Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-10-27
CHAPTER XLVIU


I'm not saying. yet. But I want
the theater. From October 7th. Do
| get it,"
"Not on my say-so." Mr.. Lengel
yawncd. II got a deal on for a new
musical piece. opens Atlantic City
September tenth-three weeks on
the road-then comes in for a
Broadway opening-friend Of mine
who's got money in it says it's a
sure-fire hit. That's the kind of
business we want in this house-a
girl show-something that'll do
twenty thousand a week or better
and run all winter. Real money.
Get me?"
Suppose it doesn't" Hardy sug-
gested.
"0ut she goes, then. A shows rot
to gross ten, TO stay. | guess you
don't know much about show bus
mess"
Il don't" Ben admitted, "but I'm
learning. And ! should think you'd
rather have forty-five hundred a
week. guaranteed. than take a
chance
Taking chances in my middle
name" Mr.. Van Austen leaves all
them things to me-"
Then you won't rent me the
house
"Not today. I'm going to run
down TO Atlantic City next week and
give that piece I'm telling you about
tho o~nce-over. IL she looks right,
she opens here the first week II
October. Come around in a weeks
time, say. And when you do, bring
that certified check along. I've met
guys before that talked about max
ing deposits. and when it came to
a showdown didn't have enough jack
to ring up their curtain. See you
later. Right now I'm busy"
Hardy went out rather slowly into
the blazing August srn. He felt
that il was the Parkway or nothing,
50 far as Elaine was concerned.
Then something clicked in his mind.
Van Austen. Tommy Van Austen,
right halfbaek for Columbia, six
years before-a junior when he had
been a freshman. II astonished him
that he had not connected the name
Of the football star with that OF
his uncle, old Barclay Van Austen,
clubman. and owner Of much uptown
real estate.
He glanced at his watch. II want
ed twenty-five minutes TO three. He
dashed TO a telephone booth, looked
up young Van Alsten's address.
Seventeen Wali-Van Austen G. Co.
bankers. Tommy, then, had been
taken into the firm. Impatient OF
subways. Hardy jumped into a taxi
and gave the driver the address. II
was three o'clock when he reached
il, and young Van Austen remember
ed him at once, in spite Of the fact
that they had not seen each other
for years.
Hello, Ben Hardy" he said.
Come in. What can l do for
your"
why. to tell the truth, Tommy. |
want 70 have a talk with your
uncle"
"H-m." Van Austen consulted his
watch rather obviously. The old
gentleman's IN a conference nowq
And he's sore as a crab if anything
keeps him away from his club after
four. Can't | attend to whatever it
is for your"
81 don't know. It's about the
Parkway. / want to rem it,"
"The Parkway? You don't mean
to say you're in the theatrical bus
mess? Why don't you see Lengel ?
He handles the property. The old
man swear he won't be bothered
with it. Regular white elephant.
He's planning to tear it down next
year, and put up a hotel. Honest
to goodness. Ben. ! don't believe he'd
want to be annoyedJ"
"Tommy-I'm not looking for any
~favors-this is a business deal with
me. I've got the money to pay for
the house-six weeks in advance.
And If / don't get it. I stand to lose
every cent I've got in the world.
That's why it's important to me-
see?"
"No. I'm damned If I do. But
I'll take your word for H." He nod
ded as two portly gentlemen passed
the door. There goes the confer
ence. Now's your chance. He'll be
leaving as soon as he signs his mail.
Come with me-
The banker frowned at the two
young men over bristling grey nous
taches. Before he could speak. his