Philip Curtiss

“ The music publishers and the phonograph people would probably help them to get that going but they certainly won't if Harcourt & Gay don't own it. By George! I think he's telling the truth. You 've got 'em by the neck!"
Bellsmith sat in silence. He still did not take Charlie Barnes's gossip quite at its full face-value but, even with only a half or a quarter of truth in it, it left him with a genuine admiration for the quiet young Harcourt. For all that that calm young man had shown in his talk, he might have been floating in the confidence of millions. ”

“ Bellsmith, the show business is a dangerous game, especially if you plunge on big shows like Harcourt & Gay. They say that in New York, in some lines, you can't borrow money on gold dollars as collateral. I 'll bet you they are n't the only ones that's anxious. All of us here in the company have been hugging ourselves that we were working for a man who was independent. If what you say is true, I should n't be surprised if the only big asset that Harcourt & Gay have got is that new show of Gaylord and Melcher's. ”

“ Would n't we have made 'em squeal? What are you going to do about it now?"
"That's the question," said Bellsmith. "That's what we talked about. Charlie, I 've had a real chance to go into the show business."
"Real chance?" demanded Barnes. "What do you call this?"
"No, something bigger than this. Harcourt & Gay have offered me a partnership. They want me to go in with them."
"Go into what?"
"Go into their firm."
"Say that again," commanded Barnes.
"Harcourt & Gay want me to buy a share of their business."
"They want yon to boy a share in their business?" demanded Barnes. ”