
A charismatic figure steps into a bustling hotel lobby, his polished manners and immaculate attire turning heads even as he clutches barely a hundred dollars. J. Rufus Wallingford exudes confidence, treating the world’s wealth as something he can summon at will, and his quick‑silver smile masks a mind always scheming. From that first encounter, the story follows his uncanny ability to turn modest means into grand ventures, gathering a circle of equally daring associates who share his taste for high‑stakes risk.
As Wallingford’s enterprises expand, his flair for bold promises and clever manipulations draws both admiration and suspicion from the business world. The narrative captures the excitement of his rapid ascent, the glittering parties, the whispered deals, and the underlying tension that every audacious plan eventually meets. Listeners are invited to watch a portrait of ambition and hubris unfold, savoring the humor and drama that accompany a true American “business buccaneer” before his fortunes begin to wobble.
Full title
Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford A Cheerful Account of the Rise and Fall of an American Business Buccaneer
Language
en
Duration
~8 hours (497K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Roger Frank, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2011-08-09
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1869–1924
A prolific newspaperman turned storyteller, he became known for lively, fast-moving fiction and for creating Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford, one of the most recognizable comic swindlers of the early 1900s. His work also carried into the young film industry, where he wrote for the screen as well as for magazines and books.
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