nged it for the next issue
and, on the strength of it, succeeded in inducing McQuarrie--Ben
Todd's advertising manager--to rush off two thousand dodgers and
insert them between the sheets of each copy of the current weekly,
although not exactly a legal thing to do.

He ordered five thousand letter forms announcing the new business
partnership and he had McQuarrie send them next day to every name on
his special mailing list. This job alone, including the mailing, local
and foreign, cost them three hundred dollars; but, for the time being,
money was no object.

Two card writers, each at three dollars an hour, worked all night on
Jim's purloined information, making out window cards which offered
every available and unavailable piece of land in the Valley for sale,
at a figure. A whole army of fat, lean and guttural-speaking
charladies, behind carefully drawn blinds, worked all night long on
the office floors, desks, counters and windows. Luxurious carpets and
new filing cabinets were rushed in.

A typewriter was purchased. The prettiest stenographer in town
was engaged to operate it--or, at least, to sit behind it for
effect--regardless of expense. Two telephones, which had not
been removed since the Bank's occupancy, were arranged for and
retained. The dull electric lights were taken down and powerful
oxygen lamps put in place. There was going to be nothing dull in
the Langford-Ralston Financial Corporation.

A joint visit by Phil and Jim was made to the tailor's and each got
fitted out in a new suit of the latest model, with fancy and somewhat
garish waistcoats. Cigars of the best brand--five boxes of them--and
two thousand cigarettes were purchased for the purpose of camaraderie
and general corruption.

A new auto, not too sporty but brave and dazzling in its unscratched
varnish and untarnished nickel-plated lamps and rods, value fifteen
hundred dollars, was purchased on terms:--five hundred dollars down
and the balance in equal payments, three and six months.

Everything but that automobile was fully paid for on the nail, for Jim
contended, and rightly too, that cash with a first order very often
assured credit with the order to follow.

It was strenuous work, and exciting while it lasted, but they had the
satisfaction of accomplishing almost everything they had set out to
do.

Next morning the town was jolted with surprise at finding a new
business in full operation on one of the chief sites on Main Street.