cwilleford.cockfighter-第12部分

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c　probably　had　to　burn　his　desk　and　ceiling　lights　even　at　midday。　Doc's　desk　was　a　great；　wooden；　square　affair；　and　much　too　large　for　the　size　of　the　room。　In　front　of　the　fluorescent　desk　lamp　was　his　carved　desk　sign：　Dr。　Onyx　P。　Riordan；　Pres。　（and　a　beautifully　carved　ornate　job　it　was；　too）。　In　addition　to　his　desk　there　was　a　low　two…drawer　filing　cabinet；　the　swivel　executive；　chair　he　was　sitting　in；　and　two　straight…backed　chairs。　These　simple　furnishings　made　the　room　overly　crowded。　On　the　wall　behind　his　desk　was　a　hand…lettered；　professionally　done　poster　in　three　primary　colors　praising　the　virtues　of　a　product　called　Licarbo。　After　reading　the　poster　I　studied　Doc's　face。　He　had　taken　two　green　dime…store　cups　out　of　his　desk　and　was　filling　theni　with　black　coffee。
　　With　his　bald　head　and　tonsure　of　thin；　fine　gray　hair；　Doc　looked　his　fifty　some…odd　years；　all　right；　but　there　was　a　certain　youthfulness　about　his　face　that　denied　those　years。　His　features　were　all　small；　gathered　together　in　the　center　of　a　round；　bland　face。　His　mouth　and　snubby　nose　were　small。　His　blue　eyes　were　ingenuously　wide　and　revealed　the　full　optic　circle。　With　his　round　red　cheeks　and　freshly　scrubbed　look；　Doc　could　probably　have　passed　for　thirty　if　he　wore　a　black　toupee　and　dyed　his　eyebrows　to　match。
　　〃It's　been　a　long　time；　Frank；〃　Doc　said　sincerely；　〃and　I'm　really　glad　to　see　you　again。〃　He　sat　back　with　a　pleased　smile。　〃I　want　to　show　you　something！〃
　　He　began　to　rummage　through　his　desk。　I　sipped　some　coffee　and　lit　another　cigarette　from　the　butt　of　the　one　I　was　smoking。　The　sight　of　this　little　hole…in…the…wall　office　had　dashed　any　hopes　I　might　have　had　about　getting　even　a　portion　of　my　money　back　from　the　old　pharmacist。
　　〃Read　this；　Frank！〃　Doc　said　eagerly；　sliding　a　letter　across　the　broad　surface　of　the　desk。　I　read　the　letter。　It　was　from　a　drug　laboratory　in　New　York。
　　
　　President
　　Dixie　Pharmaceutical　Co。
　　Latham　Building
　　Jacksonville；　Florida
　　
　　Dear　Dr。　Riordan：
　　
　　We　have　made　exhaustive　tests　of　your　product；　LICARBO；　at　your　request；　and　we　agree　that　it　is　nontoxic；　and　that　it　will　provide　nonharmful　relief　to　certain　types　of　indigestion；　such　as　overeating；　overindulgence；　etc。
　　However；　we　are　not　in　the　market　for　such　a　product　at　this　time。　Thank　you　for　letting　us　examine　it。　Best　wishes。
　　
　　Very　truly　yours；
　　
　　
　　The　signature　was　indecipherable；　but　vice…president　was　typed　beneath　the　inked　scribble。　I　put　the　letter　down　on　the　desk。
　　〃Do　you　realize　what　that　letter　means；　Frank？〃　Doc　said　excitedly。　〃They're　interested；　definitely　interested！　They　couldn't　find　a　single　fault；　and　do　you　know　why？　Licarbo　doesn't　have　any；　that's　why！　I've　dealt　with　panies　like　that　before。　They　think　I'll　sell　out　for　little　or　nothing；　but　if　they　want　Licarbo；　and　you　can　read　between　the　lines　of　the　letter　that　they're　dying　to　get　it；　it'll　cost　them　plenty！〃
　　Doc　sat　back　in　his　big　chair；　steepled　his　fingers　together；　and　attempted　to　look　shrewd　by　narrowing　his　eyes。　His　narrowed　eyes　only　made　him　look　sleepy；　however。
　　〃Not　only　do　I　want　a　flat　ten　thousand　for　my　rights；　Frank；　I'm　also　holding　out　for　a　percentage　on　every　package　sold。　Now　what　do　you　think　of　that？〃
