The Crossroads Read Online Free PDF Page A

streams of traffic, glittering and shimmering in the sun, the big tractor-trailers looking like dime-store toys. All the operations of the Crossroads Corporation were in clear view. Chip did not hand the check over immediately. That, too, was part of the ritual.
    Chip pointed. “Papa, you see the open space between where the office and those small stores are, and the bowladrome?”
    “Something new for there, Charlie?”
    “What would you think about an automobile agency? One of them in Walterburg wants to move all the way down here. They’re getting cramped.”
    “Is a roadside business, selling cars?”
    “Not really. But the character of the area is changing, Papa. The city is moving down toward us. That Crossroads Shopping Center isn’t a roadside business either.” They looked northeast at the big L-shaped building enclosing the glittering acres of parking area. Suburban developments dotted the rolling country beyond the highway.
    “No junk, Charlie? No big lots with rusty cars?”
    “His used-car lot will be five miles north, closer to town.”
    “Don’t like it junky, Charlie. How much it cost build him what he wants?”
    “I’ve been over the figures with the contractor. We can do it for a hundred and ninety thousand.”
    “Hoooo! Is lot of money.”
    “It won’t be all our money. Most of it will be the bank’s. Construction loan. We pay it off over twenty years. He takes a thirty-year lease. With an escalator clause to take care of any jump in taxes and insurance. After allowing for maintenance and upkeep, we’ll pay off the loan installments and still make three per cent on the total cost, or fifteen per cent on the part we put up incash. During the final ten years we should be making twelve per cent on the whole deal, about twenty-two thousand a year.”
    “You tink is smart, Charlie?”
    “Yes, Papa.”
    The old man grinned and nudged him. “We do it! You pooty smart, Charlie.”
    “You’re the smart one in the family. Here’s what you get for being smart.” He took the folded check out of his shirt pocket and handed it to the old man.
    He opened it. “Hoooo! Is tax taken out?”
    “It’s free and clear, Papa.”
    “When you go to bank, Charlie?”
    Chip felt a fond irritation. He knew what the old man would do. Dress up in his good dark suit with the shiny seat and elbows, place his hat squarely on top of his head and ride into the city with him. There he would cash the check, put far too small an amount of money into his pocket, and take the balance into the safety deposit vaults and put it in his box.
    “I’ve got to go in Monday, be there by ten. I’ll pick you up about nine-thirty.”
    “Good, Charlie.”
    “Papa, why don’t you ever listen to me about that money? You could invest it and it would be making more money for you. And you ought to spend more on yourself.”
    “Is all I need right here, Charlie. With money you do tree tings. Buy land, or build something or save it, yes? Land is too rich and I got nutting to build any more.”
    “Investing it is saving it.”
    “Is not money to touch,” the old man said, setting his jaw.
    Chip gave up. “How much money have you got in that box anyway?”
    The old man looked at him with a glint of mischief. “Is pooty full.”
    “It must be. How much?”
    “To much to count it, Charlie. Maybe someday youneed money fast. Maybe I loan it. Maybe not. High interests to you, big-shot president Charlie.”
    “You’re a mean old man sometimes.”
    “Sure. Charlie, why Nancy doesn’t come? Leo, Betty, their kids come.” He sighed. “Is not much interest talking to Leo. All the time those figures, figures.”
    “Joan said she’s going to stop by tomorrow.”
    “Good. How about Nancy?”
    “She’s coming with Joan,” Chip said, making that decision.
    “Come, good,” the old man said, lighting up. His smile faded. “Peter, he is doing good now?”
    “Just fine, Papa.”
    “Is young, you know. Takes time.”
    Chip