Produced by Roger Frank, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net GET-RICH-QUICK WALLINGFORD A cheerful account of the rise and fall of an American Business Buccaneer By GEORGE RANDOLPH CHESTER Author of "The Making of Bobby Burnit," "The Cash Intrigue," Etc. WITH FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS A. L. BURT COMPANY PUBLISHERS NEW YORK Copyright, 1907, by the Curtis Publishing Company Copyright, 1908, by the Curtis Publishing Company Copyright, 1908, by Howard E. Altemus Published April, 1908 TO THE LIVE BUSINESS MEN OF AMERICA--THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN "STUNG" AND THOSE WHO HAVE YET TO UNDERGO THAT PAINFUL EXPERIENCE--THIS LITTLE TALE IS SYMPATHETICALLY DEDICATED [Illustration: "AND THE BATHROOM MUST HAVE A LARGE TUB"] Contents CHAPTER I. In Which J. Rufus Wallingford Conceives a Brilliant Invention 9 CHAPTER II. Wherein Edward Lamb Beholds the Amazing Profits of the Carpet-tack Industry 21 CHAPTER III. Mr. Wallingford's Lamb Is Carefully Inspired with a Flash of Creative Genius 33 CHAPTER IV. J. Rufus Accepts a Temporary Accommodation and Buys an Automobile 45 CHAPTER V. The Universal Covered Carpet Tack Company Forms Amid Great Enthusiasm 58 CHAPTER VI. In Which an Astounding Revelation Is Made Concerning J. Rufus 71 CHAPTER VII. Wherein the Great Tack Inventor Suddenly Decides to Change His Location 93 CHAPTER VIII. Mr. Wallingford Takes a Dose of His Own Bitter Medicine 111 CHAPTER IX. Mr. Wallingford Shows Mr. Clover How to Do the Widows and Orphans Good 129 CHAPTER X. An Amazing Combination of Philanthropy and Profit is Inaugurated 140 CHAPTER XI. Neil Takes a Sudden Interest in the Business, and Wallingford Lets Go 155 CHAPTER XII. Fate Arranges for J. Rufus an Opportunity to Manufacture Sales Recorders 171 CHAPTER XIII. Mr. Wallingford Offers Unlimited Financial Backing to a New Enterprise 187 CHAPTER XIV. Showing How Five Hundred Dollars May Do the Work of Five Thousand 202 CHAPTER XV. Wallingford Generously Loans The Pneumatic Company Some of Its Own Money 215