human
The colonel has been saying all sorts of kind things about you,
gpt
So he has about you,
human
I suppose so, admitted Mr. Courtney.
gpt
The colonel's always blowing about his friends, so we mustn't trust each other too far.
human
That's a good way to start anyhow, laughed Johnny.
gpt
The colonel's been telling me you're so trusting that you stung yourself.
human
How's that? asked Mr. Courtney, looking at the colonel in perplexity.
gpt
I don't quite understand.
human
On that hotel deal,
gpt
You old reprobate! protested Courtney.
human
I don't see why you want to publish my disgrace.
gpt
You deserve it, chuckled the colonel.
human
It won't hurt for Johnny to know it though. He's the shrewdest young man of my acquaintance, and he might be able to figure a way out of your dilemma for you.
gpt
I might even be able to make some money out of it myself,
human
Jump right in and welcome, young man, invited Courtney.
gpt
If you can pull me out whole I don't care how much you make.
human
We'll consider that a bargain,
gpt
All right, returned Courtney, smiling.
human
We'll shake hands on it in the good old-fashioned way.
gpt
Tell him your troubles, urged the colonel.
human
If it were my case, Ben, I'd be yelling for help as long as I had breath in my body.
gpt
It's very simple, explained Courtney.
human
I imagined that a big hotel at the new terminal station would be the best investment in New York. I spoke to a number of my financially active friends about it and they were enthusiastic. I had verbal promises in one day's work of all the money necessary to finance the thing. I found that the big vacant plot across from the station was held at a prohibitive price. Mallard & Tyne had, with a great deal of labor, collected the selling option on the adjoining block, fronting the terminal. They held it at two and a quarter millions. My friends, at an infernal luncheon, authorized me, quite orally, indeed, to secure the cheaper site without a moment's delay, especially since it was rumored that Morton Washer was contemplating the erection of a hotel upon that very spot.
gpt
I see the finish, laughed Johnny.
human
Mad with fear, you dashed right down there and broke yourself! Then Union Pacific fell off an eighth; they killed an insurrecto in Mexico; the third secretary of a second-rate life-insurance company died and Wall Street put crape on the door. All your friends got cold feet and it was the other fellow who had urged you to buy that property. The colonel says you dropped a hundred and twenty-five thousand. That's a stiff option. Can't you get any of it back?
gpt
Get it back! groaned Courtney.
human
They're after the balance. It wasn't an option--it was a contract. If I don't pay the remainder at the end of the ninety days they'll sue me; and I have several million dollars' worth of property that I can't hide.
gpt
Your only chance is to build or sell, he decided.
human
It's your property, all right. Have you offered it?
gpt
Old Mort Washer wants it--confound him! I've discovered that the day after I bought this ground he told my friends that he intended to buy the big piece and build in competition; and they ran like your horse--Angora--last Saturday, Gamble. Now Washer offers to buy this ground for two and an eighth millions--just the amount for which I will be sued.
human
Leaving you to try to forget the hundred and twenty-five thousand you've already spent, figured Gamble.
gpt
Nice cheery thought of Washer's! Of course you applauded?
human
With a brick--if I'd had one!
gpt
Sell me that block, Mr. Courtney,
human
Hit 'er out!