k on the shins and says we
are all of that.

Inside, they is a long table and four more guys sittin' at it. They
all look like Wall Street and large money, and the table is covered
with papers. Jared sits down and begins hummin' "Here Comes the
Bride," and we sit down beside him. One guy gets up and says they have
talked with five big contractors already, and they ain't made up their
mind which bid to accept. If Jared can show them somethin' better than
they've seen, the order is all his. Jared pulls out his watch and gets
up.

"Gentlemen," he says, "I have an appointment with my future wife in
five minutes. I will be on time! I don't know what these other
fellows have offered to do for you, but I'll say this: We can erect
your plant for exactly $1,789,451.92. That's our lowest price, and if
we talked all day I couldn't take off a cent! My concern is known all
over the country for the sterling quality of workmanship and materials
it employs on every job, whether it's the erection of a lamp post or a
city--and we've done both! We will be pleased to list you among the
thousands of our satisfied patrons."

With that he reaches for his hat and would of been out of the door, if
Alex hadn't held him back with a look.

"But," says one guy, "your figures are more than ten thousand dollars
over your nearest competitor's. How about that?"

Jared is starin' out the window.

"I figure we can get a nice flat in the Bronx for about eighty a
month," he says, half to himself. "What do you pay?" he finishes,
turnin' to Alex.

Alex says nothin', and the five guys look at each other kinda funny.

"When could your firm begin work?" asks one of them.

"Immediately!" says Jared. "I'm going to use your phone here for a
minute and telephone my future wife. She's downstairs waiting and will
be worried sick--I said I'd be right back!" He walks across the room,
while them guys all stare after him like they're in a trance
themselves. "Still," mutters Jared, "she mightn't like to live in the
Bronx at that!"

While he's on the phone, the five guys puts their heads together and
has a whispered conference. By the time he's finished, so are they.

"Mr. Rushton," says the little guy, gettin' up and clearin' his throat,
"we have decided to give you the contract. Your methods of
salesmanship are somewhat unusual--but they may be due to your extreme
confidence, which anybody can see is the right kind of stuff in that
line a