"That's true enough," I admitted.
"The London and Chicago Company is going into the hands of receivers this week," he went on confidentially. "That was another of your tony houses managed from England! Strauss'll most likely get their plants at twenty cents on the dollar, and he'll get Dround when the time comes."
I made no remark, and after smoking for a time he leaned over toward me, saying impressively:—
"Young feller, do you reckon you can buck up against me and the Strauss crowd with that one-horse rig?"
"Young feller, do you reckon you can buck up against me and the Strauss crowd with that one-horse rig?"
It seemed to me highly improbable that any man could perform this feat, but I held my tongue. Carmichael should make his bid in his own way. Finally he whispered almost solemnly:—
"Want to make big money?"
And he began to bid, lowering his loud voice and beating the arm of his chair to clinch his argument. He spoke of the great revolution throughout the business world, coming consolidations, far-reaching plans that the Strauss people had had in mind for a long time, the control of railroads and steamship lines—all leading to one conclusion, one end—the complete mastery of food products by Strauss and his allies.