Read Ebook: The Boss of Wind River by Chisholm A M Arthur Murray

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Ebook has 1554 lines and 66045 words, and 32 pages

ow, you see," Locke concluded, "setting the assets against the liabilities you are solvent to the extent of sixty or seventy thousand dollars, or perhaps more. In all probability you could get that clear if you sold out. Properly managed for you by somebody else, it would yield an income of between three and four thousand dollars per annum. On that you could live comfortably, be free from worry, and die of dry-rot and Scotch highballs at about my age."

"I'm going to run the business," said Joe. "My father wished it; and anyway I'm going to."

Locke smoked thoughtfully for some moments. "That's good talk," he said at length. "I understand your feelings. But before you come to a definite conclusion take time to look at all sides of the question. The cold fact is that you have had no experience. The business is solvent, but too involved to give you much leeway. It is an expensive one to run, and you can't afford to make many mistakes. For seven months in the year your payroll and camp supply bill will run into five figures. Your father intended to make a big cut next winter and clear off some of the debt. Suppose you try that yourself. It means a big outlay. Can you swing it? Remember, you haven't got much rope; and if you fail and smash it won't be a case of living on three or four thousand a year, but of earning five or six hundred a year to live on."

"I hadn't thought of it in just that way," said Kent. "You see it's all new to me. But I'm going into it, sink or swim. My mind's made up."

"I thought it would be," said Locke with satisfaction. "If I were you I'd take Wright into my confidence from the start. He is a good man, and thinks as much of your interests as if they were his own."

Wright, called in, listened to Locke's succinct statement without much surprise. "Of course, I knew these things already in a general way," he commented.

"I have decided to carry on the business," Joe told him. "What do you think of it?"

"The carrying or the business?"

"Both."

"Well," said Wright slowly, "the business might be in worse shape--a lot worse. With your father handling it there would be no trouble. With you--I don't know."

"That's not very encouraging," said Joe, endeavouring to smile at Locke, an effort not entirely successful. Locke said nothing.

"Well, I'm after it now," said Kent. "Will you stay with me while I get it?"

"Of course I will," said Wright heartily.

When Locke had gone Joe turned to his manager.

"Now," he said, "will you please tell me what I ought to know about the business, just what we have on hand and what we must do to keep going? I don't know a thing about it, and I'm here to learn. I've got to. Make it as simple as you can. I'm not going to pretend I understand if I don't. Therefore I'll probably ask a lot of fool questions. You see, I'm showing you my hand, and I own up to you that there's nothing in it. But I won't show it to any one else. When I want to know things I'll come to you; but for all other people know to the contrary I'll be playing my own game. That is, till I'm capable of running the business without advice I'll run it on yours. I've got to make a bluff, and this is the only way I see of doing it. What do you think?"

"I think," said Wright, "that it's the best thing you can do, though I wouldn't have suggested it myself. I'll give you the best I've got. An hour ago I was rather doubtful, but now I think you've got it in you to play a mighty good game of your own one of these days."

Whereupon old Bob Wright and young Joe Kent shook hands with mutual respect--Wright because he had found that Kent was not a self-sufficient young ass, and Kent because Wright had treated him as a man instead of merely as an employer.

In the course of a few weeks Joe Kent began to feel that he was making some progress. The business was no longer a mysterious machine that somehow produced money for his needs. It became a breathing, throbbing creature, sensitive to the touch, thriving with attention, languishing with neglect. It was a delicate organism, wonderfully responsive to the handling. Every action, every word, every hastily dictated letter had far reaching results. Conscientiously and humbly, as became a beginner, he came to the study of it.

He began to meet his men. Not those with whom he came in daily contact in the office; but his foremen, tanned, weather-beaten, level-eyed logging bosses, silent for the most part, not at all certain how to take the "Old Man's" son, and apparently considering "yes" and "no" perfectly adequate contributions to conversation, who consumed his proffered cigars, kept their own opinions, and went their several ways.

Kent was conscious that he was being held at arm's length; conscious that the steady eyes took note of his smart shoes, his well-pressed clothes, and his smooth cheeks. He did not know that the same critical eyes also noted approvingly his broad shoulders, deep chest, and firm jaw. He felt that the questions he asked and the conversation he tried to make were not the questions and conversation which his father would have addressed to them. But he was building better than he knew.

Many old friends of William Kent dropped in to shake hands with his son, and one morning Joe was handed the card of Mr. Stanley Ackerman.

"Tell him to walk in," said Joe.

Mr. Ackerman walked in. He was tall and slim and gray and accurately dressed. Mr. Ackerman's business, if his varied pursuits might be thus consolidated, was that of a Director of Enterprises. He was on all sorts of directorates from banks to hospitals. He had promoted or caused to be promoted many corporate activities. He was identified in one way and another with a dozen financial and industrial concerns. He was the confidential friend and twin brother of Capital; and he was smooth, very smooth.

