessed.
Don't you know that was most I'M
ethical?" demanded Mr.. Forsythe.
Why in our employ, and upon our
time, you took occasion to do some
private business for yourself in u
exact Incl"
Yes, sir" admitted Mr.. Smith, with
40 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 1 ought to turn it
over to your"
We'll not exactly that" said Mr..
Forsythe. But as our employee, you
are bound to consult our interests.
Captain Hammond has commissioned
us to secure this piece of property,
which he imagined could be purchased
for $4,000. You have purchased it,
and l presume intend to sell it to him
at an increased price. Now, we might
arrange to fix the price between For
sythe and Spencer and yourself, and
you and us split the profits"
Napoleon paused for an extra spe-
cial grin.
mo, l resign" he stated. That's a
still better scheme. Now I'll sell you
that land for $4,000 cash."
In vast pain Mr.. Forsythe eventually
was compelled to call up Mr.. Ham
the land for his extension would cost
him the modest sum of $4,000.
Buy it," directed Hammond.
81 might add" said Mr.. Forsythe
with a malignant glance at his ex-em-
ploye, that the property in question
is at present owned by young Smith,
formerly in our employ, but today re-
signed"
SMITH" exclaimed Hammond. as
he in your office now? If he is, put
him on the phone" And If 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,1 demanded the captain
of young Smith. did you actually
have the nerve to borrow hat thou
sand dollars from me this morning
to buy the very piece of property you
knew l wanted, so as to compel me
to pay you a two-thousand-dollar
profit OF the loan?"
That's right, captain" admitted
Napoleon ch%eerfully.
"Well, Smith, don't you think that
was a little ungrateful and unfriendly?
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,
hat business knows no friendship,
and that a dollar has no sentiments or
emotions. Moreover, captain, l in
tend to retrieve the reputation my
father made with you for allowing his
feelings to interfere with business. Do
you want this property at six thou
sand?"
"Of course do, you young ingrate,"
said the captain.
"All right" laughed Napoleon I'll
be right over, thank you"
"Thank nothing!" snorted the cap
tain. 81 ought to have o arrested"
That night as the captain sat in the
library, Marjorie came in to use the
telephone, and paused behind her
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 $4,000 in one deal to-
day."
Eyes, confound it, he didl" 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.
81 guess I'm a lemon" he confessed,
laughing with her.
"A nickel's. worth of them" she
aoraad fufotfno fu,a aorIxsorauya In