Chapter IV
"_A good plot, good friends, and full of expectation: an excellent plot, very good friends_."
Steve went, not to a theatre, but to bed. In the morning, after afew inquiries, he sauntered round to get his bearings. He made theseexplorations afoot, opining that, at first, the use of street cars orthe "L" would tend to confuse his orientation. He contented himselfwith locating 25 Broad Street, without presenting his letter.Incidentally, he left most of his cash in a safe-deposit drawer."For," he mused, "the touching attachment of my open-handed,prepossessing friend may not always ad-here to the lofty planerecognized by business ethics. He may, at any time, abandon therefined and artistic methods of high finance for primitive, crude anddirect means unworthy of his talents. The safe side of a safe is theinside of a safe."
So back by the water-front, where he spent a pleasant and interestingforenoon. At one o'clock there were still no signs of Mitchell. SoSteve, Mahomet-like, sought his office.
The _mise-en-scene_ was admirable. A well-littered desk, two 'phones,code-book, directory, typewriter, file-books, a busy bookkeeper, afair stenographer--no detail was omitted. Mitchell, pacing the floor,paused in his dictation to give him a cheerful greeting.
"Hello, Thompson--up already? Just sit down till I'm through here,will you? Most done. How'd you like to walk around the docks? Thatought to interest you. All right--thought it would. I've got somebusiness at No. 4. Make yourself at home. There's the papers--Ready,Miss Stanley?" Clearing his throat, he put a hand under his coat-tailsand resumed dictation:
"'Melquiades Sandoval y Hijos, Montevidio. Gentlemen: Your ordershipped to-day by steamer Escobar as per your esteemed favor of the5th. Invoices inclosed. In the item of mowing machines, was unableto fill order with Nonpareil as desired. Have taken liberty ofsubstituting fifty Micas, the Mica being the same in every respectexcept the name plate. In fact, the two firms, with others, have a"gentleman's agreement" sharing patents, keeping up separate plantsonly to preserve the appearance of competition. (Confound it--excuseme, Miss Stanley--there's my hobby again. Shouldn't have said that,but let it go.) Trusting you will find this satisfactory in everyparticular, and hoping to be favored by your future orders, I am,etc.'--Got that? Next!
"'Brown, Small & VanRiper, Hartford, Ct. Gentlemen: Inclosed find mycheck for $27,000, to be used in the matter we discussed the otherday. Kindly send papers to my lawyers, Reed, Reed, Perkins & Reed.
"'Am sorry I cannot more largely avail myself of the privilege sokindly extended me. At the present, however, my capital is tied up invarious enterprises, and I am really crowding myself to raise this.Thanking you for past favors, etc.'--Here's the last. 'Mr. JosephYates, Rehobeth Beach, Delaware. Dear old Joe: Sorry to hear of yourundeserved bad luck. While not exactly a financial Napoleon thesedays, I am able to accommodate you, and glad to do so. Have notforgotten the time you helped me out of a mighty tight place. Draw onme for $10,000 through the Marine. Take your time for repayment. Ifthis is not enough, let me know. Kind regards to the wife--and takecare of yourself, old man. In haste, your old friend----'
"Pound those off, Miss Stanley. Jim"--this to the silently industriousbookkeeper--"how much have we got at the Marine?"
After swift search in a little black book the bookkeeper lookedup--"Seven thousand six hundred-twenty, sir," he replied respectfully.
"I'll give you enough to make out ten thousand to honor old Joe'sdraft," ruminated Mitchell, twirling the safe-knobs deftly. "You takeit round and deposit it. On your way back jack Stevens up about thoseplows. Tell him if he don't get 'em round on time he loses one bigcustomer--and that's me." Counting out the required amount, he stuffedthe slight remainder in his pocket, slammed shut the safe, signed hisletters briskly, and took up his hat. "Come on, Thompson, we'll beoff."
"Now then," he resumed, in the elevator, "I've got to go down to slipNo. 4, to see about some stuff I'm shipping to Mexico. Walk or ride?It's only a little ways."
"Let's walk, then," said Steve. "You can tell me about the boats as wego. That's what takes my eye. What's that big one coming in?"
"Rotterdammer. The one behind her is a coaster--Menacho, Puig & Co.Look up stream--there's a big Cunarder just swinging out. Hello,there's the Rosenthal and Montoya stuff now!"
A string of heavily-laden drays moved slowly down the rock-pavedstreet. "Lights out! Protect yourself!" thought Steve. "I feel apresentiment that there'll be a heavy transportation bill on thatstuff and that my friend won't have enough cash to settle it. Perhapshe will accept a temporary accommodation from me. Thompson, he paysthe freight--_nit_!"
This unworthy suspicion proved unfounded. As they watched the rumblingwagons they were joined by one of businesslike appearance and swiftstep.
"Going down, Mitchell? That's your Argentine freights, I suppose? Atleast, I recognize your foreman."
Mitchell introduced him: Mr. Archibald, of the Bowring and Archibaldline, in the coastwise and southern trade.
