"
"I suppose so," he returned laconically.
She came over and stood by him, playfully rumpling his brown hair with
her fingers.
"I'm glad you've found something to loose that pent-up energy of yours
on, Billy-boy," she said. "You'll make a success of it, I know. I
don't see why you shouldn't make a success of any kind of business.
But I didn't think you'd ever tackle business. You have such peculiar
views about business and business practice."
"I despise the ordinary business ethic," he returned sharply. "It's a
get-something-for-nothing proposition all the way through; it is based
on exploiting the other fellow in one form or another. I refuse to
exploit my fellows along the accepted lines--or any lines. I don't
have to; there are too many other ways of making a living open to me.
I don't care to live fat and make some one else foot the bill. But I
can exploit the resources of nature. And that is my plan. If we make
money it won't be filched by a complex process from the other fellow's
pockets; it won't be wealth created by shearing lambs in the market, by
sweatshop labor, or adulterated food, or exorbitant rental of filthy
tenements. And I have no illusions about the men I'm dealing with.
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