Making Haste to Be Rich! CHAPTER 6.
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The ruling love of every person, be it what it may, holds in subjection all other affections of his mind. At times this love is quiescent, and then other affections show themselves; but the moment it again awakens into life — everything that does not accord with it, is hushed into repose.
The ruling love of Riddell, was a love of acquiring money for its own sake. He was ambitious of possessing great wealth. Every affection of his mind, therefore, which stood in the way of the accomplishment of this great end, had to come into subserviency; or retire, lest it be consumed by the heat thereof. When he went forth into the world again, after the excitement of mirthful parties, dinners, and excursions was over — his ruling love assumed, once more, dominion in his mind — and he no longer writhed beneath the smarting pains that intelligence of Anne's death had brought. The story of a broken heart, that he had felt to be true — was no more believed. Consumption, he reasoned, had done the work of death upon her, and would have done it if he had never known her. Riddell was again a man of the world, eager in his pursuit of the highest prize he believed it in the power of the world to bestow. "Rest in peace" he said, and dismissed the thought of Anne Bradford from his mind.
The next important step for Riddell to take, in order to secure his worldly interests, was to get the business of Alexander and Riddell entirely into his own hands. Within a few months, from some cause or other, a change had taken place in his partner. He no longer spent a large portion of his time in pleasure-taking, or lounging about the store, but gave active attention to business, and showed himself to possess both talents and shrewdness. But Riddell was careful to give him as little opportunity to be useful as possible, and to force him as much as he could into the position of a mere cipher. This did not now suit the young man, who felt that his partner was assuming too much, and holding too exclusive a control over the business.
What was passing in the mind of Alexander, Riddell plainly saw; and he also saw, with the quick perception which self-interest gave him, that it would be the easiest thing in the world to fret the young man, and thus gradually provoke a quarrel, which would end in a dissolution.
No one then would suspect that he had used the capital and credit of Alexander as long as was useful to him — and then thrown his partner off.
With this end in his mind, he could be perfectly cool — while Alexander lost temper and indulged in offensive language. For a month or two, he continued to resist all his partner's efforts to get an equal share of control in the business, and treated him as if he were actually encroaching upon and trying to invade his rights. At length, Alexander told him boldly, that he acted as if he had been playing a false game in the business, and was fearful of detection. This was enough.
"Let the business be closed then!" promptly returned Riddell.
"As you please!" coolly replied Alexander,
"It shall be closed!" exclaimed Riddell with emphasis. "I will not remain a day longer the partner of a man who neglected his business for years, and then insults me, because I am not weak enough to yield the reins to his unskillful hands!"
Efforts were made by the father and friends of Alexander to heal the breach, but Riddell would listen to none of their overtures. He pretended to be deeply hurt by the suspicions that his partner had cast upon him, in a moment when chafed beyond endurance, and insisted that a thorough and rigid scrutiny into the whole business he made. This was what he least of all things wished; and what he prevented by this very course. Not that there was anything wrong, but he was not willing that the actual extent of the business should be known, and its true value seen.
As nothing but a dissolution of the co-partnership would be agreed to by Riddell, an effort was made to effect this in a way satisfactory to all parties. But there was only one way that would satisfy our young adventurer, and that was an arrangement by which he was to retain the business. He did not avow this; but rather kept it most carefully concealed. His mode of operation, was to bring objections against every proposed plan of settlement, and refuse, on some plea of injustice, to agree to everything that was suggested. Even to an arbitration, he demurred. At last, the father of Alexander became wearied out with him, and to get rid of the whole matter, offered to take forty thousand dollars for his own and his son's interest in the business, and let him have it all to himself. But Riddell would give but thirty-five thousand. Hopeless of any better arrangement with a man who so strongly refused everything that did not look directly to his own interest, Mr. Alexander finally agreed to take the last named sum, which was fully secured to him by Mr. Ackland, and Riddell found himself where he had for years earnestly desired to be.
From the day the old sign of Alexander and Riddell was displaced by one bearing the name of Franklin Riddell, our enterprising man of business expatiated in a new field, and marched onward with rapid strides. The withdrawal of Alexander did not in the least affect the credit of the business, for it was well understood that Riddell's father-in-law had furnished an equal amount of capital to that withdrawn, or rather, had left the business in its integrity, and assumed the payment of what Alexander had put in.
It must not be inferred that young Riddell was led into wild and fruitless schemes of profit. Not he. He looked too clearly to the main chance. But he was shrewd, acute, and active, and did a larger amount of profitable business, by one-third, than any other merchant who had only the same capital. His ruling love kept him ever on the alert. He was, as he had long before expressed it — wide awake, as well as full of the go-ahead spirit. No one got the advantage of him in bargain-making, for no one watched with a closet or more intelligent eye, the fluctuations of the market, or with more shrewdness, the rise and fall of prices. Many an operation did he make, without even bringing the article bought and sold to his store, and always at good advantage to himself. A sharper hand at driving a bargain, without appearing to be sharp — was not to be found. In fact, he was too sharp to be strictly honest. He stopped at no advantage that he could gain, provided it did not lay him open to the charge of fraud.
To a man like Riddell, will always be presented ways of using capital to advantage much more extensive than his means. In other words, he can always see how twice the business he is doing could be done, if he but had money to do it with. Prudence whispered to Riddell that he had better not trespass too far upon Mr. Ackland for the means of enlarging his business, lest that individual should become impressed with the idea that he was extending himself too far. It would be far better in the end, he saw, to let Mr. Ackland come forward himself and offer aid, than for him to solicit it. But, pushing everything with might and main as he was doing, he found himself, in less than a year after the dissolution with Alexander, closely pressed in making his payments,
"This will not do," he said to himself. "No man who expects to succeed ultimately in business, must permit himself to get hard pressed for money, and thus have his thoughts diverted from schemes of profit. I must put my mind to the matter and get it in a better condition. Here is an impediment — and I will remove it."
