for one, for every dollar represented by the market value of their
stock he might buy in and capitalize the three companies as one.
Then, by issuing sufficient stock to cover all his obligations,
he would reap a rich harvest and at the same time leave himself
in charge. He approached Judah Addison first as the most available
man to help float a scheme of this kind. He did not want him as
a partner so much as he wanted him as an investor.

"Well, I'll tell you how I feel about this," said Addison, finally.
"You've hit on a great idea here. It's a wonder it hasn't occurred
to some one else before. And you'll want to keep rather quiet
about it, or some one else will rush in and do it. We have a lot
of venturesome men out here. But I like you, and I'm with you.
Now it wouldn't be advisable for me to go in on this personally
--not openly, anyhow--but I'll promise to see that you get some
of the money you want. I like your idea of a central holding
company, or pool, with you in charge as trustee, and I'm perfectly
willing that you should manage it, for I think you can do it.
Anyhow, that leaves me out, apparently, except as an Investor.
But you will have to get two or three others to help carry this
guarantee with me. Have you any one in mind?"

"Oh yes," replied Cowperwood. "Certainly. I merely came to you
first." He mentioned Rambaud, Videra, Bailey, and others.

"They're all right," said Addison, "if you can get them. But I'm
not sure, even then, that you can induce these other fellows to
sell out. They're not investors in the ordinary sense. They're
people who look on this gas business as their private business.
They started it. They like it. They built the gas-tanks and laid