I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll reserve everything except the iron,

and I'll sell them the iron property for $15,000 cash, I to go in with

them and own an undivided interest of one-half the concern--or the stock,

as you may say. I'm out of business, and I'd just as soon help run the

thing as not. Now how does that strike you?"

"Well, I am only an agent of these people, who are friends of mine, and

I am not even paid for my services. To tell you the truth, I have tried

to persuade them not to go into the thing; and I have come square out

with their offer, without throwing out any feelers--and I did it in the

hope that you would refuse. A man pretty much always refuses another

man's first offer, no matter what it is. But I have performed my duty,

and will take pleasure in telling them what you say."

He was about to rise. Hawkins said,

Wait a bit."

Hawkins thought again. And the substance of his thought was: "This

is a deep man; this is a very deep man; I don't like his candor; your

ostentatiously candid business man's a deep fox--always a deep fox;

this man's that iron company himself--that's what he is; he wants that

property, too; I am not so blind but I can see that; he don't want the

company to go into this thing--O, that's very good; yes, that's very

good indeed--stuff! he'll be back here tomorrow, sure, and take my offer;

take it? I'll risk anything he is suffering to take it now; here--I must

The Gilded Age