It was a wonderful plan, a boon to humanity.
And solving the parking problem would make a fortune
for Slim and me. But when the secret got out ...
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Future combined with Science Fiction Stories May-June 1950.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
I could have taken that three hundred dollars and gone to school for ayear, by washing dishes two hours a night. I had worked for that money,too; shocking wheat for twelve hours a day in the August sun is novacation. But Slim Coleman convinced me that we could run that threehundred into enough to take us both for four years.
I hadn't even had time to get a haircut—and I did want a haircut; nowit was pretty shaggy.
But Slim, diplomat that he is, didn't even seem to notice my hair."I've got a real deal," he said, and his deep eyes were shining withenthusiasm. "Have you got any money?"
"Some," I said cautiously.
"It takes three hundred. Have you got that much?"
I had intended to say no, but Slim has a way of fixing his deep, sombereyes on you that gives ineffable dignity even to a touch. "Okay," Isaid hopelessly. "What's the bite?"
"Well, you see, it's like this." We went into a drug store and orderedcokes, and Slim characteristically insisted on paying for them when heprobably couldn't have bought a package of cigarettes. I let him pay,too. I had three hundred and one dollars, and I had no intention ofparting with a nickel of it—except a dollar for a haircut.
"I was using the brain-finder and I ran across the owner of this unusedgarage in the Loop. His name is Richard LaBombard and he's got a lot ofparking lots through the Loop, and you know what he's doing?"
I saw the waitress stare at me. I swallowed and tried to listen toSlim. "No."
Slim was staring at the waitress. "He loads them up with used carsevery day so those who are hunting a parking place can't get in," hesaid absently. "You know what he wants?"
"Well, no." I never could figure those things, but Slim could see theangles a mile away. He was always good at that.
"He's made an application for a permit to build a parking ramp thatwill cover a solid block down in the middle of the Loop. Now, if he canbuild a place to park eight or ten thousand cars, naturally that onespot is going to be the best business spot in the city. And RichardLaBombard holds leases or options on half the store space around thatblock. He stands to make millions."
"Where does my three hundred come in?"
Slim ignored the acidulousness in my voice. "Well, as I say, I followedhim with the brain-finder and found him holding hands with the mayor'swife at a skating rink—and the next day I—ah—persuaded him to giveme an option to lease this building on the edge of the Loop."
"You mean you blackmailed him."
"That's a harsh word. I prefer persuaded myself. After all, hewouldn't want something like that to come up just when he's finaglingfor that permit, would he? Anyway, I paid five dollars for the option."
"That's unusual. You've got some of your own money in this deal."
Like a gentleman, Slim ignored that thrust. "Tomorrow is the first.I've got to raise two hundred and fifty for a month's rent. We'll needfifty more for deposits on light, heat, and power. We'll make a millionwithin a month. We split fifty-fifty."
"How do you make the million?"
Slim looked around. Nobody was near; he leaned close and whispered."This is the invention of the century. We can