Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-29
PROBLEM OF THE EMPTY
MANSION
What Is Your Decision?

A T the end Of August we had a GER
n titled public accountant audit the
books of "The Barracks" and to our
| delight we showed a profit of $1,000 for
the three months.
| Carpenter insisted on waiting until
then before coming to a decision. Even
though he thought that Betterly was a
possible buyer, he refused to go ahead
on Dukes plan till it was demonstrated
that the place could pay as a hotel.
Blood was delighted he's frankly
anxious to go ahead, but needs the
money which Carpenter must find.
'I'll tell you what We'll do next year."
he explained enthusiastically to Inc.
well build twenty five little bungalows
for few hundred dollars each and drop
! 'em all over the place. Rent them to
families for the season and let them
come to the big house for their meals.
Gosh, but there's a lot of by-products
to be gotten from this place.
Boardman has been a confounded
nuisance. He'd had people call at the
place and, after looking around, say SO
everybody can hear:
1.-The place is hopeless no really nice
people would come to such an out-of-
the-way place" and things like that
A few people did leave, but we man
aged to let the rooms as quickly as they
were vacated.
Duke saw at once that Boardman
wanted to put the place 'in bad" so that
it would lose money and SO kill off Car
penter.
Duke finally upset that tactic by get
ting the Hildegards of New York Che
knows them slightly to pay n weekend
visit. He had notices put in the New
York papers with the result that four
first families" spent n few weeks with
us. The other guests We're, of course,
nightly pleased with themselves in be-
ing ''in the crowd"
As Boardman couldn't kill business.
he tried to buy the place over Duke 8
head. He told Mss Carstairs that he'd
give $4,000 right away, but only S25,-
900 after that man Duke has milked the
place of anything worth while there. "
He tried to make her believe that Duke
was exploiting the place. Miss Benks,
however, knew Boardman of old, and
while she was dubious of Dukes sue
cess, she preferred his plan rather than
to accept Boardmans offer. She, there
fore, urged her beloved Barbara" to re-
fuse his offer, which she did. Boardman
then left with threats of what he'd do
when the smash came and the bank
foreclosed."
. 1t required all Miss Benkss art of
persuasion and all of Dukes calm con-
fidence to win the day.
1t all hung on Carpenters decision
for Duke refused to consider a lower
offer. He followed zip other prospects,
but none looked at all promising, ex-
cepting Carpenter and Blood.
One day Carpenter said bluntly to
Duke:
Look here, Mr.. Duke. are you play
J ing me against that fellow Betterlyi
: I've seen him here once or twice, but
, never to speak to except, How do anC
it's a nice day Is he interested in the
place."
NO" Duke said frankly, hes n good
[ friend and a wonderful advertising man
, He prepared all the copy which filled
' this hotel"
, Good heavens - Carpenter snapped
a, "I understood he was a prospective pur.
chaser. l never questioned it and sc
never asked"
He came here to talk business witt
s me- for he works with me on many OF
n my cases. He also wanted to see the
n place, so that he could write more eff
: fective advertisements.
, Then" said the surprised Carpenter
"you really haven't any one else in view
but me?"
3 "I could hardly say that, for I have
g several people who have expressed in
n terest--but ] believe you are the hes
man to make a go of it-and to make