"Say," Bruce answered resentfully, "I came East to raise money for a hydro-electric power plant, not to go into the ring. It looks as if you're taking a good deal for granted."
"That's all right," Harrah answered easily. "How much do you want? What you got? Where is it?"
Bruce told him briefly.
Harrah heard him through attentively and when he was done Harrah said candidly: "Perhaps you've been told before that without a qualified engineer's report it isn't much of a business proposition to appeal to a business man."
"Once or twice," Bruce answered dryly.
"Nevertheless," Harrah continued, "I'm willing to take a chance on you--not on the proposition as you've put it up to me but on you personally, because I like you. I'll head your inscription list with $5000 and introduce you to some men that will probably take a 'flyer' on my say-so. If you're still short of what you think you'll need I'll make up the remainder, all providing"--with a quick grin--"that you go in and wallop that Greaser!"
Bruce's expression was a mixture of many.
Finally he replied slowly: "Well, it isn't just the way I'd figured out to interest Capital and I reckon the method is unique in mine promotion, but as I'm at the end of my rope and have no choice, one more meal of 'crow' won't kill me." He went on with a tinge of bitterness, thinking of Sprudell: "Since muscle is my only asset I'll have to realize on it." Then his dark face lighted with one of the slow, whimsical smiles that transformed it--"Unchain the 'Spanish Bull-dog,' feller!"
Harrah rang for the office boy and reached for his hat.
"William," he said sternly when the quaking youth stood before him, "tell those people outside not to wait. I'm called away on business--urgent, important business and I can't say when I'll be back."