Making People Happy

look in on the group, it would have seemed rather an agreeable trio of friends passing a sociable evening of elegant leisure. Hamilton alone, as he sat in the chai

ooth, well-groomed New Yorker, excellently preserved for all his sixty-five years; one who could be at will persuasive and genial, or hard as steel. In his evening dress, he showed to advantage, and his manner toward Hamilton was gently paternal, as that of an old family friend who has chanced in for a pleasant hour with the son of a former

here, Hamilton, my boy. It reminds me of the many times when I used to sit here with y

graciousness. He was more than suspicious as

he had many dealings together, I

ader, was your father. It's a pity he cannot be here to know what a promisin

nded. "For that matter, I myself wish t

rm expansiveness that was meant to indic

he declared, unctuously. "You

ponderous corrobora

rse not!" he rumbled,

with discretion. He spoke with so

y that was just wh

omment. At any rate, he blandly ignored

ilton, senior, do

ir. His tones were surcharged with a bitterness that he tried in vain to conceal. Morton regarded these signs of feeli

on, senior, and remember him very well, too. But, anyhow, by-gones are by-gones

miled now,

hat he's dead, you two gentlemen have decided to com

is ally, emitted a cackling laugh of triumph. But Morton refused to accept the charge. Instead

r's place. No, no, Hamilton, there's room for all of us. There's a reasonab

per. Briefly stated, your proposition to me is that you will take all the boxes I am able to deliver to you-that is to say, you agree to keep my factory busy. For this promise on your part, you require two stipulations from me as conditio

ton assured the questioner. "That

mpossible for me to make any such agreement with you-utterly impossible." He lo

orton, however, maintained the argument, und

asking you to do anything that you haven't done alrea

competition," was the prompt retort. "It costs

dmit the justice of the young man's

Carrington made before we bought out Carrington. The first, time, Carrington bid eleven ce

on the following lot; while I, because I was bound to get a look in on the business, even at a loss-why, I bid nine cents. The result was that I got the o

esumed his narrative of o

ington bid eight cents,

gnation was too m

too-" The withering look bestowed on the speaker by Morton caused him to brea

bout cost him three cents each for the mi

fourth and biggest order, Carrington

im. "And, on the four lots, Hamilton, you cleaned up a profit, while I lost out-s

ponderous figure of Carrington with something approach

g the trust," he demanded ironi

d aloud, in keen enj

her's son, Hamilton,

o be cajoled into friendline

if you had not been clever enough to let both Carrington and myself ea

d to a perilous purple, and the narrow, dull eyes flashed fire. He struggled gaspingly for a moment to speak-in vain. Morton's eyes were fixed on the man, and those eyes were very clear and very cold.

old him wh

k the answer

in the presence of the discomfiture of his enemy. "He told you what I

s, sat uneasily at first, in a vague effort toward defiance; then, his courage oozed away, he shifted uneasily in his seat, and his

n from the resolute face, which showed now an expression relentless, dominant.

es at eleven cents," Hamilton a

lton, you can make a profit. It won't be large, but it will be a profit. This is the day of small profits, you must remember. It will be necessary for y

garded Morton wi

n't want to cut wages. It's a sad fact that the men at present don't get a cent more than they're wo

its," Morton declared, superciliously. "However, it's no business

he wage-scale. I'll sell to the trade, at thirtee

shook h

id threateningly, "will sell to

ed out!" Hamilton

ining hand. He was aga

bills.... The moral is obvious, when you consider your factory alone as opposed to certain other interests. So, take my advice. Try cutting. The men would much

nequal combat. He hesitated fo

ll let you kno

g man dropped his head on his arms over the heap of paper