“Why cant they let you alone I say.... If you aint got no work and you aint got no money, what’s the good of em I say?”
“Well lots of people like to see their pictures in the paper. Used to myself in the old days.”
“Used to be work in the old days.... You aint got no job now?” he growled savagely. Joe Harland shook his head. “Well what the hell? They ought to leave you alone oughtn’t they? Wont be no jobs till snow shoveling begins.”
“What’ll you do till then?”
The old man didnt answer. He bent over the paper again screwing up his eyes and muttering. “All dressed naked, it’s a croime I’m tellin yez.”
Joe Harland got to his feet and walked away.
It was almost dark; his knees were stiff from sitting still so long. As he walked wearily he could feel his potbelly cramped by his tight belt. Poor old warhorse you need a couple of drinks to think about things. A mottled beery smell came out through swinging doors. Inside the barkeep’s face was like a russet apple on a snug mahogany shelf.
“Gimme a shot of rye.” The whiskey stung his throat hot and fragrant. Makes a man of me that does. Without drinking the chaser he walked over to the free lunch and ate a ham sandwich and an olive. “Let’s have another rye Charley. That’s the stuff to make a man of you. I been laying off it too much, that’s what’s the matter with me. You wouldnt think it to look at me now, would you friend, but they used to call me the Wizard of Wall Street which is only another illustration of the peculiar predominance of luck in human affairs.... Yes sir with pleasure. Well, here’s health and long life and to hell with the jinx.... Hah makes a man of you ... Well I suppose there’s not one of you gentlemen here who hasnt at some time or other taken a plunger, and how many of you hasnt come back sadder and wiser. Another illustration of the peculiar predominance of luck in human affairs. But not so with me; gentlemen for ten years I played the market, for ten years I didn’t
have a ticker ribbon out of my hand day or night, and in ten years I only took a cropper three times, till the last time. Gentlemen I’m going to tell you a secret. I’m going to tell you a very important secret.... Charley give these very good friends of mine another round, my treat, and have a nip yourself.... My, that tickles her in the right place.... Gentlemen just another illustration of the peculiar predominance of luck in human affairs. Gentlemen the secret of my luck ... this is exact I assure you; you can verify it yourselves in newspaper articles, magazines, speeches, lectures delivered in those days; a man, and a dirty blackguard he turned out to be eventually, even wrote a detective story about me called the Secret of Success, which you can find in the New York Public Library if you care to look the matter up.... The secret of my success was ... and when you hear it you’ll laugh among yourselves and say Joe Harland’s drunk, Joe Harland’s an old fool.... Yes you will.... For ten years I’m telling you I traded on margins, I bought outright, I covered on stocks I’d never even heard the name of and every time I cleaned up. I piled up money. I had four banks in the palm of my hand. I began eating my way into sugar and gutta percha, but in that I was before my time.... But you’re getting nervous to know my secret, you think you could use it.... Well you couldnt.... It was a blue silk crocheted necktie that my mother made for me when I was a little boy.... Dont you laugh, God damn you.... No I’m not starting anything. Just another illustration of the peculiar predominance of luck. The day I chipped in with another fellow to spread a thousand dollars over some Louisville and Nashville on margin I wore that necktie. Soared twentyfive points in twentyfive minutes. That was the beginning. Then gradually I began to notice that the times I didnt wear that necktie were the times I lost money. It got so old and ragged I tried carrying it in my pocket. Didnt do any good. I had to wear it, do you understand?... The rest is the old old story gentlemen.... There was a girl, God damn her and I loved her. I wanted to show her that there was nothing in the world I wouldnt do for her
so I gave it to her. I pretended it was a joke and laughed it off, ha ha ha. She said, Why it’s no good, it’s all worn out, and she threw it in the fire.... Only another illustration.... Friend you wouldn’t set me up to another drink would you? I find myself unexpectedly out of funds this afternoon.... I thank you sir.... Ah that puts ginger in you again.”