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The circuht back to him memories of the past,uncertain as going to happen next

’I would have invited you to lunch, Mr Rosnovski - - ? Abel’s heartbeat steadied a little He was only too aware that bank ers do not dispense free es to deliver

~ - but so has arisen that requires immediate action, and so I hope you won’t mind if I discuss the probleht to the point, Mr Rosnovski One of my most respected customers, an elderly lady, Miss Amy Leroy,’ - the name made Abel sit up instantly - ’is in possession of twenty - five per cent of the Rich to her brother, Mr Davis Leroy, several times in the past but he has shown absolutely no interest in purchasing Miss A He already owns seventy - five per cent of the company, and I dare say he feels he has no need to worry about the other twenty - five per cent, which incidentally, was a legacy from their late father However, Miss Amy Leroy is still keen to dispose of her stock as it has never paid a dividend!

Abel was not surprised to hear that

’Mr Leroy has indicated that he has no objection to her selling the stock, and she feels that at her age she would rather have a little cash to spend now than wait in the hope that the group may one day prove profitable With that in mind, Mr Rosnovski, I thoucht I would apprise you of the situation in case you ht know of someone with an interest in the hotel trade and, therefore, in the purchase of my client’s shares’

’Howto realise for her stock?’ asked Abel

’Oh, I feel she’d be happy to let theo for as little as sixty - five thousand dollars’

’Sixty - five thousand dollars is a rather hil~h price for a stock that has never paid a dividend,’ said Abel, ’and has no hope of doing so f or some years to come’

’Ah,’ said Curtis Fenton, ’but you must remember that the value of the eleven hotels should also be taken into consideration!

’But control of the company would still remain in the hands of Mr Leroy, whichbut pieces of paper’

’Come, come, Mr Rosnovski, twenty - five per cent of eleven hotels would be a very valuable holding for only sixtyfive thousand dollars’

’Not while Davis Leroy has overall control Offer Miss Leroy forty thousand dollars, Mr Fenton, and I may be able to find you someone who is interested!