"THE HANDSOMEST TOWER IN THE WORLD"
"To the right is the wonderful tower of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Building—the handsomest tower in the world," continued puss, bellowing his words into Jack's ears playfully through his megaphone; "while off across the square to the north the structure in yellow brick is the famous Madison Square Garden, soon to be torn down to make room for the new Vanderpoel office building, sixty-four stories high, containing theatres, assembly halls, churches, convention halls, restaurants, apartments, and so on, besides offices, costing between ten and twenty millions of dollars."
"Vanderpoel Building, eh?" said the old gentleman. "Any relation to the feller that's bought the Flatiron?"
"Same man, sir. He's the only Vanderpoel," replied puss.
"Must have seven or eight dollars to spare," said the sight-seer.
"Ten or twelve, sir," laughed puss. "It is said that he is trying to buy a controlling interest in the whole city. Negotiating for the Astor estate, they say."
"Great Scott!" gasped the sight-seer. "What's he going to do with it when he gets it?"
"Don't know, sir," replied puss, gayly. "Kind of suspect he's thinking of annexing it to Kansas City, sir."
The car proceeded until the party reached the Plaza.
"On the left is the Plaza Hotel, another property of the Vanderpoel syndicate," said puss; "said to have cost the Kansas City millionaire ten millions, and paid for in cash."