Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford   By: George Randolph Chester (1869-1924)

A cheerful account of the rise and fall of an American Business Buccaneer

By GEORGE RANDOLPH CHESTER

Author of "The Making of Bobby Burnit," "The Cash Intrigue," Etc.

WITH FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS

A. L. BURT COMPANY PUBLISHERS NEW YORK

Copyright, 1907, by the Curtis Publishing Company Copyright, 1908, by the Curtis Publishing Company Copyright, 1908, by Howard E. Altemus

Published April, 1908

TO THE LIVE BUSINESS MEN OF AMERICA THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN "STUNG" AND THOSE WHO HAVE YET TO UNDERGO THAT PAINFUL EXPERIENCE THIS LITTLE TALE IS SYMPATHETICALLY DEDICATED

[Illustration: "AND THE BATHROOM MUST HAVE A LARGE TUB"]

Contents

CHAPTER I. In Which J. Rufus Wallingford Conceives a Brilliant Invention 9

CHAPTER II. Wherein Edward Lamb Beholds the Amazing Profits of the Carpet tack Industry 21

CHAPTER III. Mr. Wallingford's Lamb Is Carefully Inspired with a Flash of Creative Genius 33

CHAPTER IV. J. Rufus Accepts a Temporary Accommodation and Buys an Automobile 45

CHAPTER V. The Universal Covered Carpet Tack Company Forms Amid Great Enthusiasm 58

CHAPTER VI. In Which an Astounding Revelation Is Made Concerning J. Rufus 71

CHAPTER VII. Wherein the Great Tack Inventor Suddenly Decides to Change His Location 93

CHAPTER VIII. Mr. Wallingford Takes a Dose of His Own Bitter Medicine 111

CHAPTER IX. Mr. Wallingford Shows Mr. Clover How to Do the Widows and Orphans Good 129

CHAPTER X. An Amazing Combination of Philanthropy and Profit is Inaugurated 140

CHAPTER XI. Neil Takes a Sudden Interest in the Business, and Wallingford Lets Go 155

CHAPTER XII. Fate Arranges for J. Rufus an Opportunity to Manufacture Sales Recorders 171

CHAPTER XIII. Mr. Wallingford Offers Unlimited Financial Backing to a New Enterprise 187

CHAPTER XIV. Showing How Five Hundred Dollars May Do the Work of Five Thousand 202

CHAPTER XV. Wallingford Generously Loans The Pneumatic Company Some of Its Own Money 215

CHAPTER XVI. The Financier Takes a Flying Trip to Europe on an Affair of the Heart 232

CHAPTER XVII. Wherein a Good Stomach for Strong Drink is Worth Thousands of Dollars 246

CHAPTER XVIII. The Town of Battlesburg Finds a Private Railroad Car in Its Midst! 256

CHAPTER XIX. Mr. Wallingford Wins the Town of Battlesburg by the Toss of a Coin 273

CHAPTER XX. Battlesburg Smells Money and Plunges into a Mad Orgie of Speculation 293

CHAPTER XXI. In Which the Sheep Are Sheared and Skinned and Their Hides Tanned 310

CHAPTER XXII. J. Rufus Prefers Farming in America to Promoting in Europe 330

CHAPTER XXIII. A Corner on Farmers is Formed and It Beholds a Most Wonderful Vision 347