Reborn in America, I am a legendary short seller on Wall Street.

Chapter 164 Mr. Kennedy is Back
At one o'clock in the afternoon, Matthew arrived at the business manager's place by public carriage.

The cooperation agreement has been drafted. Larry had Matthew review the equity distribution, articles of association, and other details, while the lawyer helped Matthew explain them.

Matthew is the typical "trusting brother" type of person. He only glanced at the bylaws before turning to the lawyer and asking, "Where do I sign? Is it here?"

The lawyer quickly replied, "Your name is here, and your brother's name, if you're signing on his behalf, is written above."

Matthew took out his pen and quickly wrote his name. He then presented the lawyer with a power of attorney authorizing his brother, John Browning, to act as his representative in signing the company cooperation agreement.

After the lawyer witnessed the event, the words "Power of Attorney" were written under John Browning's name, and then Matthew was asked to fill in his own name.

After that, it was time to distribute the shares. This was in accordance with Larry's plan: he invested $6 for a 49% stake, and the two brothers together held a combined 51%.

Between the two brothers, John Browning accounted for 40% and Matthew Browning for 11%.

As Larry watched the lawyer fill in everyone's shareholding in the company's articles of association, he nodded. This was in line with Larry's expectations, because the company still mainly relied on John Browning. Matthew's 11% shareholding was already considered a favor from his brother.

After the company's articles of association were signed, they still needed to be filed, but in fact, the Browning Brothers Firearms Company had already been officially established.

Matthew also transferred a total of $1.15, including his brother's, to the company account.

Larry laughed and said, "That's fine! You and William can buy whatever machines you like, then put them at the dock and hire a barge to take them to the Concord industrial area."

Matthew nodded in agreement.

Larry thought for a moment and then asked, "Why don't we just get a phone line installed? Otherwise, when you're hiring people or buying and selling equipment in Boston, you won't be able to notify your brother immediately."

When Matthew heard Larry's suggestion, he immediately waved his hand in refusal. "My brother, this is no joke! These days, installing a telephone is too expensive, and there are distance limitations."

Larry was a little confused. Many important companies in Boston had their own phone lines, but making a call was a bit of a hassle, as you had to tell the operator the other party's phone number.

In New York, telephones are even more common, and they probably use some kind of exchange mechanism, so making a phone call there is much simpler; you can just dial the number directly.

Larry thought it was easy to install a phone these days, so he suggested installing one at the company headquarters in Concord, but Matthew quickly and firmly rejected the suggestion.

The manager and lawyer standing nearby also shook their heads in opposition. Larry asked around and found out that Bell's telephone patent had not yet expired at that time. Because the company had exclusive rights to install the telephones, the installation fees were very high, and the usage fees were also very high.

Generally, the cost of installing a telephone line is $50 to $100, the monthly fee is $3 to $5, and the call rate is $1 per minute.

In addition, for phone calls over 30 kilometers, the cost doubles because long-distance calls require relay equipment.

Larry was somewhat stunned, thinking to himself that he had only ever made the phone call and had never really looked into how exorbitant the phone was at this time.

I'll have to study this carefully myself later!
With the telephone idea abandoned, Larry had another sudden idea: to install a telegraph machine in the company, but this was also rejected by everyone.

The business manager subtly reminded him that the price of a telegraph machine, including the line and equipment, wasn't much cheaper than a telephone. Besides, Concord itself had a telegraph office, so sending a telegram wouldn't cost much.

Larry then gave up.

Actually, Larry wasn't getting carried away and trying to show off a bunch of useless stuff. The key issue was that he still didn't have a clear understanding of the relevant costs of this era. He just felt that the current situation of being unable to connect with each other was too complicated.
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That afternoon, Larry and his two companions returned to Paine Weber Securities Company. Matthew found William Boeing and arranged to go with him to purchase machinery the next day.

Larry stood by, pondering whether he should head straight to the South Harbor Industrial Zone the next morning to check on Henry Ford's progress.

Mr. Dunbar stood guard around them as if nothing was amiss, one hand on the pistol at his waist, keeping a watchful eye on the surrounding movements with a mixture of tension and relaxation.

After Matthew finished discussing with William Boeing, he took out his pocket watch, looked at it, turned around and walked a few steps to Larry, blushing as he said, "...I'll go back first. Mrs. Winthrop said this morning that I should come back for dinner tonight!"

Larry clicked his tongue and sighed, "They're so nice to you. Well, I guess they won't welcome me to dinner, so you should go back now!"

Matthew nodded, still a little embarrassed, and started walking.

Larry frowned and said, "Wait a minute!"

Matthew paused for a moment, then stopped and asked, "What's wrong?"

Larry leaned closer to his face, looked him over carefully, and sighed, "You're not any more handsome than me, so why don't they give their daughters to me instead of me..."

