exploitation of prima donna or great pianist. For months an advance
agent had been preparing the way for his chief's arrival in a blaze of
glory. There was talk in the papers and among the financiers about the
wonderful water-gas process which enormously enhanced the profits of
gas-making, and such rumor was always linked with the name of the
brilliant Philadelphia Gas King, for so the press had already dubbed
him. A wonder and magic immensely provocative of curiosity were woven
about the identity of this J. Edward O'Sullivan Addicks, who it was said
might be persuaded to visit Boston to work marvels with the stocks that
had been "in the family" long before the present generation could
remember. When it was sure that the great man was really coming the
agent sought the advice of Boston's best in selecting quarters for him.
In the Tudor, a beautiful family hotel adjoining the Somerset Club on
Beacon Hill, a magnificent suite of apartments was taken, and though the
great man could remain in Boston but a brief space, the furniture, the
hangings, and even the carpets were all changed for him.

Eminent financial tricksters have various ways of handling their
victims. Some believe that the most skilful mode of attack is the slow,
confident, dignified approach which allays the subject's fears by its
solemn display of deliberation. Others (and Addicks is of this creed)
are persuaded of the superior efficacy of the "rush-in-and-drag-out"
method. The subject, they say, "gives up" more and quicker when the
hurry call is sounded. It was a winter's day when Addicks "lit" in
Boston, and circumstances had arisen, the suave advance agent told
various Boston's best, with whom he was in consultation, that would make
his chief's stay much briefer than either had anticipated. So when the
great man arrived at the club just before dinner, quite an array of
important people were congregated there.

Addicks ran the gantlet of the critical glances of as critical a group
as you'll find on earth, and the word went round--no one could remember
afterward who started it--"Typical Southern gentleman! Breeding sticking
out everywhere!" So well had the astute advance agent done his work that
a little dinner was arranged on the spot, and Addicks made such rapid
progress with these reserved and conservative Bostonians that, by the
time coffee was served, conversation had reached the stage where it was
natural for him to send the waiter to the coat-room f