New-York tribune., 1920-07-25

A@oA onO viz PGoiAtS OAiSC AlCA C
AFTER" Babbing said. "Come in at
1856" He turned to phone. "Tell
Snider I'll see him." He pressed a
call button.
"You'll have to start by learning
to speak the English language" he
admonished Barney. eve haven't
cases enough on the Bowery to keep
you working where people say |
tol' her I was waitin' when they
mean 4 told her I was waiting.'" He
changed the switches on an office
telephone. Bring me my schedule"
He said to Barney:
"Stay where you are. III have
something for you in q moment"
Doors began to open, unexpected
ly, on all sides. A stenographer ap-
peared, with q notebook, sat down
to face Babbing across the desk and
prepared himself and his fountain
pen to take dictation. Archibald, the
office manager--a grizzled old man
with the lean mouth of a prelate-
brought a list of Babbing's appoint
ments for the day and discussed
them with him, deferentially. An
operative who proved to be "Chal"
Snider from Chicago drifted in as If
he were casually interested, and
shook hands with "The Chief" and
drew a chair up at one side of the
desk, and made himself at home,
with his ankle on his knee and his
hat on his ankle. The days work
had begun.
To Barney, watching, 1t became
as bewildering as the smoothly in
tricate activity of a complicated
machine Babbing dictated letters in
leisurely undertone that was con-
tinually intermitted for telephone
calls, the arrival Of opened tele-
grams, corroboratory references tc
filed records, consultations with
Archibald, directions to operatives,
and above and around and under it
all an interested reciprocation of
talk with Snider. "Hello? Yes.
Where are you? Have you got the
goods on him? I see. Who's with
you? Can you get in to see me? III
relieve you with Corcoran. Three
thirty this afternoon" "Take
this. William P. Sarrow, and so
forth. Dear Sir. Yours of the 18th.
Regret that Pm unable to meet you
and so forth. Previous engagements
in Chicago on that date. Suggest the
9th" "Wire that fellow to
stop sending me kilograms or he'll
queer the whole plant. Sign it Adam
Hansen" eyes, Chal! Did
he bite?"
And because Snider was telling a
connected story-a patiently con-
nected story in spite of all 6istrac-
tions-Barney's confused attention
slowly concentrated on him.
Snider was becoming bald; his
hair was parted down the middle
with mathematical precision, as per
fectly aligned as the ribs and back
bone Of kippered herring. He spoke
rather mincingly, smiling, but never
moving his hands. He had an air of
pudgy inertia-an inoffensive seden-
tary air, d-natured-and a look
of credulity. He made. speciality
Of confidence men. He was telline
about one who had been operating
in Chicago under the name OF
Charles G. Palmer.
Palmer had advertised, in the
want columns, that he wished to buy
hotel property in Chicago, and the
owner Of the old Stilton House had
answered the ad. Palmer was living
IN splendor at the La Sale; the
owner Of the Stilton lunched with
him there, talked terms, and con-
WINGED himself that Palmer had
money and knew something about
the hotel business. They inspected
the moribund Stilton House togeth-
er. Palmer saw possibilities in it.
He paid 5000 for two weeks op-
ton on the property and took the
only good room in the house, in or
der to audit the books at his leisure
and consider plan of business re-
habilitation. The proprietor assist
ed him, deferred to him, fattered
him, ard secretly chuckled to him.
A price Of $4,000 was agreed upon.
Palmer affected brand of expen-
sive Havana cigars called Padages
Palmas, and the proprietor added a
box of them to his showcase stock for
Palmer's use. They became as init
mately friendly as it is possible to
become in business deal where the
seller has to maintain a consistent
indifference because he is getting too
much for his goods.
The thing that sticks in his crop, ~
~ j