Page:Dangerous Business (1927).pdf/126

 five thousand last year; it'll be more than half a million, this."

"And we've just exactly absolutely got to have it. Do you know where your father is and why he's down there? Lew Alban has taken over the works at Stanley and his first presidential gesture was to give us the gate."

Jay flushed and drew up, as Lowry meant to make him.

"Lew never liked your father and you," the salesmanager added.

"It is completely mutual with me," said Jay.

"Lew knows it; that's what gives him such particular pleasure in having you in his hands."

"He hasn't us in his hands!" denied Jay, flaring up.

"Hasn't he? If you lose the Metten account? Who'll we have left? Nucast, who we damn near lost"

"Yes," said Jay, suddenly white, while Ellen watched him. "Yes," he repeated, deeply breathing.

"And half a dozen little ones who altogether won't keep our doors open. We have to have volume to keep our costs down to a level to sell in competition with the other fellow who has volume; and Slengels are getting the volume; they're after both Metten and Alban. If we lose Alban, we're groggy; if we lose Metten, too, we're down and out.

"Now Metten's a growing account, thank God. They're talking half a million next year because it sounds so big to them they can hardly believe it; but I bet their business goes to three-quarters of a million—almost enough to take the place of Alban with us when we lose Lew.

"We have a little time before Lew leaves us, for your