Part 26 (1/2)

We are met at the door of the room by a little bald-headed guy, and Jared introduces himself. The little guy looks at us and says he presumes we are Jared's a.s.sociates--whatever that is. Before Jared can deny the charge, Alex presents him with a kick on the s.h.i.+ns and says we are all of that.

Inside, they is a long table and four more guys sittin' at it. They all look like Wall Street and large money, and the table is covered with papers. Jared sits down and begins hummin' ”Here Comes the Bride,” and we sit down beside him. One guy gets up and says they have talked with five big contractors already, and they ain't made up their mind which bid to accept. If Jared can show them somethin' better than they've seen, the order is all his. Jared pulls out his watch and gets up.

”Gentlemen,” he says, ”I have an appointment with my future wife in five minutes. I will be on time! I don't know what these other fellows have offered to do for you, but I'll say this: We can erect your plant for exactly $1,789,451.92. That's our lowest price, and if we talked all day I couldn't take off a cent! My concern is known all over the country for the sterling quality of workmans.h.i.+p and materials it employs on every job, whether it's the erection of a lamp post or a city--and we've done both! We will be pleased to list you among the thousands of our satisfied patrons.”

With that he reaches for his hat and would of been out of the door, if Alex hadn't held him back with a look.

”But,” says one guy, ”your figures are more than ten thousand dollars over your nearest compet.i.tor's. How about that?”

Jared is starin' out the window.

”I figure we can get a nice flat in the Bronx for about eighty a month,” he says, half to himself. ”What do you pay?” he finishes, turnin' to Alex.

Alex says nothin', and the five guys look at each other kinda funny.

”When could your firm begin work?” asks one of them.

”Immediately!” says Jared. ”I'm going to use your phone here for a minute and telephone my future wife. She's downstairs waiting and will be worried sick--I said I'd be right back!” He walks across the room, while them guys all stare after him like they're in a trance themselves. ”Still,” mutters Jared, ”she mightn't like to live in the Bronx at that!”

While he's on the phone, the five guys puts their heads together and has a whispered conference. By the time he's finished, so are they.

”Mr. Rushton,” says the little guy, gettin' up and clearin' his throat, ”we have decided to give you the contract. Your methods of salesmans.h.i.+p are somewhat unusual--but they may be due to your extreme confidence, which anybody can see is the right kind of stuff in that line and--”

The little guy goes on with a lot of talk about figures, to which Alex and me listens respectfully and Jared don't listen at all. And fin'ly the little guy says again that they're gonna give Jared the contract, and mebbe, if his future wife is waiting--

”Thanks!” says Jared. ”She _is_ waiting and--”

”Shall we draw up the contract now?” b.u.t.ts in Alex. ”They's a notary on this floor.”

In half a hour we are down in the lobby again, havin' had to hold Jared by main force long enough to sign this thing. The first guy we b.u.mp into is his boss!

”Where have _you_ been?” he hollers at Jared. ”I suppose you've botched everything all up. I'll be the laughing stock of New York!

Where are those figures for that steel contract?”

Jared looks at him for a minute like, Who is this person? Then he reaches into his pocket and pulls out the contract.

”Here's your old contract!” he says. ”I'm going to take a month off.

I'm going to get married. When I come back I want seventy-five dollars a week to start and a job as head of the contract department. And, also--don't never yell at me like that again.”

I thought his boss would die of apoplexy then and there. He stares at Jared, s.n.a.t.c.hes the contract, reads a few lines--and then I got the idea he was gonna kiss all of us!

”My boy, you're a wonder!” he says. ”I always knew you had the stuff in you! I'll discuss--the--er--the matter of your salary when you come back.”

”We'll finish it right now!” b.u.t.ts in Jared. ”I don't want nothing worrying me while I'm on my honeymoon. Do I get that or don't I?”

”But,” stammers the boss, ”your commission on that contract alone will run--”

”Yes or no!” says Jared very cold.

”Yes!” says the boss, with a sigh that could be heard in Harlem. ”No wonder you landed that contract if you went after them that way! I've been asleep!”