“Welcome, Mr. Wilberton,” said the host, as he shook hands with the visitor. “We have been expecting you. We are glad that you are here.”
“Glad to be here, Griscom,” replied the visitor cordially. He sat down in the large chair at the end of the table, as Griscom drew it out for him.
“We are completing plans for the merger, Mr. Wilberton,” said Griscom. He was a man almost the age of Wilberton. Like the visitor, he was a man of dignity; but he had none of the overbearing manner that characterized the newcomer.
“I hope you have made progress,” replied Wilberton, with a careful pronunciation of each word.
“We have,” declared Griscom. “Our plans simply await your approval.”
“Let me hear them!”
“We have decided upon a merger of the United Theater Corporation with the Cooper-Lowden interests. A smaller group — the Derringer Circuit — will be absorbed by the merger.
“The terms agreed upon are substantially those which I discussed with you. Our attorneys will prepare all the necessary papers during the next few weeks. That is chiefly a matter of detail. In the meantime, we are looking forward to your decision.”
“Will the new organization reach the proportions that you anticipated?”
“It will exceed them! When the merger is completed, we will have theatrical holdings that will place us very close to the largest organizations in the country!”