Thus far he had stood aloof from all money institutions, and left financiering operations to others. But the time had come for him to diverge a little from the old way. He, therefore, made himself as familiar as possible with the whole undercurrent of things in the monetary world, and pondered for some time over the safest and surest way to get command of enough capital to make him perfectly easy, and yet enable him considerably to extend his business. This, he was shrewd enough to see, was not to be accomplished in a day, nor without some risk, as he would have to work by others, and be in danger of loss through their mistakes and embarrassments. But plenty of capital was a great thing to have, and worth some risk to obtain.
If Riddell had been content to go on as he was going, and willing to confine his business within the limits of his available means — he would have accumulated money quite fast enough to satisfy almost anyone. But the mania for getting rich fast — for making twenty or thirty thousand dollars in a year — had seized him, and the "paltry profits" of regular trade on a "small capital," were as nothing in his eyes.
"If you will take my advice," said a merchant, with whom he had some conversation in regard to the means to be used in getting himself in the Board of Directors in a certain Banking Institution, "you will keep entirely aloof from everything of the kind. You have a fair capital in business, and a good credit. Stand fast by them, and they will carry you on to fortune safely. But if you venture upon this fluctuating sea — you will be in danger. I speak from what I know. Many a goodly vessel have I seen go over. Here, my young friend, more sail than ballast is usually carried. I have tempted this sea; and am on it now, with all my fortune afloat. I do not fear greatly for myself, for I take care of the ballast, and steer wide of heavy craft that might go down and engulf me in the whirl of waters. But, where one rides on safely to fortune — ten are lured to destruction. For a young and ardent man like you, it is dangerous to tempt this sea."
"I am ardent, I own," replied Riddell. "But I believe my ardency of temper is well balanced. I can understand the operation of things about as clearly as anybody. What you say will apply to nine in ten; but I hold myself to be the exception. I am not afraid. To go on as I am now going, when opportunities of doubling my profits, if I had but ampler means, are all around me, chafes my eager spirit. I see myself losing thousands every year, which might be made. Elderkin, I am told, has never less than thirty or forty thousand dollars out of bank, and why may not I have the same facilities?"
"You may have the same facilities — if you work your card right," replied the merchant, whose name was Partridge, "and much greater ones. I have often had the use of double that amount of money."
"Indeed!"
"Oh, yes. The few, not the many, use the capital of most banking institutions."
"Give me such facilities!"
"Then you are seriously proposed to try your hand at money-raising, as well as moneymaking?"
"I am. I must raise money before I can make it."
"Very well," said Partridge. "I think I can manage to secure your election in the Citizens' Bank. I have a good deal of influence there. New directors will be chosen in about six weeks. Are you a stockholder?"
"No."
"You must own a few shares of the stock. Say twenty shares."
"Which will cost me a couple of thousand dollars."
"Yes. But if you can't well spare this amount of money, you can borrow back two-thirds of it on a stock note."
"That wouldn't look well."
"No; and should be avoided if possible. Still, if nothing better can be done, you might venture on that expedient."
"You are in the Board?"
"Oh yes."
"And expect to go in again?"
"I shall be made President at the next election."
"You?"
"Yes."
"Are you certain?"
"Riddell," said Mr. Partridge, changing his whole tone and manner, and speaking with impressive seriousness, "there is something in you, that, I frankly own, I like. I do not belong to the common, slow-coach tribe of plodders, with whom I never had, and never can have, any patience. There is enterprise, resolution, boldness, and apprehension about you, and these are just to my fancy. But, before another step is taken in the matter proposed, and before I admit you any farther into a knowledge of my affairs, let us understand each other fully. I have it in my power to make your fortune, if you are of the true stamp, and I believe you are. Can I repose the fullest confidence in you?"
"I can only give you my word that you can," replied Riddell. "But, you know as well as I do, that personal interest is the strongest bond that binds a man to his fellow."
"True."
"Let that bond unite us, and we need not fear each other."
"You are right," said Partridge. "Very well, as I have just intimated, I have it in my power to make your fortune — if you are of the right stamp. There are many wheels within wheels, Riddell. The periphery of the great wheel, with its slow, orderly revolutions, meets only the public eye; those which whirl with almost lightning-like speed within, and in a reverse direction, are not seen. They do the most work. As I have said, I shall be chosen President of the Citizens' Bank at the next election. Do you know how that will be done?"
"I am in ignorance of the means to be employed."
"And so are a great many others. The stock of this bank happens to be in the hands of a few. I own one-third of it."
"You?"
"Yes. And can control the votes of another third."
"Then you can choose your own Board of Directors, as well as elect yourself President?"
"That is the plain A B C of the matter; although we mustn't say so. It doesn't sound well. The Directors being of my selection, will all be men upon whom I can depend. Do you understand?"
"Clearly."
"Are you ready to go into the Board?"
"I am!" was the prompt and emphatic reply.
"Procure a few shares of the stock. Eight or ten will do; and I'll see to your election. It is needless, I am sure, to enjoin the most perfect secrecy. A whisper of the real truth would mar everything!"
"Don't fear me, Mr. Partridge. I shall keep my own counsel."
"After you are in the Board, I will give you a hint or two, that you can use for your own advantage. But, enough for the present."
Riddell did not know the man with whom this singular interview was held, as well as he knew him afterwards. In due time the election for President and Directors took place, and Riddell found himself numbered among the twelve men who, twice a week, sat at a long green table, in the Directors' room of the Citizens' Bank, and decided upon the paper offered for discount.
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