children of the whirlwind-第24章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ock Larry found in the safe； recalled the reputation of the elder Sherwood。 He had been known as a spirited； daring man who would buy anything or sell anything； he had been several times victimized by sharp traders； some of these out…and…out confidence men。 Studying these old records Larry remembered that the elder Sherwood a dozen years before had lost a hundred thousand in a mining deal which Old Jimmie Carlisle had helped manipulate。
Larry found hundreds and hundreds of thousands of stock in the safe that were just so much waste paper； and he found records of other hundreds of thousands in safety deposit vaults that had no greater value。 The real estate； the more solid and to the male Sherwoods the less interesting part of the fortune； had long been in the care of agents； and since Larry was prohibited from going out and studying the condition and true value of these holdings； he had to depend upon the book valuations and the agents' reports and letters。 Upon the basis of these valuations he estimated that some holdings were returning a loss； some a bare one and a half per cent； and some running as high as fifteen per cent。 Larry found many complaints from tenants； some threatening letters from the Building Department for failure to make ordered alterations to comply with new building laws； and some rather perfunctory letters of advice and recommendation from the agents themselves。
From Miss Sherwood Larry learned that the agents were old men； friends of her father since youth； that they had both made comfortable fortunes which they had no incentive to increase。 Larry judged that there was no dishonesty on the part of the agents； only laxity； and an easy adherence to the methods of their earlier years when there had not been so much competition nor so many building laws。 All the same Larry judged that the real…estate holdings were in a bad way。
Larry liked the days and days of this work； although the farther he went the worse did the tangle seem。 It was the kind of work for which his faculties fitted him； and this was his first chance to use his faculties upon large affairs in an honest way。 Thus far his work was all diagnostic； cure； construction； would not come until laterand perhaps Miss Sherwood would not trust him with such affairs。 This investigation； this checking up； involved no risk on her part as she had frankly told him。 The other would： it would mean at least partial control of property； the handling of funds。
Miss Sherwood had many sessions with him； she was interested； but she confessed herself helpless in this compilation and diagnosis of so many facts and figures。 Dick was prompt enough to report his stock transactions； and he was eager enough to discuss the probable fluctuation of this or that stock； but when asked to go over what Larry had done； he refused flatly and good…humoredly to 〃sit in any such slow； dead game。〃
〃If my Solomon…headed sister is satisfied with what you're doing； Captain Nemo； that's good enough for me；〃 he would say。 〃So forget that stuff till I'm out of sight。 Open up； Captainwhat do you think copper is going to do？〃
〃I wish you could be put on an operating…table and have your speculative streak knifed out of you； Dick。 That oil stock you bought the other daywhy； a blind man could have seen it was wild…cat。 And you were wiped out。〃
〃Oh； the best of 'em get aboard a bad deal now and then。〃
〃I know。 But I've been tabulating all your deals to date； and on the total you're away behind。 Better leave the market absolutely alone； Dick； and quit taking those big chances。〃
〃You've got to take some big chances； Captain Nemo〃Dick had clung to the title he had lightly conferred on Larry the morning he had come in to apologize〃or else you'll never make any big winnings。 Besides； I want a run for my money。 Just getting money isn't enough。 I want a little pep in mine。〃
Larry saw that these talks on the unwisdom of speculation he was giving Dick were not in themselves enough to affect a change in Dick。 Mere words were colorless and negative； something positive would be required。
Larry hesitated before he ventured upon another matter he had long considered。 〃Excuse my saying it； Dick。 But a man who's trying to do as much in a business way as you are； particularly since it's plain speculation； can't afford to go to after…theater shows three times a week and to late suppers the other four nights。 Two and three o'clock is no bedtime hour for a business man。 And that boot…legged booze you drink when you're out doesn't help you any。 I know you think I'm talking like a fossilized grand…auntbut all the same； it's the straight stuff I'm handing you。〃
〃Of course it's straight stuffand you're perfectly all right； Captain Nemo。〃 With a good…natured smile Dick clapped him on the shoulder。 〃But I'm all right； too； and nothing and nobody is going to hurt me。 Got to have a little fun； haven't I？ As for the booze； I'm merely making hay while the sun shines。 Soon there'll be no sunI mean no booze。〃
Larry dropped the subject。 In his old unprincipled； days his practice had been much what he had suggested to Dick； as little drink as possible； and as few late nights as possible。 He had needed all his wits all the time。 In this matter of hilarious late hours； as in the matter of speculation； Larry recognized words alone； however good； would have little effect upon the pleasure…loving； friendly； likable Dick。 An event； some big experience； would be required to check him short and bring him to his senses。
While Larry was keeping at this grind something was happening to Larry of which he was not then conscious： something which was part of the big development in him that was in time to lead him far。 A confidence man is essentially a 〃sure…thing〃 gambler。 It had been Larry's practice； before the law had tripped him up； to study every detail of an enterprise he was planning to undertake； to know the psychology of the individuals with whom he was dealing； to eliminate every perceivable uncertainty： that was what had made almost all of his deals 〃sure things。〃 Strip a clever knave of all intent or inclination for knavery； and leave all his other qualities and practices intact and eager； and you have the makings of a 〃sure…thing〃 business man：a man who does not cheat others； and who takes precious care that his every move is sound and forward…looking。 Aside from the moral element involved； the difference between the two is largely a difference in percentage： say the difference between a thousand per cent profit and six per cent profit。 The element of trying to play a 〃safe thing〃 still remains。
This transformation of character； under the stimulus of hard； steady work upon a tangled thing which contained the germ of great constructive possibilities for some one； was what was happening unconsciously to Larry。
CHAPTER XVI
All this while Maggie； and what he was to do about her； and how do it； was in Larry's mind。 Even this work he was doing for Miss Sherwood； he was doing also for Maggie in the hope that in some unseen way it might lead him to her and help lead her to herself。 There were difficulties enough between them； God knew； but of them all two were forever presenting themselves as foremost： first； he did not dare go openly to see her； and； second； even if he so dared he did not know where she was。
When he had been with the Sherwoods some three weeks Larry determined upon a preliminary measure。 By this time he knew that the letters mailed from Chicago； according to the plan he had arranged with Miss Sherwood； had had their contemplated effect。 He knew that he was supposed by his enemies to be in Chicago or some other Western point； and that New York was off its guard as far as he was concerned。
His preliminary measure was to discover； if possible； Maggie's whereabouts。 The Duchess seemed to him the most likely source of information。 He dared not write asking her for this； for he was certain her mail was still being scrutinized。 The safest method would be to call at the pawnshop in person； the police； and his old friends； and the Ginger Bucks would expect anything else before they would expect him to return to his grandmother's。 Of course he must use all precautions。
Inc
