An Inspiration
He was seated on an empty box on Main Street late yesterday evening during the cold rain. He was poorly and his thick coat was buttoned up high under his chin. He had a , harassed appearance, and there was something about him that indicated that he was different from the average who beats his way by lies and fraud.
The Post man felt a touch of sympathy and went up to him and said:
“There’s a place around the corner where you can get a lunch and for a small sum. When did you strike town?”
The man at the reporter out of his small, keen eyes and said:
“You’re a new man on the Post, are you not?”
“Yes, comparatively.”
“Do you see that block of three-story buildings over there?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I own them and was just sitting here studying what I’m going to do.”
“What’s the trouble?”
“Why, the walls are cracking and out on the sides, and I’m afraid I’m going to have to put a lot of money into repairs. I’ve got over one hundred in those buildings.”
“I’ll tell you what to do.”
“What?”
“You say the walls are bulging out?”
“Yes.”
“Well, that makes more room everywhere. You just raise all your tenants’ rent on account of the extra space.”
“Young man, you’re a genius. I’ll put rents up twenty percent tomorrow.”
And one more capitalist was saved.