The Lockwood Concern by John O'Hara Read Free Book Online

grateful to you. But this has done me a world of good because I see everything more clearly. Marian will marry her young man, and I'll have to endure that for a while, but she'll be back." "And then what? You'll marry her?" "Yes. She'll have had the chance she's entitled to and that I can't stand in the way of." "Well, then you have no problem. I hope you won't be sorry you confided in me," said George Lockwood. "On the contrary. It's a great load off my mind." "There's only one thing, Pen. What if she likes being married to this young man?' "You're just as thorough as always, and I was wondering whether you weren't going to ask that," said Penrose Lockwood. "I've thought about it. Worried about it. But now I realize that those kind of doubts are inconsistent with what I really believe. Really know." "Well, as long as you're that confident," said George Lockwood. "Still the cynic, George. You miss a lot that way." "Yes, I know I do. Come on, let's get over to Ray Turner's solid mahogany bucket-shop. Maybe I ought to say old oaken bucket-shop." The brothers rose simultaneously. George Lockwood helped Penrose on with his coat and they proceeded to George's office, where Penrose helped George. George then linked his arm in his brother's, and they went out to the elevator together. Ray Turner's private office was neither mahogany nor oaken; it was in the newer fashion, knotty pine, and spacious enough for the caterer's table and service wagon. "George, I don't know when I saw you last. You don't get down here often enough, but I'm very glad you came today." "Oh, I don't belong down here. I'm just a hick from the country," said George Lockwood. "I hear you're becoming a country squire," said Ray Turner. "Yes, I heard that, too," said Charley Bohm. "The hick from the country is making more money than any of us. How did you finally come out on that carburetor deal, if you don't mind my asking?" "Not at all," said George Lockwood. "As the British say, we made a small packet. Pen will tell you." "We won the patent suit. You knew that," said Penrose Lockwood. "Yes. I saw that," said Charley Bohm. "Well, then we sold our interest to Carlton-MacLeod," said Penrose Lockwood. "Oh, they got it?" said Bohm. "Yes, we got some common, some preferred-" said Penrose Lockwood. "And some cash, I imagine," said Bohm. "Oh, always some cash," said George Lockwood. "Always, always some cash." "Well, that's the way I like to do business as a rule," said Bohm. I always like to see some cash in a transaction. You took the common instead of royalties, I imagine." "We sure did," said Penrose Lockwood. "That's one less step in the bookkeeping. Funny things happen to royalties sometimes, but when you own common stock you have a better idea of where you stand." "You do indeed," said Bohm. "Does anyone care for a cocktail?" said Ray Turner. "Nope," said Charley Bohm. "No thanks," said Penrose Lockwood. "Well, I'll have one, Ray. A Martini?" said George Lockwood. "And I'll have one with you," said Ray Turner. "Stirred, or shaken?" "Shaken vigorously is the way I like them," said George Lockwood. "So do I," said Ray Turner. "Waiter, did you hear that?" "Yes sir," said the waiter, going to work. "Then you can come back in about an hour," said Turner. "We'll serve ourselves from the wagon. We're having lobster Newburg, gentlemen. Meet with your approval, George?" "I'd be crazy if it didn't," said George Lockwood. "Tell me about your new estate," said Ray Turner. "Well, I've got about three hundred acres, all told. We're hoping to have some good shooting in a year or two." "Horses?" said Charley Bohm. No horses. My wife doesn't ride and I don't anymore. It isn't riding country." "No fox-hunting riding-to-hounds?" said Bohm. "Not within fifty miles. It's just a house on the hillside, woodland on three sides." "What kind of a house did you build, George? We're thinking of either buying or building," said Turner. "Lockwood Colonial, I guess you'd call it," said George