Part 39 (1/2)
Wait just a minute.” He rose to his feet. ”I'll make that a formal motion,” and he did so.
With no dissenting voice, except Wallingford's, that motion was carried through, and Wallingford spread it upon the minute-books at once. Also a committee was appointed formally to close the business with Mr. Dorcas, and to transfer to that gentleman, at once, all the properties, rights and good-will of the company.
”Gentlemen, I am very sorry,” said Wallingford, much crestfallen in appearance. ”I still protest against giving up, but I blame myself for coaxing you into this unfortunate affair.”
”Don't mention it,” protested Doctor Lazzier, shaking hands. ”You meant to do us a favor.”
They all agreed with the doctor, and young Corbin felt especially sorry for Wallingford's contrition.
Immediately after the dispersal of the meeting Mr. Wallingford and ”Mr. Dorcas” shook hands ecstatically.
”Blackie, you're handier than a hollow cane in Drytown,” exulted Wallingford. ”Here's where I clean up. I own over one third of this stock. I have invested only one cheap thousand dollars over and above my expenses since I got here, and I'll get a third of this seventeen thousand right back again, so the company, up to date--and I own it all--stands me just a little less than what's left of my winnings on that n.o.ble little horse, Whipsaw. Just wait a minute till I send this off to the advertising company,” and he wrote rapidly a lengthy telegram.
After he sent away the telegram he remained at his desk a few moments, sketching on one of the proofs of a newspaper ”ad” and filling in the lower part.
”Here,” said he to Blackie, ”is the complete advertis.e.m.e.nt.”
Blackie picked up the proof sheet and glanced over it in evident approval. Taken altogether, it read:
LAUGH AT THAT WOOZY FEELING DRINK GINGEREE!
IT PUTS THE GINGER IN YOU TEN CENTS AT ALL SODA FOUNTAINS
”Within a week,” exulted Wallingford, ”everybody in the middle states will know all about Gingeree. Before that time I'll have Gingeree invented, and the Gingeree Company organized for half a million dollars. I'll put in the plant and the advertising at one hundred and fifty thousand, sell about twenty-five thousand dollars of treasury stock to start the business, then sell my hundred and fifty thousand and get out.”
”You'll have to go out of town to sell your stock,” observed Blackie.
”Out of town!” repeated Wallingford. ”I should say not! With the good introduction I have here? Not any. I'll sell stock to Doctor Lazzier and young Corbin and young Paley and the rest of the bunch.”