The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1914-12-24
CHAPTER vl--contlnued.

The modern business man." said
Reynolds, "is something of an enigma
to me. ] have never been able to fig-
ure out just exactly what he Is"
That is obvious, Bob You wouldn't
be living here II you had Maybe
can show you. want to put you on
the inside where you will be looking
out, instead OF always on tho outside
looking in. Now, the United Construc-
ton company makes the sacrifice OF
paying you something every week.
doesn't it2"
Yes, but l hope they don't look at
II in that light"
How much do you get?"
twenty-five dollars"
Whats your position? ?"
I'm a chemist at the head OF their
testing department. Not very impor-
tant is it?"
ITO you and me now" Brand an
swered quickly, "it's very important.
Your company has the contract for the
Pecos River dam job, hasn't it?"
Yes"
TT also contemplates other conser-
walton work both in Pennsylvania and
the West, with good chance OF get.
ting it."
81 believe that's right"
This Pecos job is a big contracts"
"One of the biggest we ever had"
81 suppose one of the most impor-
tant things you do is to test the ce-
ment as to its solidifying quality"
Yes, that's my work. have an as
sistant who looks after the steel. The
cement is the most important part OF
the job"
How close can you approximate the
endurance Of cement?"
"Its part OF my duty to know the
difference in grades. For instance, the
ordinary Portland that is put up in
most work ought to hold tight hun.
dred years. There is a closer process
OF refinement that would extend the
life another fifty years"
Exactly. Now, it's that closer
process OF refinement that | want to
talk to you about" Brand crossed
the room and stood facing Reynolds
He took out a paper. Here are the
specifications OF the Pecos job. | am
furnishing the cement"
-Yes~
"Yes, I'm the Hudson Cement com
pany. We have this contract, Bob
and this closer refinement Of the ce
ment you were speaking of is called
for in the specifications. Now, on thii
Job alone, It will mean an extra ex
pense to us of something like two
hundred thousand dollars. It's very
problematical In my mind whether
that same extra expense will increas,
the life Of the cement five years. M
matter how you chemist boys figur,
and potter. Anyway, II won't be owe
twenty-five years. ! don't know VIII,
got up these specifications. but in m!
mind he is pretty much OF d
fool. Now for the KICKOFF. Here's m!
chance to give you and your wife tina
big boost-make you both financial,
independent, wipe out that college oh
legation. and. at the same time. he'll
myself"
That's kind OF you. It1l make he
very happy"
Brand concealed a smile. "As toll
you," he continued, that closer proc
ess OF refinement is called for In tn
specifications, but-Bob what w
want is to have the tests go througl
on our regular cement-the ordinar
grade-the same we sell everybody.
you save that two hundred thousan
dollars for me think a fair divisio
OF that saving Is to give you fort
thousand dollars"
but there's the government inspe,
tori" said Reynolds. I'm only unde
him"
Don't you worry about anybody bu
yourself. want to help you. but II
business man and there'll be n
loose ends"
But it's stealing"
mo, it's business"
"If did that, I'd be thief"
Bob, thief is a nasty word, and II
used altogether too carelessly thes
days. Now, I'm not here TO teach an
moral lessons or anything like that, bl
are you doing any harm in acceptin
this? No, you're doing what any su
cessful business man would do. Your
taking chance OF making forty tho
sand dollars. And why? Because your
cheating the people? No. Becaus
the dam will fall down? Certainly no
The dam will last a hundred year
Now, lot OF public improvements al
put up to last one hundred years. an
you know their history. They're ge
orally torn down In twenty. Aud tn