“'It was by following your advice, sir,' said I.
“'Following my advice!' exclaimed my father. 'What do you mean, sir? Or are you mad?'
“'Not at all,' I returned. 'Don't you recall how, when I came from college, you gave me a world of advice, and laid particular stress on my establishing a perfect credit? “Nothing is done without credit,” you said on that occasion; “and it should be the care of a young man, as he enters upon life, to see to it that his credit is perfect in every quarter of trade. He should extend his credit with every opportunity.” This counsel made a deep impression upon me, it did, really! and so I've extended my credit wherever I saw a chance until I owe a half-million. I must say, father, that I think it would have saved me money, don't y' know, had you told me to destroy my credit as hard as I could. In fostering my credit, I but warmed a viper.'”
Young Morton paused to fire another cigarette, while the pucker about the corner of his eye indicated that he felt as though he had turned the laugh upon his father. Following a puff or two, he returned gravely to Mulberry Traction.
“Do you approve my proposition?” he asked of Big Kennedy, “and will you give me your aid?”
“The proposition's all hunk,” said Big Kennedy. “As to my aid: that depends on whether we come to terms.”
“What share would you want?”
“Forty per cent, of th' common stock,” responded Big Kennedy. “That's always th' Tammany end; forty per cent.”
Young Morton drew in his lips. The figure seemed a surprise. “Do you mean that you receive four millions of the common stock, you paying nothing?” he asked at last.
“I don't pony for a sou markee. An' I get th' four millions, d'ye see! Who ever heard of Tammany payin' for anything!” and Big Kennedy glared about the room, and sniffed through his nose, as though in the presence of all that might be called preposterous.