The Lever | Page 9

Consolidated Companies," the Senator finally remarked.
"Probably a few specific cases will suffice," Gorham responded, as if
expecting to receive Kenmore's permission. "You will remember,
perhaps, the apparently insurmountable complications which arose over

the placing of the recent loan of fifty million dollars to the Chinese
government, for their currency reforms and other necessary
improvements. As soon as the Consolidated Companies assumed the
responsibility of the negotiations, all international bickerings ceased,
for the Chinese, French, German, English, and American financiers
knew that the loan would be handled to the advantage of all. I could
cite, perhaps, a hundred cases of similar importance, would time permit.
As for the present, you are aware that England is building several great
men-of-war to restore its navy to its previous supremacy. The contracts
for this work have been placed in the hands of the Consolidated
Companies. Our political strength was tested in a small way two years
ago in causing a cessation of hostilities between Austria and her
neighbors. We shall be strong enough before the war cloud gathers too
heavily over England and Germany to prevent the grievous calamity
which threatens these nations. Shall I give you other data?"
"But the Consolidated Companies separates the world into two parts--"
the Senator began.
"Precisely--into those who are stockholders and those who are not.
Both are benefited by the existence of the corporation. But is there any
question as to which is the more favored class?"
"None whatever," Kenmore replied, with decision.
"Then may I call to-morrow to learn in which class you decide to place
yourself?" Gorham asked, as he rose and slipped into his overcoat.
"No," the Senator replied, after a moment's thought. "I will send my
secretary to you to arrange the matter of taking over stock to the
amount of one hundred thousand dollars in the Consolidated
Companies--Unlimited!"

III
If punctuality is a virtue presaging business success, Allen gave
evidence, the following afternoon, of a brilliant future. Previously, he

had made no criticism of the condition in which his motor-car was
delivered to him at the garage, but this time the men found him
strangely unreasonable. The brasses had to be repolished, the hood
opened up, and the dust wiped from the long-neglected creases, and
every detail was inspected with a carefulness which created comment.
"Goin' to sell his car," one of the men remarked, sententiously, to which
sage comment his companion nodded acquiescence.
In spite of the delay thus caused, Allen shut off his power in front of
the hotel entrance at exactly the appointed hour. He bounded into the
lobby, and a few moments later was ushered into the elevator and
guided to the Gorhams' apartment.
"Why, it's Riley!" the caller exclaimed, enthusiastically, as the door
was opened for him by Mr. Gorham's aged retainer--"it's the same
Riley who used to box my ears when I tramped over his flower-beds in
Pittsburgh."
The old man regarded the visitor attentively. "Shure it's Misther Allen
Sanford, grown out iv his short pants into a fine young man, so he has."
A broad grin replaced the questioning expression on his face. "I did box
ye'er ears good, didn't I, sor? but go along wid yer, th' trouble ye made
me, ye an' Miss Alice a-traipsin' over me flower-beds." Then, with a
sigh: "Ah, sor, I remimber it as if 'twas yisterday. Miss Alice's mother
was livin' thin, God rist her soul. Thank ye, sor, f'r remimberin' me. I'll
call Mrs. Gorham an' Miss Alice."
It was the girl who appeared first, greeting Allen with frank cordiality.
"Eleanor will be ready in a moment," she said. "Isn't this the greatest
coincidence?" she continued. "Yesterday at this time I had no idea you
were within a thousand miles, and now it seems as if we might almost
be back in Pittsburgh again, living the same childish life and playing
the same games."
"It was certainly a dandy coincidence for me," Allen agreed, "but I
don't quite follow you back to the kid games we played."

"Why, Allen!" Alice reproached him, "have you forgotten the motor
rides you and I took with wash-tubs, turned upside down, for seats, and
the remnant of your express-wagon for a steering-wheel? My! how fast
we used to go!"
"That's so!" he admitted. "I'd forgotten all about it. You used to look
great sitting on that tub."
"Freckles and all?"
"I didn't remember the freckles, either, until you spoke of them. You
were a little corker, even then."
"Even then?" Alice repeated, without intending to.
"No one has told you that you've gone backward in looks, has he?"
Allen laughed, looking straight into her face. Then he continued:
"There's one other game we played, which I haven't forgotten: Do you
remember how we used to keep house together? You were Mrs. Allen