Page:Roads of Destiny (1909).djvu/310

 that’s following a champion base-ball team, or the Kaiser William looking at himself in a glass.

“After Denver goes his rounds he takes me into his private office.

“What’s your report on the dingy I told you to watch?” he asks.

“‘Well,’ says I, ‘if you was as big a man as he takes you to be, nine rooms and bath in the Hall of Fame, rent free till October 1st, would be about your size.’

“‘You’ve caught the idea,’ says Denver. ‘I’ve given him the wizard grip and the cabalistic eye. The glamour that emanates from yours truly has enveloped him like a North River fog. He seems to think that Señor Galloway is the man who. I guess they don’t raise 74-inch sorreltops with romping ways down in his precinct. Now, Sully,’ goes on Denver, ‘if you was asked, what would you take the little man to be?’

“‘Why,’ says I, ‘the barber around the corner; or, if he’s royal, the king of the boot-blacks.’

“‘Never judge by looks,’ says Denver; ‘he’s the dark-horse candidate for president of a South American republic.’

“‘Well,’ says I, ‘he did n’t look quite that bad to me.’

“Then Denver draws his chair up close and gives out his scheme.

“‘Sully,’ says he, with seriousness and levity, ‘I’ve been a manager of one thing and another for over twenty years. That’s what I was cut out for—to have somebody else put up the money and look after the repairs and the police and taxes while I run the business. I