E-text prepared by John Bickers and Dagny
and revised by Joseph E. Loewenstein, M.D.
HTML version prepared by Joseph E. Loewenstein, M.D.
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"They began to cuss, amiable,and throw down dollars."
THE GENTLE GRAFTER
by
O. Henry
Author of "The Four Million," "The Voice of the City,"
"The Trimmed Lamp," "Strictly Business,"
"Whirligigs," Etc.
Illustrated by
H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston
1919
CONTENTS
THE OCTOPUS MAROONED
"A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters.
"That," said I, "sounds like one of those unintelligible remarkssuch as, 'Why is a policeman?'"
"It is not," said Jeff. "There are no relations between a trustand a policeman. My remark was an epitogram—an axis—akind of mulct'em in parvo. What it means is that a trust is likean egg, and it is not like an egg. If you want to break an eggyou have to do it from the outside. The only way to break up atrust is from the inside. Keep sitting on it until it hatches.Look at the brood of young colleges and libraries that'schirping and peeping all over the country. Yes, sir, every trustbears i