Matthew laughed heartily, patted Larry on the shoulder, and shouted, "Grow up already, you teenager!"

Without pausing, Matthew boarded a public carriage that had just arrived and headed straight for the Back Bay area.

Larry watched the carriage disappear around the street corner, still lamenting that he was really too young. Before, Mr. Wallace went out to have fun without taking him along, and now Mr. Winthrop wasn't even considering him as a son-in-law...

This is my biggest regret: why couldn't I grow up faster?

Larry stood at the entrance of Paine Weber Securities Company, watching William Boeing go home after get off work, and suddenly wondered if he should go home too.

But the thought of going home and running into a family gathering makes me feel awkward.

Larry thought to himself that he'd have to eat out again today... Just then, Mr. Dunbar suddenly whispered, "Logan's here..."

Larry was startled and quickly turned his head to look in the direction of Dunbar's thumb.

Logan was standing at the alley entrance on the opposite street corner, chatting and laughing with a woman at the bar entrance.

Larry was taken aback. He thought to himself that he had seen Logan exchanging glances with this bar girl back then. How long had it been? Had they become this close?
No, spring hasn't even arrived yet, and you're all getting excited already?
Larry then noticed that the bar where Mr. Kennedy was bombed had somehow been repaired, and was even more magnificent than before.

Logan saw Larry at that moment, and his eyes immediately lit up with excitement. He waved to Larry and said...

"Hey! Larry, come here! Come over here."

Larry was a little confused. He crossed the street and went to the alley behind the bar, where Mr. Dunbar followed at a leisurely pace.

Logan greeted Dunbar, then turned to Larry and said with a smile, "Hey, you've come at the perfect time! I'll take you to meet my dad!"

"To see your father? Why?" Larry asked, puzzled.

Logan ran down the bar steps in a few strides, beaming at Larry, "My dad got a promotion! Come on, come on! I'll take you to see him..."

Larry had no choice but to follow Logan inside.

Mr. Dunbar said to Larry from behind, "I'm not going. Do you need me to wait here?"

Larry waved to him, indicating that he could just go home.

After saying goodbye to Mr. Dunbar, Larry followed Logan into the bar through the back door.

This was Larry's first time at Kennedy's bar. The low stone walls and dark oak floors formed the main theme of the bar's decor, while kerosene lamps hanging from the ceiling flickered in the smoke. Near the bar, two bright gas lamps were not yet turned on, as it wasn't quite dark yet.

The bar counter is supported by thick pine planks, the surface of which is covered with knife marks and dents from wine glasses.

Before entering, Larry imagined the bar to be smoky and crowded, but he never expected that the people gathered around the bar would be a dozen or so uniformed police officers.

In the center of the group of a dozen or so people was Logan's father, whose prominent hooked nose and three-star police rank insignia were particularly striking.

The crowd cheered and drank, clearly celebrating Logan's father's promotion.

"Your dad's awesome!" Larry exclaimed.

Logan smiled, clearly proud of his father, but the expression only lasted a moment. Then, Logan stomped his foot and exclaimed, "What's my dad? The owner of this bar is the real deal!"

Larry raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Really?"

Logan, with a mysterious air, whispered to Larry, "You know what? The owner of this bar was already at the docks when he was 14, making a name for himself, then he opened this bar and became one of Boston's top billionaires..."

Larry listened and nodded repeatedly, thinking to himself that Logan had no idea about his relationship with Senator Kennedy.

After talking for a while, Logan pulled Larry up to his hook-nosed father and said loudly, "Dad, this is my best friend, Larry Livingston!"

Logan's father, with his hooked nose, glanced at Larry, nodded, picked up a glass of whiskey from the table, and handed it to Larry.

"Hey kid, let's have a drink to celebrate my promotion!"

Larry was taken aback, not expecting Logan's father to be so arrogant. He hadn't been ordered around so bluntly in a long time.

However, this is Logan's father, so we have to give him some face today.

Larry raised his glass, smiling, and said, "Congratulations on your promotion!"

The man with the hooked nose smiled faintly. "Have a drink! Let me see your manly spirit!"

Larry felt a little uncomfortable, but he still brought the glass to his lips.

Just as he was about to drink, Logan's father suddenly stared wide-eyed, then hurriedly stood up. His movement was so abrupt that he bumped into Larry, spilling Larry's glass.

Larry spilled all the whiskey from his glass onto the floor and even onto part of his chest, thinking to himself, "It's not that I didn't want to drink it, it's that you spilled it yourself."

At this moment, not only did Logan's father stand up in a panic, but the dozen or so policemen also stood up, their chests puffed out and their bodies ramrod straight.

“Senator, you’re back!” Logan’s father greeted him loudly.

Larry turned around and saw Senator Kennedy walking into the bar with his youngest son.

(End of this chapter)