The Studs Lonigan Trilogy - James T. Farrell [396]
“Hello, peoples,” Fran said.
“Why, how are you, Studs? Gee, I’m glad to see you, and you know, old man, you haven’t dropped around to see us in a long while. And hello there, Catherine, how are you?” Carroll said, and Studs guessed Carroll was friendly and all right, but he didn’t like his talk and his gestures, too high-hat.
“And why don’t you tell other people your secrets?” Fran said, smiling.
Studs could see that Fran was still a damn hot and pretty girl, and she looked nice with her white dress and her dark eyes and dark curly hair. And Carroll, with his classy light gray suit, looked like a hot shot, too. But he was sure picking up weight.
“I know. Mother telephoned me. Congratulations. We were just walking down to the beach to see if we could find you, because she told us you were there.”
“And yes, Studs, my congratulations to both of you, and we both wish and know that you’ll be happy,” Carroll said.
“But isn’t this sudden?” Fran asked.
“Well,” Studs exclaimed while Catherine blushed.
“And as an old and experienced married man, Studs, let me give you one word of advice. Do what the lady tells you to the first time, and you’ll save a lot of time,” Carroll said dryly, winking as he ended his remark.
“Yes, darling, only why don’t you practice what you preach?” Fran said, smiling at her husband.
“Oh, Studs will be all right. He can be trained,” Catherine said, becoming more at ease.
“Gee, you kids must be busy as bees,” Fran said.
“Well, I suppose we’re going to be,” Catherine said.
“Can I help you on anything, with your wedding dress, or something like that?” asked Fran.
“Why, no thanks, Fran dear. My mother will help me, and I think we’ll get everything finished, all right.”
“Well, you must come over. I want to have a shower for you, and when can I plan on it?”
“Fran, you shouldn’t put yourself to so much trouble,” Catherine said.
“Now, when?” Fran said authoritatively.
“If it must be, well, I suppose sometime next week,” Catherine said.
“How are things going with you, Studs?”
“Oh, pretty good, Carroll, can’t exactly complain. How about yourself?”
“All right, Studs. You know, I think that most of this depression talk is greatly exaggerated. I don’t think that times are near so hard as people say they are, and all this gloomy talk just makes everything so much the worse. Why, with a little more confidence on the part of everybody or at least of all the people who count, and there wouldn’t be any more depression. That’s the way I feel about it, In our law office now, for instance, we’ve got more work than we can handle.”
“Well, maybe there’s something to what you say, Carroll, only some people have been hit pretty hard. I know I took a flyer in some Imbray stock, not a lot, just a little, and I got socked.”
“Jesus, Studs, I wish you’d asked my advice before you did that. You know what’s happening? People on the inside told me this. Imbray is in a bad spot. He’s been fighting with a Cleveland financier, and this fellow from Cleveland has old Solomon with his back to the wall. It looks bad, because this Cleveland financier, his name is Goddard, he’s got Imbray where he wants him. Imbray has to plug up his own stock and buy them on the market so that Goddard can’t get them and get control of Imbray’s companies. And to do that Imbray has to keep getting more money up issuing new stock. In consequence, he’s built up a shaky pyramid, and now his stock is too watered. Imbray stocks are one kind not to buy. Get out of it quick, and buy some good government bonds, or radio stock. The future of this country is in radio and aviation, and when I buy stocks that’s what I buy.”
“Jesus, I think I will, and thanks for the tip. You say that Imbray is on the bust and his stocks won’t go up?”
“They’re so highly overvalued they can’t go up much until the water is run out of them. There’ll be a receivership. I think the story will break any one of these days. The old man is just going