ROY'S TRICK
"What can I do for you, sir?" asked the real estate agent as Roy
entered. "Take a chair."
Caleb Annister had been a little curious to see the young man whom his
office boy described. He could not imagine what was wanted, but he
scented a possible customer to engage some of the offices in the
structure, for which he collected the rents.
"I want to make some inquiries regarding an office in your Bleeker
street building," said Roy, for such was the designation of the
property in question.
"Ah, yes. You are going to open an office, perhaps?"
"I may." This was the truth as Roy's father had said, if the agent was
found to be dishonest, a new one, with an office in the Bleecker street
building might be engaged.
"Aren't you rather young to go in business?"
"Perhaps, but I am representing other persons. Have you any offices to
rent in that building?"
"A few."
"What do they rent for?"
It was Roy's idea to make inquiries in the guise of a possible tenant,
and, see what prices Mr. Annister was charging. What his next move was
you shall very soon see.
"Well, young man, rents are very high in that building. It is in a
good neighborhood, where property is increasing in value all the while,
and we have to charge high rents. Besides there is a good demand for
offices there."
This, Roy thought, was not the sort of information Mr. Annister had
sent to Mr. Bradner at the ranch.
"Do you own the building?" asked the western lad, wanting to see what
the agent would say.
"No, but I am in full charge. It would be no use for you to see the
owner, as he leaves everything to me. He would not give you any lower
rent rate than I would. Besides, he lives away out West, and never
comes to New York."
"Can you give me an idea of what the rents are for such offices as are
vacant?" asked Roy, trying not to let any Western expressions slip into
his talk, as he wanted to pose as a New Yorker.
"Is it for yourself?"
"No, for parties I represent."
"I can give you a list of such offices as are vacant, with the prices,
and you can go and see them. The janitor will show them to you, if I
send him a note."
"That will do very well."
Caleb Annister went over some books, and soon handed Roy a list of room
numbers, with the prices at which they rented by the month. It needed
but a glance at the list, and a rapid calculation on the part of Roy,
who was quick at figures, to see that if the entire building rented in
the same proportion, the income from it was much larger than what his
father was receiving. Clearly there was something wrong, and he must
find out where it was.
"I shall look at these offices," he said, "and let you know whether or
not they will suit my friend."
"What is the name?" asked Mr. Annister, preparing to write a note to
the janitor.
Now Roy was "up against it" as he put it. He did not want to give his
name, or Mr. Annister would suspect something at once, and, possibly,
put some obstacles in his way. Nor did he want to tell an untruth, and
give a false name. Finally he saw a way out of the difficulty.
He decided to give De Royster's name, as he had an idea that if Mr.
Annister proved to be dishonest, as it seemed he was, the young jewelry
salesman could be induced to take the agency of the building, at least
until he had to begin his travels again. To do this De Royster would
need an office in the building, so it would be no untruth for Roy to
give his name, and say he was looking for apartments for him. He knew
his friend would consent. So he said:
"You may make out the note in the name of Mortimer De Royster."
"De Royster? That is a good name. I know some of the family."
Mr. Annister wrote the note, and gave it to Roy, not asking his name.
In fact, the real estate man took his caller to be an office boy for
Mr. De Royster, for business men in New York frequently send their
office helpers on errands of importance, and this was no more than the
average office boy could do.
With the note Roy went to the Bleecker Building, as it was called. He
found the janitor, who readily showed him the vacant offices.
"Aren't rents rather high here?" asked Roy.
"That's what they are. But this is a good location for business men,
and they're willing to pay for it," answered the man.
"Have you no cheaper offices than these?"
"No. In fact all the others cost more. Some men have several rooms,
and they pay a good price."
"How many offices, or sets of offices, have you in this building? I
should think it would keep you busy looking after them."
"It does," replied the janitor, who, like others of his class, liked a
chance to complain of how hard they worked. "There are more than a
hundred offices in this building."
"And are most of them rented?"
"All but the five I showed you. I tell you the man who owns this
building has a fine thing out of it. He must make a lot over his
expenses."
"Who owns it?" asked Roy, wanting to see how much the janitor knew.
"I couldn't tell you. Mr. Annister never told me. He hires me. I
guess he must have an interest in the property."
"Yes, entirely too much of an interest in it," thought Roy. "He has
some of my interest, and I'm going to get it back."
There was one thing more he wanted to know.
"Are the tenants good pay?" he asked.
"They have to be, young man. If they get behind a month Mr. Annister
puts them out. That's why those five offices are vacant. But they'll
soon be rented. You'd better hurry if you want one."
"My friend will think it over," answered the boy from the ranch.
He had found out what he wanted to know. The property, instead of
decreasing in value as Mr. Annister had said, was increasing. Nearly
every office was rented at a good price, and the tenants were prompt
pay, save in a few instances. It did not require much calculation to
see that the income from the property was nearly double what Mr.
Annister reported it to be to Mr. Bradner. That meant but one thing.
The dishonest agent was keeping part of the rent for himself, and
sending false reports to Roy's father.
But it was one thing to know this, and another to prove it. Roy left
the building, thanking the janitor for his trouble, and started back
toward Mr. Annister's office.
"I wonder what I had better do?" he thought.