The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1941-03-22
Business Contract
g
By r. I'll. WILKINSON
ASSOCIATED Newspapers-WNU Service.
DANA MILTON was thinking OF

Look here, Simon" he said,
I've been thinking this thing over
and I've come to the conclusion that
1t won't be good policy for us to
become equal partners.
You mean you don't think we
ought to buy the business?"
1t isn't that. l think the bust
ness is worth every cent its owners
are asking. But you know, Simon,
you and l have only known each
other couple of months. True, we
worked fine together and were pref
ty successful on that last PROPOSE
ton. But-well, l just don't think
it's good policy for two ambitious
young men to put an equal amount
of money in a business"
II get it" said Simon. Maybe
you're right" He looked at Dana
craftily. "Pd like to be the one to
put the money in, Dana. 1t was 1
who discovered the thing"
Dana nodded 81 thought you'd
feel that way about it, Simon. And
I'm willing to withdraw, provided,
of course, that you give me a con-
tract-assure me of a job during the
next five years.
Fair enough" Simon extended
his hand. Secretly he was elated.
He knew that Dana was a conscien-
tious worker, good salesman.
Simon and Dana took the insur-
ance company over in May. Within
a months time they discovered it
wasn't the proft-paying proposition
both had anticipated. It was run
down at the heel, so to speak.
Simon was angered and not little
worried. Yet he had put too much
money into the thing to let it go.
BY fall little business began to
come in and then little more. Dur
ing October they broke even. No
vember showed a profit, and Deem
Der still a greater profit. During
January and February the gross
business increased in leaps and
bounds. Simon, watching the weekly
returns, began to lick his lips. In
April he dug out the contract he had
made with Dana and perused its con-
tents. There was, he saw, a chance
for complaint. The contract provid-
ed that Dana be paid a percentage
of the gross business; that he should
sell policies at the rate charged by
previous owners. There, thought ST.
mon, was the snag. Dana had cut
the rate in order to start the ball
rolling.
Simon summoned Dana. Dana, "
he said, 81 notice you've been sell
ing at reduced rates. We can't
make a profit that way"
THAT was the only way to get
things going"
Simon shook his head. "I'm sor-
ry. Our contract provided that you
sell at rates charged by the previous
owners. You ignored the clause,
thereby causing no little dissension
among our clients. I'll have to let
you 60"
Let me go Why, you can't
do that! We have a contract"
Simon looked at him icily. "You
broke the contract, mister"
1t wasn't until Dana had reached
home and broken the news to Hat
tie, his wife, that he realized what
losing his job meant.
The next day Dana received a
letter from the insurance company
in which Simon stated he had turned
the matter over to his lawyer. Dana
considered various possibilities. He
needed money at once. Remember
ing that Simon's greatest weakness
was his own sense of importance,
he decided on a plan.
He visited a local printer and or
dered some important looking let
terheads, with his name at the top.
Two days later another letter ar
rived from Simon. 1t stated that he
would like to meet Dana in Attorney
Harry Davis office on Wednesday.
Dana called up his printer and
asked for his letterheads, and was
told they weren't ready. Perturbed,
LANA WdltCO LWO NdyS lOIlSSl dllO
then, upon being advised that the
copy for his letterheads had been
mislaid, sat down to answer Simon S
letter on plain white paper
The letter was hardly completed
when the front doorbell rang and
Hattie admitted a small wizened
man.
"My name," he explained, sis
Davis. Attorney Davis. I'm repre-
senting Simon Douglas" He paused,
coughed. "Mr. Douglas says you
have neglected to answer his let
tiers. Your silence has disturbed
him. He seems to think you are
preparing to bring suit. And where
as there is little on which you could
base suit, Mr.. Douglas feels that
court action would injure his bust
ness. He is-ah-prepared to make
you a proposition.
Dana wet his lips What kind of
a proposition"
"You were to receive percentage
of the gross business. The sum to-
tai of things for a year would, in
normal times, amount to about
$4,000, Mr.. Douglas is prepared to
pay you $1,000, if you will destroy