“You’ve got a winner there, all right,” he said heartily. “All you need is capital.” Ford agreed with him. He had been revolving in his mind plans for getting it; when he left Coffee Jim at his lunch wagon and rode slowly home he continued to think about it. That morning he drove to the Edison plant in the car, and on his way home at night he made a detour through Detroit’s principal streets.
He wanted people to talk about the car, and they did. Every one in Detroit heard more or less about it in the months that followed. Meantime Ford took a few days’ leave from the Edison plant now and then and personally made efforts to interest financiers in its manufacture. He interviewed his banker and most of the big business men of the city, outlined his plan for a factory, demonstrated the car. Every one showed some interest, but Ford did not get the money.
Late that fall he discussed the situation with Coffee Jim one night.
“I’ve got the car and I’ve got the right idea,” he said. “It’s bound to win in time. The trouble is these men can’t get an idea until they see it worked out with their own eyes. What I need is some spectacular exhibition of the car. If I could enter her in the races next year she’d stand a chance to win over anything there’ll be in the field—then these men would fall over themselves to back me.”
“Well, can’t you do it?” Coffee Jim inquired. Ford shook his head.
“Cost too much,” he said. “I’ve laid off work a lot this summer, trying to get capital, and the boy’s been sick. I’d have to buy a new car for the racing. I might rake up money enough for material, but I couldn’t make the car in time, working evenings, and I can’t afford to give up my job and spend my whole time on it.”
CHAPTER XVIII
WINNING A RACE
Coffee Jim pondered the situation. He knew Ford thoroughly; he believed in the car. To win the Grosse Point races would give Ford his chance—a chance he was missing for lack of money. Coffee Jim thought of his own bank account, which had been growing for years, nickel by nickel, dime by dime, from the profits on fried-ham sandwiches and hamburger and onions.
“See here, Ford,” he said suddenly: “I’ll take a chance. I’ll back you. You go on, quit your job, build that car and race her. I’ll put up the money.”
Ford accepted the offer without hesitation. He believed in the car. Coffee Jim waved aside Ford’s suggestion of securing the loan by his personal note, or by a mortgage on the little house.