His handshake expressed tender, delicate sympathy.

"I should have called sooner, Mr. Kent, after the recent melancholy event," said he, "but that I feared to intrude. I knew your father very well, very well indeed. I hope to know his son as well--or better. These changes come to us all, but I was shocked, deeply shocked. I assure you, Mr. Kent, I--was--shocked."

"Sit down, won't you?" said Joe. "Have a cigar?"

"Not in the morning, thank you," said Ackerman. "My constitution won't stand it now. Don't mind me, though."

He watched Joe strike a match. His gaze was very keen and measuring, as if the young man were a problem of some sort to be solved.

"And how do you find it going?" he asked. "Quite a change for you, to be saddled with a big business at a moment's notice. If I recollect, you were at college till very recently. Yes? Unfortunate. Not that I would deprecate the value of education. Not at all. A most excellent thing. Fine training for the battle of life. But at the same time scarcely a practical preparation for the duties you have been called on so suddenly to assume."

"That's a fact," said Joe. "Just at present I'd trade a couple of the years I spent there for one in the office. However, I'm learning slowly. Doing the best I can, you know."

"No doubt, no doubt," returned Ackerman cordially. "If I had a son--I am sorry I haven't--and Providence in its inscrutable wisdom saw fit to remove me--we never can tell; as the Good Book says, Death comes like a thief in the night--that is how I would wish him to face the world. Bravely and modestly, as you are doing. No doubt you feel your responsibilities, eh?"

"Well, yes," Joe admitted. "I have my experience to get, and the concern is pretty large. Naturally it worries me a little."

No, nothing had been done, Joe told him. In fact, this was the first intimation he had had that such a thing had entered his father's thoughts.

That, said Mr. Ackerman, was too bad. It was a great responsibility for a young man--too great. Now, a board of experienced directors would share it, and they would have an active interest in advising properly.

"Meaning that the advice I get now isn't proper?" asked Joe, with just a little tightening of the mouth.

"Meaning nothing of the sort," Ackerman hastened to disclaim. "Don't misunderstand me. But you must admit that it is irresponsible. In the long run you pay the piper."

"That's true enough," Joe admitted. "In the end it's up to me, of course."

"Just so," said Mr. Ackerman. "That is what your father foresaw and intended to provide against. If he had been spared a few months longer I believe he would have formed a company, retaining the controlling interest himself, so that you might have had the benefit of the advice of a board of experienced directors."

Joe Kent was quite sure his father would not have done anything of the kind, but he did not say so.

Ackerman bestowed on him another measuring glance and proceeded:

"You see, Mr. Kent, business history shows that, generally speaking, the collective wisdom of half a dozen men is greater than that of the individual. The exceptions only prove the rule. The weak points in any proposition rarely get past half a dozen experienced men. And then we must remember that influence makes for success. Naturally the influence of half a dozen representative men helps to get business as it helps the business to buy cheaply, and as it helps to transact business properly. Why,"--here Mr. Ackerman became prophetic--"I venture to say, Mr. Kent, that if this business of yours were turned into a joint stock company and the proper gentlemen interested, its volume would double in a very short time."

"Perhaps so," said Joe doubtfully.

"Why not do it?" said Mr. Ackerman, seizing the psychological moment. "I would take stock myself. I think I know of others who would. And as to forming and organizing the company, I need not say that any small knowledge I may have of such matters is entirely at your service."

"Very good of you," said Joe. "It's a new idea to me. I don't think, though, that I quite like it. This is my business now, and I run it. If a company were formed I couldn't do that. I'd have to do as I was told. Of course I understand I'd have votes according to what stock I held, but it wouldn't be the same thing."

"Nominally different only," Ackerman assured him. "Very properly you would retain a majority of the shares--that is, a controlling interest. Then you'd be made managing director, at a good salary. No doubt that would be the arrangement. So that you would have an assured income, a dividend on your stock, and practical control of the business, as well as the advice of experienced men and consequent freedom from a good deal of worry. If I were in your place--speaking as one who has seen a good many ups and downs in business--I should not hesitate."

But in spite of this personal clinching argument young Kent did hesitate. And this hesitation so much resembled a plain mulish balk that Mr. Ackerman was a trifle disconcerted. Nevertheless he beamed upon the young man with tolerant good nature.

"Debts!" said young Kent icily. "What debts?"

"Why--ah"--Mr. Ackerman was again slightly disconcerted--"you must be aware of the mortgages existing, Mr. Kent."

"I am," said Kent, "but how do you know about them? What business are they of yours?"

"Tut, tut!" said Ackerman reprovingly. "I read a weekly commercial report, like other men. The mortgages are no secret."

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