Page:Henry Ford's Own Story.djvu/118

 WINNING A RACE

pondered the situation. He knew Ford thoroughly; he believed in the car. To win the Grosse Point races would give Ford his chance—a chance he was missing for lack of money. Coffee Jim thought of his own bank account, which had been growing for years, nickel by nickel, dime by dime, from the profits on fried-ham sandwiches and hamburger and onions.

"See here, Ford," he said suddenly: "I'll take a chance. I ll back you. You go on, quit your job, build that car and race her. I'll put up the money."

Ford accepted the offer without hesitation. He believed in the car. Coffee Jim waved aside Ford's suggestion of securing the loan by his personal note, or by a mortgage on the little house.

"Take the money; that's all right. Pay it back when you can. Your word's good enough for me," he said. He believed in Ford.

It was a demonstration of the practical value of friendship—a pure sentiment which had come unexpectedly to the rescue when all material means had failed.

Hard work, real ability, business sagacity, had