‘Did you start him in business?’ I inquired.
‘Start him! I made him.’
‘Oh.’
‘I raised him up out of nothing, right out of the gutter. I saw right away he was a fine appearing, gentlemanly young man, and when he told me he was an Oggsford I knew I could use him good. I got him to join up in the American Legion and he used to stand high there. Right off he did some work for a client of mine up to Albany. We were so thick like that in everything ’ He held up two bulbous fingers ‘ always together.’
I wondered if this partnership had included the World’s Series transaction in 1919.
‘Now he’s dead,’ I said after a moment. ‘You were his closest friend, so I know you’ll want to come to his funeral this afternoon.’
‘I’d like to come.’
‘Well, come then.’
The hair in his nostrils quivered sli