　　I　admired　Doc's　spirit；　but；　evidently；　he　refused　to　recognize　a　politely　worded　turndown　when　he　saw　it。　I　shrugged　my　shoulders　nonmittally。
　　〃By　God；　I　forgot！〃　Doc　snapped　his　fingers。　〃You　haven't　tried　Licarbo　yet；　have　you？〃
　　I　shook　my　head。　Doc　opened　the　top　right　drawer　of　his　desk　and　removed　three　flat　packets　approximately　the　size　and　shape　of　restaurant…size　sugar　packets。　The　name　Licarbo　was　printed　in　red　ink　on　each　packet；　including　directions　to　take　as　needed；　with　or　without　water；　following　overindulgence；　overeating　or　for　mild　stomach　distress。
　　〃Go　ahead；　Frank；　open　one　up　and　taste　it。　There　isn't　a　better　relief　for　indigestion　in　the　world　than　Licarbo！　Take　it　with　a　glass　of　water　and　you'll　belch　every　time。　What　more　does　a　man　want　than　a　big　healthy　belch　when　his　belly　hurts　him？　Right？　In　the　South　we　like　our　medicines　in　powder　and　liquid　form。　No　self…respecting　Southerner　will　take　a　fancy　capsule　for　belly　pains；　no　matter　how　many　colors　it's　got。〃
　　I　ripped　open　a　packet　and　spilled　some　of　the　mixture　into　my　hand。　Licarbo　resembled　gunpowder；　or　a　mixture　of　salt　and　black　pepper；　heavy　on　the　pepper。　I　put　my　tongue　to　the　mixture。　It　tasted　like　licorice；　not　an　unpleasant　taste　at　all。
　　〃Mix　it　in　with　your　coffee；　Frank。　Licarbo　will　dissolve　almost　instantly。〃
　　I　shuddered　at　this　suggestion；　shook　my　head　and　smiled。
　　〃Tastes　good；　don't　it？〃　Doc　beamed　proudly；　folding　his　short　arms　across　his　chest。　〃All　it　is；　Frank；　is　a　mixture　of　licorice　root；　bicarbonate　of　soda；　a　few　secret　ingredients　and　some　artificial　coloring。　But　the　formula　will　make　me　rich；　and　you　too；　Frank。　It　takes　time；　however；　to　invent　and　develop　a　new　product　and　get　it　out　to　the　waiting　market。　The　New　York　pany　isn't　my　only　prospect；　not　by　any　means。　I've　got　feelers　out　all　over　the　nation。　This　is　the　big　one；　Frank；　the　one　I've　been　working　up　to　through　thirty　years　in　practical　pharmacy。　I've　invented　other　products　and　sold　them　too；　but　this　time　I'm　holding　out　to　the　last　breath。　Why；　if　I　only　had　the　capital　I　could　manufacture　Licarbo　myself　and　literally　make　a　fortune。　A　fortune！〃
　　Doc　turned　in　his　chair；　sighed　deeply；　and　looked　out　the　window　at　the　rusty　wall　of　the　theater。
　　〃People　just　don't　have　faith　no　more；　Frank。　People　today　don't　recognize　a　mercial　drug　when　they　see　and　taste　it；　damn　them　all；　anyway！　But　this　product　has　got　to　go　over；　it　has　to！〃　Doc　dropped　the　level　of　his　voice；　and　said　softly；　as　if　to　convince　himself；　〃It's　only　a　matter　of　time；　Frank。　Only　a　matter　of　time。　。
　　I　slipped　the　two　unopened　packets　of　Licarbo　into　my　jacket　pocket。　At　least　I　had　something　to　show　for　my　eight…hundred…dollar　investment。　Doc　swiveled　his　chair　and　faced　me　with　a　bright　smile。
　　〃I　made　this　first　batch　up　myself；　Frank；　and　had　the　sample　packages　printed　up　here　in　town。　It　costs　a　lot　of　money　to　get　started；　but　you've　got　to　admit　the　product　is　good；　don't　you？〃
　　I　nodded；　pursing　my　lips。　As　far　as　I　was　concerned；　Licarbo　was　as　good　as　any　one　of　a　hundred　similar　products　on　the　market。　Plain　old　bicarbonate　of　soda　will　make　you　belch　if　a　belch　is　required；　and　that　was　Doc's　main　ingredient。
　　〃You'd　like　to　have　your　eight　hundred　dollars　back　just　the　same。　Am　I　right？〃　Doc　said　hesitantly。
　　I　spread　my　hands；　palms　up；　and　nodded。
