Page:Manhattan Transfer (John Dos Passos, 1925).djvu/121

Rh "Maybe it is Viler but I seen so many of em go under, honest I dent see how I can risk it."

"Man I've hocked the misses's silver teaset and my diamond ring an the baby's mug It's a sure sure thing I wouldn't let you in on it, xept you an me's been pretty good friends an I owe you money an everythin You'll make twentyfive percent on your money by tomorrow noon Then if you want to hold you can on a gamble, but if you sell three quarters and hold the rest two or three days on a chance you're safe as. . . as the Rock of Gibraltar."

"I know Viler, it certainly sounds good"

"Hell man you dont want to be in this damned office all your life, do you? Think of your little girl."

"I am, that's the trouble."

"But Ed, Gibbons and Swandike had started buying already at three cents when the market closed this evening Klein got wise an'll be right there with bells on first thing in the morning. The market'll go crazy on it

"Unless the fellers doin the dirty work change their minds. I know that stuff through and through. Viler Sounds like a topnotch proposition But I've examined the books of too many bankrupts."

Viler got to his feet and threw his cigar into the cuspidor. "Well do as you like, damn it all I guess you must like commuting from Hackensack an working twelve hours a day"

"I believe in workin my way up, that's all."

"What's the use of a few thousands salted away when you're old and cant get any satisfaction? Man I'm goin in with both feet."

"Go to it Viler You tellem," muttered Thatcher as the other man stamped out slamming the office door.

The big office with its series of yellow desks and hooded typewriters was dark except for the tent of light in which Thatcher sat at a desk piled with ledgers. The three windows at the end were not curtained. Through them he could see the steep bulk of buildings scaled with lights