Five Thousand an Hour: How Johnny Gamble Won the Heiress
Washer. He laid the card face down and placed a paper-weight on it, as if he feared it might get away. He turned a callou
across from his desk. Apparently he was as mournful as an undertaker, but at the end of the inspection his mouth suddenly stretched in a wide grin, which bristled the silver-white beard upon hi
he did like a little girl on communion Sunday. He was a small, wispy, waspish fellow with a violently upright, raging pompadour, a mustache which, in s
our hotel project," he
ourtney. "Sold
r with absolute disbelief.
ontract." And, with great satisfactio
ty!" snorted Washer. "That's hal
buy the railroad plot at three and
hundred f
et square, which is the size of this plo
ous of all such trifles. "What will
ou. If you want to b
s Gam
ganizing the Termi
tock has he
to see Mr. Gamb
ou tak
a mi
give me the straight of it, Court
bit.
see Mr. Gamble! Well
of the door. Mr. Courtney winked at himself in the glass. Old Mort Washer would try to take advantage of him, to the extent of an eighth of a mil
Old Mort Washer bounc
le?" he p
rned to him, but
" stated tha
orton
hat fact and was expecting this
or you, Mr. Wash
e subscriptions to your
kind int
is your comp
know? Do you figure
N
do you
the property. W
I will-at
w m
hundred and fifty
d Washer, and sta
ination daybook, journal, ledger and diary. "Ashley, I put in four h
tifled a
parate account for tha
ing one pace, "who are some of
one; Mr. Courtney is another; Colon
'll give you two and a half
me show you a perspective sketch of it, Mr.
," blurted Mr. Washer. "G
" commented Loring in surpris
boosted me yesterday, so I sold him some stock this morning. Sa
r business,"
ushed in to
in the Terminal Hotel Company," he
turning up the edge of a piece of paper and creasing it as carefully as if it h
le can fully organ
commend the investment; and my stock is subscribed only
t of a ma
t state Mr. Gamble to be financially responsible, but personally I would trust him. I would not urge or even recommend any one to take part in his projects; but personally I feel quite
unced Mr. Washer. "Thanks!"
r he was in Lori
om price for that pr
y thousand dollars," obliged Johnny
oo much
advised Johnny, smil
fered Washer resignedly. "I migh
d Johnny. "It's
Mr. Washer quite affably, now that th
ers and myself will all take a piece o
ard," grinned Washer; "but
ntery to drop in for lunch. Of course the conversation turned to Johnny Gamble. Neither of them co
e was saying. "He has a wonderf
rious that she should be so well-informed. "You'll see that
e's eyes
she inquired as q
are certain to take advantage of t
rose and went
ham is here." Then to Gresham: "You'll excuse me for a
ny's office with carefully concealed timidity. Her manner was coldly gracious a
so with suddenly accelerated dignity; for the stenographer
with tremendous sweetness. Anybody could look p
a moment's
. Gamb
miled quit
and smiled again. She was not at all pretty
uld be likely to find Mr. Lor
he girl happily, and gave her hair a tou
s gone?" and Constance was sudde
f it. "Oh, Mr. Gamble has gone over to the office of Mallard back in a few minutes.
was a public telephone booth in the drug store on the cor
was wanted on the telephone. Johnny Gamble had never heard the voice of Constance over a thin wire, but he recognized it in an instant; and he hitched his chair six inches cl
which could be attach
all have a nominal title in a big building plot, for a
ly ordered him. "You must get
ike it," he heartily promised h
me trying to find Polly or Loring, so that they could warn you, that
his chair closer. There was only an inch left, but he took that.
but you mustn't
as I'm through here," h
ic-stricken, "I have a caller just
itch his chair closer. "You're t
a stifled snicker. "I left him with Aun
d out to telephone her friend, J
s hand to turn aside and smile. Th
le dinner of jollification to-night and hand you the official s
it as soon as you get that property
ly agreed. "You'll come t
artial engagement
come," he exu
he replied
uld-but he was talking
r. Courtney, or Mr. Washer his from me. All that poppy-cock is just to conceal out profits. What Mr. Washer wants is the ground; and Courtney and I want half a million dollars, besides the eighth of a million that Mr. Courtney had
s a put-up job between you a
s, "it's only the finish of that job you put up on me when
t. Johnny Gamble patt
you don't hurry I'll sell you some
sign," ordered Washer, p
way in full regalia just as they were turning
warning of this noon was not unfounded," he re
correctly dressed Gresham with some dissatis
an with whom you a
Gamb
with Gamble?" bri
had financial obligations he could not meet," expl
did!" snorte
stated Gresham with an uncomfortable feeling that he w
l!" blurted the colonel. "Now, tell us all y
very stiff dignity. "I thought it might be of value for you to know-if you were not already informed-that an at
ey paused
was this attac
hirty, I wa
on his old friend's shoulder, laughed again; he put his other hand upon Gresham's shoulder and laughed more. The colonel was a slower thinker. He looked painfully puzzled for a moment-then sudd
ther Courtney nor Johnny Gamble owned a penny's worth of interest in the T
fit, which my friend Johnny and I divide equally. I saw him make the entry in his book. He has twenty-
n?" snapped a jerky little voice. "John
ands of lean little Morton Wash
s and the ladies," said Courtney. "Possi
unced Gresham, sickly.
napped Washer. "It
s-Polly's mother by adoption-Polly, Loring and Sammy Chirp, the la
oyden, Constance Joy and Johnny Gamble. Gresham, who had held