Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-01-21
CHAPTER vi--contInued.

me modern business man." said
reynolds, "is something or an enigma
70 me. have never been able to fig.
Sre out Just exactly what he is
That is OBVIOUS. Bob. You wouldn't
De living here II you had. Maybe 1
can shoa you. / want to put you ON
the inside where you Will be looking
out, instead OF always on the outside
BOOKING In. Now. the United Cunstruc-
ton company makes the sacrifice OF
paying you something. every week.
doesn't itYt'
Yea, but hope they don't look al
In that light"
How much do you get?"
Twenty-Five dollars"
What's your position? I"
I'm q chemist at the head OF their
tasting department. Not very impor-
CANT, Ia it?'
TO you and me now" Brand an
uwered quickly. "it's very important.
Your company has the contract for the
Pecos River dam job, hasn't itf"
"Yes."
eft also contemplates other conecr-
walton work both In Pennsylvania and
The West, with good chance OF get.
cling It."
Il believe that's right"
This Pecos job is q big contractY"
~One OF the biggest we ever had"
Il suppose one of the most impor-
hfwv A. Fm - An. 81
ment as to it's solidifying quality
Yes, that'e my work. l have an as
sistant who looks after the steel. The
cement 10 the most important part of
the job"
How close can you approximate the
endurance OF cement2"
TITS part Of my duty to know the
difference in grades. For instance, the
ordinary Portland that il put up in
most work ought to hold tight hum
dred years. There is closer process
pt refinement that would extend the
life another fifty years"
Exactly. Now, it's that closer
process of refinement that want 10
talk to You about" Brand crossed
the room and stood facing Reynolds.
He took out 9 paper. Here are tho
specifications of the pecos Job. am
furnishing the cemeIt."
"Yes?"
'Yes, I'm the Hudson Cement com.
pany. We have this contract, Bob,
and this closer refinement Of the ce-
ment you we're speaking of 10 called
Tor In the specifications. Now, on this
Job alone, It win mean an extra en-.
pense to US of something like two
hundred thousand dollars. It's very
problematical In my mind whether
that same extra expense win increase
the life of the cement FIVE years, no
matter how you chemist boys figure
and potter. Anyway, 1t won't be over
twenty-five years. don't know who
got Up these specifications, but In my
mind he is pretty much Of a d---n
fool Now for the kickoff. Here's my
chance to give you and your wife that
big boost--make you both financially
Independent, wipe out that college OBJ
legation, and. at the same time. help
myself"
That's kind Of you. TIN make her
very happy"
Brand concealed a smile. "As told
you," he continued, that closer proc
pes OF refinement Ia called for In the
specifications. but-Bob what we
want 10 to have the tests 60 through
on our regular cement-the ordinary
grade-tha same we sell everybody. IL
you save that two hundred thousand
collars for me think fair division
Of that saving Is to give you forty
thousand dollars"
But there's the government inspec-
tort" said Reynolds. I'm only under
him"
Don't you worry about anybody but
yourself. want to help you, but I'm
n business man and thsren be no
loose ends"
-But it's stealing"
mo, it's business"
-n | did that, I'd be a thief"
Bob, thief is q nasty word, and It's
nsed altogether too carelessly these
days. Now, I'm not here 10 teach any
moral lessons or anJ thing like that. but
are you Going any harm In accepting
shisf No, you're doing what any sue
cessfuI business man would do. You're
taking q chance OF making forty thou
Ksad dollars And why2 Because you're
cheating the people7 No. Because
the dam win fall down? Certainly not.
The dam will last hundred years.
Now, D 10. of public Improvements are
BOT M TO last enc hundred years. and
scs ssow :Aaar history. They're gen.
egx1s tarn down in twszu Ana shas