Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-26
CHAPTER CT

CHAPTER CT
| GUESS things are coming to cl,n,aA
L In that AFFAIR of Francis Graham's
All this week he has been UP at the
bank seeing those folks who are will
ing to back him on his machine.
Twice Binnen. the agent for the
Swedish Company, has been to see him.
and he has had two or three letters
from Plllsbury. of the Consolidated.
l guess he's got a good thing, all right.
all right
Here's the Consolidated. with whom he
used to be, breaking their necks to
get him to sell out to them for five
| thousand in cash and 100000 worth
OF common stock. But then Francis
says that a hundred thousand worth Of
common is worth only about twelve thou
sand actually. And here's Binnen Of
fering twenty thousand cash.
|. The bank offered him good thing.
but whenever I ask Francis to tell me
what the bank is willing to do he says.
AT this point in the story your shoelace
begins to come down"
Well. this morning Francis asked me
II l could meet him in an uptown office
this afternoon. Believe me, I was there
with bells on.
He had promised to meet Pillsbury
and Question, and also the attorney for
the Consolidated When we got to the
Office Question and Pipsbury were there
before us. but we had 10 walt a few
minutes for the lawyer.
He Is one of those great big fellows
who gets about a thousand dollars every
time he says Yes"
He came into the office as II he owned
1t. hustled into his seat and said sharply.
Now. gentlemen. let's get to business"
IT'S like this" began Question.
I never saw Question SO squashed be-
fore. 1 guess that lawyer has got his
number, for he snapped back at Ques-
ton: Tut, tut, man. I know the cir
cumstances Of the case. You offer Mr..
Francis Graham five thousand in cash
and the privilege Of buying five thou
sand dollars worth Of preferred stock
in the Consolidated. and in addition to
that you offer hundred thousand dol
lars worth OF common stock. And Mr..
Graham wants to have ten thousand
dollars worth of preferred stock and
the privilege of buying as much more
as he can.
Now, Mr.. Graham. on behalf of the
Consolidated, l am prepared here and
now 10 offer you five thousand dollars
worth of preferred stock and hundred
thousand dollars worth Of common. You
can have the privilege Of selling that
common and within thirty days buying
preferred stock. / understand you have
no money at all now"
I'm afraid, Mr.. Lawyer" smiled
Francis.
Tut tut, man. the lawyer snapped
back II can't help ii IL you are afraid
I'm not afraid of anybody or anything
Well, what do you say? Do you accept
our offer. or do you want to be foolish? 2
Il have talked this matter over with
my secretary" said Francis. and at this
the lawyer looked at me and gave o
snort of contempt. "and have decided
that the best I can take will be five
thousand worth of preferred stock anc
one hundred thousand worth of common
stock, but with the proviso that / can
II / go wish. sell the common stock ant
buy preferred stock with 1t; and in ad
dition to this that within six months
can buy more preferred stock-if
can scrape up some money for it.
IN other words. you will do every
thing we ask except that. In addition
you want the option to buy as mucl
more preferred stock as you are abl'
to buy within six months. Ridiculous
You might make a fortune in sin
months"
That's what I was hoping to do
said Francis innocently.
Huh that would be a very nice thing
Suppose you got hundred thousand II
some way or other. you might buy MIR
Question and Mr.. Pillsbury out"
oh" said Francis with the simples
look I ever saw, II never thought o
that"
"Hah, that's the benefit of being {
lawyer. Couldn't think Of such thini
as that"
"Oh. no. sir" said Francis.
Gee! thought he was evidentl!
scared Of that lawyer.
Il never thought Of that" continued
Francis. "If only had your mind
probably would. That was an unreas
enable request, wasn't it?'
"of course, 1t was. I see you arr
getting some sense now. Six months II
certainly too long"
And yet" mused Graham, II feel
would like to sell few odds and ends
have and get hold of little NOR,
preferred stock in the Consolidated
You see. sir" he said to the lawyer, evi
IDENTIFY laying his cards all on the table
IT have been with the Consolidated 81
many years don't suppose l woul'
feel SO happy anywhere else, and zee
that the only way I'd ever have cnanc
to get any worthwhile positioh tner
would be to own some stock In the com
pany. I had a dandy offer from Bin
men, of the Swedish Company, but turn
ed it down in the hope l would have
chance of getting in here.
. Now, II I were to sell that commoi
stock for ten thousand and invest II
preferred, I would then only have ffteel
thousand dollars worth. and that ism,
much against two hundred thousand
which Mr.. Pillsbury and Mr.. Questo
and only three others own betwee'
them.
"Of course, I know to let me hav
that stock they would have to sell theirs
but ]. thought ! might possibly be abl
to scrape up Ave thousand more, an
even twenty thousand Is only such
little bit, but It would show you gen
tiemen / am interested in the Consoli
dated" ..
There was silence for moment, an
then the lawyer had few words prl
vately with Question and Pillsbury an
thsn said, I'VE will give you the or
portunity of buying Ave thousand NOR
stock"
"That isn't just what ! want. sal
Francis. my lawyer tells me II l max
IN agreement like that I've got 10 pu
that AVE thousand or none
s.Nonsense." snapped the lawyer.
MAYBE said Francis stubbornly. "bu
clauae that cOul