The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-03-12

|
"Sixty-one thousand four hundred
and eighty-two dollars
| Spending money my boy said
Broadway grandly. spending money"
With that he sprang out of his chair
and rushed about the room with Joy
upon his face and showed his deep
contempt for little things by breaking
several costly vases, throwing six
American Beauty roses in the waste
basket and tossing cushions here and
there. One of an especial elegance he
threw out on Broadway never look ing
to see whose head it softly lighted
upon.
| whats the matter with you?" de-
manded Wallace. Going crazy all over
again."
| Broadway paused in his extraordi-
nary movements. do you know what
I'm going to do from now on? I'm 60
ing to make the ioudest noise Broad
way has heard since Dewey came
home from the war;
I What are you talking about?'
Jackson looked him kindly in the
eye.
Know what happened after you
had left the room? A messenger boy
with golden wings and jeweled harp
| blew through that window, handed me
this telegram and flew right back to
the Golden Gates He thrust the tele.
gram at Wallace. Read, read, read."
The dazed Wallace read aloud. The
reader paused God" he exclaimed.
'Did he sign it," Broadway begged,
without the slightest incredulity.
ITS signed Judge Spotswood. Who's
he?"
HMy uncle's lawyer"
/ us this a joke?"
IF it is I'll make a reputation as q
gun man."
why, this is the most wonderful
thing that ever happened"
1T is all of that, and more. Do you
know what I'm going to do? I'm 60
ing to buy Brooklyn-and close 1t up"
| But Wallace was not swept away by
his extravaganza. He really was a
business man. Pembroke" he reflect
ed. why, he phoned. took his
message"
HE was here. Say, did you ever
hear of the Consolidated Chewing Gum
company"
why, certainly. They're the biggest
advertisers in America"
well, he's second vice-president.
He's coming back at two o'clock"
What for?"
ITO bring me a check for twelve
hundred and fifty thousand dollars!
I'm going to sell him Jones' Pepsin."
Instantly the business man was up
permost in Wallace. He became alert.
suspicious. "He made that offer?"
"Yes''
"And you accepted"
Eyes"
"Sign an agreement?
mot yet"
Wallace spoke now, with the firm
ness of a heavy hammer striking on
an anvil. "And you're not going to-"
Broadway gazed at him aghast.
"Why?"
Nov, don't give me any argument.
You've been a damn fool all your life
and here's chance to get even with
yourself"
Turn down million two hundred
thousand dollars!"
Eyes"
Broadway shook his head. mot on
your biography"
Wallace was not impressed. What
you need is a keeper, and I'm going to
take the job"
The telephone rang, and, as Broad.
way would have answered it, Wallace
pushed him ruthlessly away. 1t was
plain that he had definitely assumed
command.
The message was from Judge Spots
wood. AS soon as Broadway learned
this he explained that he had called
the judge and wished him to come at
once to New York city. Wallace gave
him one sad glance of pure disgust.
Then he told the judge exactly other
wise.
NO." he called into the phone. NO
no; don't you come here. Well come
there"
Broadway was instantly rebellious,
"I'll do nothing of the kind"
Wallace waved him of with a con
demnatory hand, and continued talk
ing to the telephone. We'll be there
at six O'Clock. In time for din
ner. Yes; good-by!" He hung
up the receiver, and turned to Broad
way with the hard but happy smile OF
the real business man who has sue
ceeded in accomplishing a coup.
Say, what are you trying to dor
said Broadway, not without resent
ment. Run my affairs for me-"
Eyes," said Wallace readily, and
then called loudly for the butler. When
he came he told him to pack. without
delay, q grip for Mr.. Jones, who, he
gravely announced, was going travel
ing.
"To-or-1aDan7 ~ innuire6 the hone.