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On Tuesday night, with but one more day of grace ahead of him, he gave a dinner to all of them, disregarding the fact that his bank-roll had become frightfully emaciated. For several days after that little party blue-printing in the Robinson-Ray office was a lost art. When his guests had dined and had settled back into their chairs, Mitchell decided to risk all upon one throw.
I should like them to hear you." "Trot them in." For the first time since leaving this office three days before, Mitchell smiled. He was getting into his stride at last. After all, there seemed to be a chance. There followed a convention of the draftsmen and engineers of the Robinson-Ray Syndicate before which an unknown American youth delivered an address on "Cyanide Tanks.
On the way across he had posted himself so far as possible about the proposed Robinson-Ray plant. He learned that there were to be fifteen batteries of cyanide tanks, two high eighty-four in all supported by steel sub- and super-structures; the work to be completed at Krugersdorpf, twenty miles out of Johannesburg, South Africa. The address of the company was No. 42-1/2 Threadneedle Street.
The Director General of the Robinson-Ray Syndicate stared in open amazement, but Mitchell hitched his chair closer, saying: "Now let's get at those signatures. I've got to pack." That night Louis Mitchell slept with fifteen separate contracts under his pillow. He double-locked the door, pulled the dresser in front of it, and left the light burning.
"You said there was a large contract of some sort coming up in London." "Large! Well, rather! The Robinson-Ray job. It's the biggest ever, in my line. They're going to rebuild those plants the Boers destroyed. I heard all about it in Montana." "Well!" Mrs. Mitchell spoke with finality. "That's the place for you. Get the firm to send you over there." "Um-m!
He had learned the rules governing English labor unions; he knew all about piece-work and time-work, fixed charges and shop costs, together with the ability of every plant figuring on the Robinson-Ray contract to turn out the work in the necessary time. All this, and more, he had learned legitimately and without cost to his commercial honor.
The American had made his first point. He had gained time in which to handle himself, and the Robinson-Ray people had recognized a new factor in the field. When he was again in the Director General's room, the latter said: "I think I will have you formulate a new bid along the lines you have laid down." "Very well." "You understand, our time is up.
The Director General of the great Robinson-Ray Syndicate was genuinely surprised to learn that the young American had completed a bid in so short a time, then requested him, somewhat absent-mindedly, to leave it on his desk where he could look it over at his leisure. "Just a moment," said his caller. "I'm going to sit down and talk to you again. How long have you been using cyanide tanks, Mr.
Comer, if I don't land that Robinson-Ray contract, I won't come back. I I couldn't, after this. Maybe I'll drive a 'bus I hear they have a lot of them in London." "Suppose, for instance, you should get the job on a profitable basis; the biggest job this concern ever had and one of the biggest ever let anywhere " Mr. Comer's brow was wrinkled humorously. "What would you expect out of it?"
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