　　〃Well；　I　just　don't　have　it　right　now；　Frank。〃　Doc　wet　his　thumb。　〃I　just　don't　have　it。　But　you'll　get　it　back　one　of　these　days　soon；　every　damned　dime；　and　with　plenty　of　interest。　To　be　honest；　I'm　just　hanging　on　these　days。　Don't　even　have　a　phone　anymore　in　the　office；　as　you　can　see。　I've　got　a　part…time　pharmacist's　job　at　night　in　a　drugstore　near　my　rooming　house；　and　every　cent　I　make　goes　into　office　rent；　promotion　of　Licarbo；　and　I'm　barely　getting　by　on　what's　left。　I've　dropped　everything　else　to　concentrate　on　Licarbo；　but　when　it　hits；　and　it's　going　to；　it'll　be　big；　really　big！〃
　　Old　Doc　Riordan　was　another　man　like　myself；　riding　along　on　an　inborn；　overinflated　self…confidence　and　a　wide　outward　smile。　Deep　inside；　I　knew　he　was　worried　sick　about　being　unable　t？　write　me　a　check　for。　my　money。　Well；　I　could　relieve　him　from　that　worry　in　a　hurry。　Whether　his　product　ever　went　over　big　or　not　was　no　concern　of　mine。　I　wasn't　about　to　ride　another　man's　dream；　I　had　a　big　dream　of　my　own。　It　was　time　to　get　the　hell　off　Doc's　back。
　　There　was　a　writing　tablet　on　his　desk。　I　reached　for　it；　took　my　ballpoint　lead　pencil　out　of　my　coat　pocket　and　wrote　on　the　pad：
　　
　　President；　Dixie　Pharm。　Co。
　　
　　In　return　for　a　ten…year　supply　of　conditioning　powder　and　other　medicinal　aids　for　poultry　at　the　Mansfield　Farms；　the　undersigned　hereby　turns　over　all　his　existing　stock　in　the　Dixie　Pharm。　Co。　to　the　President。
　　
　　
　　After　signing　my　name　with　a　flourish；　I　smiled；　and　handed　Doc　the　tablet。　He　read　the　note　and　frowned。
　　〃Don't　you　have　any　faith　in　Licarbo；　Frank？〃
　　I　looked　at　him　expressionlessly　and　nodded　slowly。
　　〃Then　why　are　you　pulling　out？〃
　　I　got　to　my　feet；　leaned　over　the　desk　and　underlined　〃ten…year　supply〃　on　the　note　I　had　written。
　　A　knowing　smile　widened　Doc's　tiny　mouth；　and　he　nodded　sagely。
　　〃You're　a　mighty　shrewd　businessman；　Frank。　Why；　if　you　ever　expand　your　farms　you'll　double　your　eight　hundred　dollars　in　five　years　easily！　But　damn　your　eyes；　anyway！〃　He　laughed　gleefully。　〃I'm　just　going　to　take　you　up　on　this　proposition！　Whether　Licarbo　hits　big　or　not；　I'll　either　have　my　own　lab　or　work　in　a　pharmacy　someplace　where　I　can　get　wholesale　prices　on　drugs。　So　on　a　deal　like　this；　neither　one　of　us　can　lose！〃
　　We　shook　hands；　and　I　turned　to　go。　Doc　stopped　me　at　the　door　by　putting　his　hand　on　my　arm。　〃Just　a　minute；　Frank。　As　soon　as　I　can　afford　it；　I'm　moving　to　a　better　office。　And；　of　course；　when　I　get　enough　capital；　I'm　going　to　build　my　own　laboratories。　But　meanwhile；　here's　the　address　of　the　drugstore　where　I　work。〃　He　handed　me　a　card　and　I　slipped　it　into　my　wallet。　〃I'm　on　duty　there　every　Friday；　Saturday　and　Sunday　night　from　six　to　midnight。　And　almost　every　Wednesday　from　noon　till　midnight。　I　relieve　the　owner；　you　see。　So　when　you　need　anything；　drop　me　a　line　there；　or　e　by　and　see　me　yourself。〃
　　I　opened　the　door；　and　returned　my　wallet　to　my　hip　pocket。
　　〃You　going　to　put　an　entry　in　the　Orlando　tourney；　Frank？〃
　　I　shook　my　head　and　pointed　north。
　　〃Southern　Conference　then？〃
　　I　nodded。
　　〃Well；　I'll　probably　see　you　in　Milledgeville；　then。　I　haven't　missed　an　S。C。T　in　ten　years　and　I　don't　intend　to　now。　And　when　you　see　any　of　the　boys　on　the　road；　say　hello　for　me；　and　tell　them　I　still　send　out　a　few　things　when　they　write。〃
　　I　winked；　clapped　him　on　the　shoulder；　and　we　shook　hands　again。　I　started　d