Advertising -- Fiction; Bank employees -- Fiction; Labor unions -- Fiction; New York (N.Y.) -- Fiction; Satire
Andrew Barrett nodded.
H. R. said, seriously: "It's about time sandwiching spread. How many on
the Avenue to-day?"
"Nineteen firms; one hundred and eleven men. I think--"
H. R. knew what Barrett was about to say. He therefore said it for
Barrett. "Now that you have Fifth Avenue, move west and east to Sixth
and Madison and Fourth and try Broadway and Twenty-third and
Thirty-fourth and Forty-second--"
"I was just going to propose it to you," said Barrett, aggrievedly.
"I know you have brains. That's why you are here. I trust you
implicitly. This is a man's job. There will be big money in it for you.
For me--" He ceased speaking, and stared meditatively out of the window.
Andrew Barrett wondered with all his soul what the chief was reading in
big print in the future.
Andrew Barrett waited. Presently H. R. frowned. Then he smiled slightly.
Barrett stared fascinatedly. Ah, the lure of mystery! If more men
appreciated it, polygamy would be inevitable--and liberal divorce laws.
H. R. looked up.
"Oh, are you here?" he smiled paternally, forgivingly.
Barrett beamed.
"My boy, I wish you'd run over to Max Onthemaker's or get him on the
telephone. The newspapers are going to publish it."
"Yes, sir, I will. Er--what are they--what are you going to spring on an
enraptured metropolis?
"My impending marriage to Grace Goodchild, only daughter of Goodchild,
president of the Ketcham National Bank. See that it is well handled.
And, Barrett?"
"Yes, sir?"
"The old people don't relish the idea. She is the most beautiful girl in
New York."
"I've seen her! Pippinissima!" exclaimed Andrew Barrett, heartfully.
"Ten millions," said Hendrik Rutgers, calmly.
"My God!" whispered young Mr. Barrett, New-Yorker.
He meant what he said.
Ten millions!
Mr. Onthemaker, Andrew Barrett, and their faithful phalanx of star space
men who always signed their stuff called in a body on La Touche, the
photographer of the moment.
He refused to give them Miss Goodchild's photograph. He wished his name
used, of course, but he was too sensible to disregard professional
ethics.
"Mr. Rutgers said we could get it," said Andrew Barrett, sternly.
"I must have her permission. Hang it, boys, I am just as anxious as
you--as I can be to do what I can for you. But I don't dare. These swell
people are _queer_!" the photographer explained, aggrievedly.
"I'll call her up myself," said Max Onthemaker, resolutely. "What's the
Goodchild number?"
He went to the telephone and gave the number of his own office in low
tones. Presently he said, loudly enough to be heard by all, "Is this 777
Fifth Avenue?"
He alone heard the answer. He would not lie. He was a lawyer. It was
unnecessary.
"Can I speak with Miss Goodchild? No; _Miss_ Goodchild."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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