Part 38 (1/2)
”I don't like the sound,” said d.i.n.k, listening.
”He always shuffles his feet,” said Dennis, clinging to hope.
The door opened and the Tennessee Shad, carrying the black satchel, solemnly entered. d.i.n.k flung himself on the bag, wrenched it open and let it drop, exclaiming:
”Nothing!”
”Nothing?” said Dennis, rising.
”Nothing,” said the Tennessee Shad, sitting down.
”But the profits?”
”The profits,” said the Tennessee Shad, pointing sarcastically to the bag, ”are in there.”
”Do you mean to say----” began d.i.n.k and stopped.
”I mean to say that the Third Triumvirate Manufacturing Company is insolvent, bankrupt, busted, up the spout.”
”But then, who's got the coin?”
”Doc Macnooder,” said the Tennessee Shad, ”and it's all legal.”
”Legal?”
”All legal. It's this way. Our profits depended upon the price we paid for alarm clocks. See? Well, when Doc Macnooder, as president of the Third Triumvirate Manufacturing Company looked around for clocks, he found that Doc Macnooder, as president of the Eureka Purchasing Company, had cornered the market and could dictate the price.”
”So that?” said Stover indignantly.
”So that each clock was charged up to us at a rate ranging from one dollar and forty cents to one dollar and fifty.”
”By what right?” said Dennis.
”It's what is called a subsidiary company,” said the Tennessee Shad.
”It's quite popular nowadays.”
”But where's the stock we subscribed?” said Dennis, thinking of his one dollar and fifty cents. ”We get that back?”
”No.”
”What!” said the two in unison.
”It's this way. Owing to executive interference, the Third Triumvirate Manufacturing Company is liable to the Eureka Purchasing Company for ten alarm clocks, which it has ordered and can't use.”
”But then, out of the whole, blooming mess,” said Dennis, quite overcome, ”where do I stand?”
The Tennessee Shad unfolded a paper and read: