Tommy was glad at the welcome, but also subtly disappointed. It is easier to fight a fighter than to fight an amiable friend.
“Good afternoon, Colonel. I came to—”
“Just wait a minute until I see the closing price of my latest mistake, won't you?” He ran the tape through his fingers. “Not so bad! A kind Providence may yet save me. Now what can I do for you?”
“Providence has heard your prayers, Colonel. I came to show you that your plain duty is to become a stockholder of the Tecumseh Motor Company with the rest of your family.”
“They tell me the younger the shark the more voracious it is.”
“Colonel,” said Tommy, earnestly, because the colonel was not taking Tommy's mission very seriously, “ten years from to-day, when New York real estate—”
“Hold on. I know disaster is approaching this fair metropolis and skipping Dayton.” The colonel held up his hands. “I succumb!”
“The entire two thousand shares, Colonel, of course,” said Tommy, prepared to compromise. “Sit down, young man.”
Tommy sat down and looked expectant. Colonel Willetts pursued, seriously: “I've looked over your papers again. You vouch for their accuracy?” The colonel had put on his martial air and managed to look not only stem but cold. “Yes, sir, I do!” answered Tommy, firmly. “You are sure of your figures?”
“Absolutely. But I'd like to call your attention to the fact that the company's plans have for an object not only to solve certain problems among our wage-earners, but also to insure the permanency of our dividends on a basis of eight per cent, per annum. There may be extra dividends, but we won't promise more than—”