"Just going down to your place, Archie. We _were_ going to walk, butif you're in a hurry----"
"Not at all. Have a cigar?" said the pseudo-Archibald urbanely.
"You can show my young friend over the boats, if you will," saidMitchell. "Rank inlander, Thompson. Rather look at a boat than eat.Been talking boat, boat, boat to me ever since we left the office."
"Happy to do so," said the merchant-mariner. "You'd better take alittle trip with us, Mr. Thompson--say a run down to Havana. Anyfriend of Mr. Mitchell's----"
A young man came tearing across the street at a great rate."Mitchell!" he shouted. "Mitchell! Look here!" He thrust a telegraminto Mitchell's hand. "Just reached me by A.D.T. from the Carlton. Letme have some money, will you? About three thousand. Just got time tocatch the next Pennsylvania train and make connections at Baltimore."
Mitchell spread out the yellow slip and read it aloud. "H'm! 'Ponce deLeon St Augustine Florida John E Bickford The Carlton New York--Comeat once Father worse Doctor orders to Egypt Jennie.' Why sure, my boy.Here's what cash I got, and I'll give you a check. Too bad, too bad!By George, I hope your dad pulls through. What! Blame it, I meandammit, I've come off without my checkbook. Got yours, Archie?"
Archie patted his pockets. "No, I haven't. Left it in the office. Gota couple of hundred cash you're welcome to, though."
The young man looked nervously at his watch. Mitchell turnedhesitatingly toward Thompson. But the Westerner did not wait for anappeal to his generosity. He volunteered, eager to oblige a man ofsuch large affairs as his substantial friend.
"I'll write you a check. You can just run in to the nearest bank withme and indorse it, Mr. Mitchell. Sorry I haven't the cash with me."Thus Steve, his clumsy innocence eluding the toils with all the graceof an agile hippopotamus.
The grafters glanced at each other. But Mitchell was equal to theemergency.
"No need to bother you, Mr. Thompson, thanks, all the same," he saidsuavely. "Archibald, just give me what you've got and I'll run over toJersey City with John. Traffic Manager of the Pennsylvania is a friendof mine. If he's in his office I'll get it of him. Otherwise, I'llstart John on, and wire balance to him at St. Augustine when I getback. Wait a minute, John. Got plenty of time to catch the boat. Lookhere, Archie--you're not busy, are you?"
"I'm always busy," said the shipowner gayly, "but no more so to-daythan any other day. Why?"
"Oh, well, you can get off. I promised Thompson, here, to do himthe honors, and now I've got to help John out. Oh, you two are notacquainted, are you? Ex_cuse_ me! Mr. Archibald, Mr. Bickford--Mr.Thompson, Mr. Bickford. Mr. Bickford's father was a dear old friend ofmine. Once very wealthy, too, but has had reverses. Bless me, how I doramble on! Old age, sir, old age! Osler was half right. Now, Archie,'phone up to your office that you're unavoidably detained and all therest of it, like a good fellow, and take my place as cicerone.Never mind your dinky little boats--take him up and show him the bigfellows--the ocean greyhounds."
"But," objected Archibald, "I've got to go down t
o the office to getsome money. You've broke me, you shanghaier."
"So I have, so I have!" He peeled off a hundred-dollar-bill, ignoringSteve's protest. "That enough? I'll fix John up, some way. You're atMr. Thompson's orders. Mind, his money isn't any good. I pay for bothof you. Wish it was more, but you see how I'm hooked up. You'll have abetter time with a young fellow like Archie than you would with anold fogy like me, anyhow. Here, we'll be left!" He made for the ferryslips with the anxious Bickford.
Thus did the wily Mr. Mitchell justify his headship. In these profusestrains of unpremeditated art, apparently the merest of ramblingcommonplace, he had plainly conveyed to his henchmen that, thoughfoiled by the countryman's straightforward single-mindedness, theywere not to adopt a policy of scuttle, but persevere in the paths ofmanifest destiny to benevolent assimilation; at the same timeadroitly extricating his embarrassed lieutenant from a very presentpredicament. Because "Archibald" felt a certain reluctance aboutaccompanying Steve to Pier Number 4 in the capacity of owner, for thesufficiently obvious reason that he might be summarily kicked off.Such a contretemps might give cause for conjecture even in one sogreen as his companion, reflected Archie.
He saluted with easy grace. "Orders, captain? Happy to oblige. Myfriend's friend is my friend."
Steve saw the big steamships. Thence, at his artless suggestion, theywent to Brooklyn Bridge. Followed rides on the Subway and Elevated,a viewing of skyscrapers and such innocent and exhilarating delights.Noting Archibald's well-groomed and natty appearance, Steve naivelyasked his advice in matters sartorial, purchasing much raiment andleaving an order with a fashionable tailor. But, after an _amazing_dinner at an uptown house of call, Archibald took the reins into hisown guidance, and led him forth to quite other distractions--in theagricultural quarter of the city, where that popular and ever-bloomingcereal, wild oats, is sown by night and by day.
