The Ragtime Kid Read Online Free PDF

let
your
children run wild as they pleased when they were small, now, did you?”
    Stark felt worn out. Years ago, that talk enraged him, but now it seemed like his bucket had gone dry. He privately dismissed his own demand for an apology to Isaac; even if it came, it wouldn’t mean anything. He waved a weary hand. Enough.
    Daniels picked right up, took Freitag by the shoulders, steered him toward the door. “Go get yourself a drink, Elmo,” Daniels whispered. “The train’s at six-thirty-three. I’ll meet you at the depot.”
    As the big man disappeared out the doorway and around the corner, Daniels blurted, “Listen, Mr. Stark, I’m sorry. Elmo doesn’t speak for me, not in any way.” He turned to face Isaac. “He works under me, so
I
will apologize for what he said. That’s not the way I talk to anyone, colored or white, and I’m sincerely embarrassed. My first job in the morning will be to talk to Mr. Hoffman, and if Freitag’s still working for him after that, I won’t be.”
    Isaac nodded. “That’s generous of you, Mr. Daniels, but a man don’t need to apologize, except for what he says or does himself. But I do appreciate what you say.”
    Stark looked around at the big clock up on the wall behind him. “We close in ten minutes,” he said to Daniels. “Perhaps you can tell me just why you’re here, and how I might help you.”
    Daniels took in a big breath, then let it out slowly. “Joplin was firm about royalties, and not having anyone’s name but his own on the cover. He said he’d been talking to Will, and that Will is inclined to give him the sort of arrangement he wants. But I didn’t know you were into music publishing.”
    News to Stark, though he was not about to let Daniels know that. “Well, a good businessman always looks for opportunity, Mr. Daniels; isn’t that so? But to tell the truth, I’m not sure just what arrangements Will might have made with Joplin. You know how it is with young men.”
    Daniels’ cheeks flamed. Isaac chuckled.
    “I guess you really do need to speak to Will when he’s back from St. Louis.”
    “I’d like that very much, Mr. Stark. If he really is considering publishing Joplin’s music, he might be better off cooperating with a firm as well established as Carl Hoffman, rather than competing with us. I think it would be to everyone’s benefit, Joplin’s included.”
    “I will tell my son you were by.” Stark looked almost amused. “And I’ll give him your message.”
    Daniels tapped a finger on the counter. “Thank you, sir.”
    Stark extended his hand, and they shook.
    The two Starks watched Daniels walk out. “Guess Will and I need to have a talk,” Stark said.
    Isaac flashed him a big grin.
    “Publishing music’s a tough affair.” Isaac thought Stark sounded like he might be talking to himself. “We did print up a couple of tunes once, didn’t we, back when Will first got the notion to publish. And I don’t remember that they did awfully well.”
    “No, they didn’t.” Isaac frowned. “But them two tunes… Mr. Stark, you know you ain’t never gonna make good cheese outa chalk. Not to mention, we didn’t exactly give those tunes any great push.”
    “Well, but that’s part of the problem. It’s not enough for a music publisher to figure out what pieces to print and how many copies, he’s got to go out to shops and push his line, one day after another. Today’s hit is tomorrow’s history. We’ve already got a music publisher in town, and I don’t see Austin Perry moving into a mansion. Let Perry—or Daniels there, for that matter—do all that doggoned leg work and take those risks. I’ll just go on selling their sheets, and we’ll see who comes out better. This store’s done very well for my family and me. Won’t be long and I’ll be retired, and then it’ll all be up to Will. If he’s got publishing fancies, then
he
can take that fling.”
    “We both of us know he’s gonna do just that,” Isaac said.