Argosy, Vol. 122, No. 1 — page 144: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

134 ‘““Good!” La Salle exclaimed briskly. ‘ All the better—saves trouble. You know just how the matter stands?” ‘ ‘““T understand you are offering me the —position—recently vacated by Mrs. La Salle—”’ ‘““Good. That’s businesslike. But let me explain this a little farther. I want you to understand me thoroughly. Will you sit down?” Diana shook her head with a curious brief smile. She moved a little closer to her father, and patted his arm reassuringly. La Salle stood facing them, and he seemed actually to have increased in height and girth with the increase of his self confidence. He radiated a sense of driving force that was very tangible—almost hypnotic. “‘T want you to get a thorough grasp on this proposition, Diana,” he began. “ You both are entitled to know about me, since I’m proposing this—partnership. I am the son of nobody, I began nowhere, and to be- gin with, I had nothing. What I have made of myself I did by my own effort. What I shall make of myself in the future will be also my own work. “A long time ago, when I began with nothing but desire, I found out that the way to get a thing is to go after it alone. That’s my policy. What help I need in getting things, I buy and pay for. And those who deal with me know that I pay high. “TI don’t claim I have gone far yet, but I have made money—probably more money than either of you guess. And I am go- ing on! What’s better, I know why I shall ‘goon, Knowing what I want, I stick to the business of getting it, and forget everything else. I specialize. That, and the combina- ‘tion with luck—oh, yes, I give luck its share of credit! Only a fool overlooks the element of chance. ' “ Well, luck has been with me. has proved that. And to-day is only the starter. I tell you, I'm going on—a long, long way on. ‘To-day I’ve got money. Money! D’you think I’m a cheap money- grubber? Money doesn’t mean that to me.” He snapped his fingers, breathing hard. ‘“* But what money can get me—influence— power—ah! That’s what I’m after. The To-day THE ARGOSY. next step is to get myself known, known to the right people—‘ breaking into society,’ to be vulgar. But do you think I care for society? D’you think I’m fool enough to want to dress up and smirk and bow—to care a damn what people say about me, or think about me? I don’t. ‘“T want society because it’s a step toward the bigger game—it puts me in touch with the big fellows, it helps on to power. Power, that’s the big thing! I’m going to make myself felt. I’m going to make the name of La Salle count for something. Big men will mention it with respect. I tell you, that name will carry weight, stand for something —something big wherever men have heard of modern business. “And to make that next step, Diana, I need you. I need you because you know _ the ropes, you can steer me straight. You can show me what people I must cultivate; you can see that I get to know them. I need your good looks and your common sense and your knowledge and the influence of your name. That’s what I need—and I’m going to get it.” There was a silence. Father and daugh- ter were under the spell of the man’s amaz- ing egotism. It was an egotism so great that it deserved the respect due to size. It made itself felt in that shabby room. ‘Ah, yes, there’s another thing I should mention.” La Salle turned back to them with a trace of a smile. ‘I sha’n’t insult your intelligence by any childlike assertions of love. I know better—you know better than to expect that. I have no use of such a sentiment. It has never helped me one step forward. Nor will I call it friendship. I have no friends—though no man can say I do not stand by those who stick by me. I am offering you both a partnership, Diana as my wife, since I must have a wife, and you, Thawn, as a sharer in my profits. Now there is my proposition, What do you think of it?” Diana had no answer at all. Her hand remained affectionately on the sleeve of her father’s coat. She stared at La Salle with- out a trace of emotion on her delicately oval face. And her father, thrilled at the offer of independence and position; ashamed of his own desires; cowardly in his fear cComiclbooks.com