Behind them the plausible Mr. Mitchell and his old friend's son heldhigh commune.
"Why, the lantern-jawed, bug-eyed, rubber-necked, double-jointed,knock-kneed, splay-foot, hair-lipped, putty-brained country Jake!Did you see him sidestep that?" demanded the aggrieved Bickford,forgetting, in his pique, his stricken father. "What you want to doto him is to sandbag him, give him knockout drops, stab him under thefifth rib! He's too elusive--the devil-sent----" He was proceeding tofurther particulars when Mitchell checked him.
"I want you to bear in mind that this is no strong-arm gang, and I'mneither dip nor climber." His emphasis was withering. "My credit isinvolved in this affair now, and I'm going through with it. If he'dhad the dough with him he'd handed it out just like he did the check.He floundered out through pure, unadulterated innocence. I'll land himyet. Next time I won't leave the shirt to his back. I tried him withcovetousness. I've tried him with distress. Now I'll tempt him with abusiness opportunity--one that he'll have to have cash for. Keep youreye on your uncle. He'll see you through."
The next day being Sunday, Mitchell took the cowboy to the Speedway,and back through Central Park, in an auto, frankly hired.
"I can hardly afford to set up one," he confided. "And anyway, Ihaven't much leisure. Of course, when a good fellow like you comesalong I can take a day off, once in a way. But generally my nose isdown to the grindstone."
On their way home he pointed out a fine building, ornamented witha "To Let" sign in the window. "There's a place I used to own,Thompson," he said. "Belongs to a friend of mine, young Post. Oneof the best families--but, poor fellow, he's in trouble now." Hedismissed the subject with a benevolent sigh. "Would you like to go inand look at it? The caretaker will show it to you. He'll think you'rea prospective buyer. You needn't tell him so, but then again youneedn't tell him any different. There's no harm and it's well worthseeing."
Thompson, nothing loth, agreed. It was a fine house, as Mitchell hadguessed.
"Gracious!" said Steve, when the inspection was over. "What's such ahouse worth?"
"I sold it for forty thousand. It's worth more now."
Steve gazed at him wide-eyed. "My! I shouldn't have thought it worththat much." (It was, in fact, worth a great deal more.)
"It's the ground that makes it cost so," explained Mitchell. "That'swhy the value has increased. The house itself is not worth as muchas when I had it, but land values are coming up by leaps and bounds.Young man, the ground valuation alone of the six square milesadjoining Central Park is more than the value of all real estatein the great commonwealth of Missouri. And it is going higher everyyear."
"I don't understand it," said Steve, much impressed.
"Do you understand the philosophy of an artesian well? Yes? Then youunderstand this. Every farm cleared, every acre planted, everymine developed, every baby born, enhances the value of _all_ cityproperty--and New York's got the biggest standpipe. The back countrysoaks up the rain and it is delivered conveniently at our doorsthrough, underground channels, between the unleaking walls thatconfine its flow; our price on the surplus you have to sell and _our_price on the necessities you buy. Every city taps this flow, be thepipe large or small; and as I said before, New York has the biggestgusher.
"We've got the money. So you may do the work and we allow you to getenough to sustain life, and just as little more as possible. Sell atour price, buy at our price--we've got you coming and going. You can'tget away.
"You're poor, you take what you can get to pay your debts. That keepsdown prices on what you sell. You've got families, you've got to play.Yes, yes, quite right, the rules are not _entirely_ fair; we'll revisethem to-morrow, maybe, some time. Let _you_ do it? Tut, tut, no, no!Why, you object to 'em! That won't do at all. Let the rules be revisedby their friends and beneficiaries, to-morrow, next day, by and by;busy to-day, stockholders' meeting, dividend declared, good-by! You'revirtually _peons_. Fourth of July, elections and war-times you'rethe sovereign people, Tommy this and Tommy-rot; but for all practicalpurposes you're _peons_.
"We're rich, we can afford a scratch-my-back-and-I'll-scratch-yourstariff that keeps our prices up arbitrarily, that takes fifty dollarsout of your pockets to put in ours for every dollar it puts into thenational treasury."
"If the tariff was repealed," said Steve diffidently, "if weraised money for the National Government, just as we do for countygovernment----"
"Hush-sh!" said Mitchell, shocked. "That's High Treason--that'sUnconstitutional! Some one will hear you! Then there's another._You_ sell at a sacrifice to pay your debts. If we get in debt that'sexactly what we won't do. A poor man goes broke, but a rich man goesbankrupt. Ever think of that?
"That baby I spoke of will grow up, produce corn, cotton, cattle orcopper, maybe--but the net result of his life will be to enrich therich. If, by any means--industry, opportunity, invention, speculation,dishonesty, chance or inheritance--he gets on top, then the workerswill be working for him by the same law. The fact remains that everydollar's worth of betterment in the country increases the value ofcity property one dollar, without effort to the owner. A city is anartesian well. Take it from me, Thompson, a man of your ability oughtto make connections and get your little tin pail under."