One in the Hand...

It was Monday morning when Harrison Matherly asked Marvin to come into the office. “Is everything arranged for my dinner at Josephine’s?”

“Of course, sir, just as usual.”

“Fine, put me on the ten o’clock to New York, tomorrow,” Harrison replied.

“Ok, but why are you going a week early?” Marvin knew he would not get a direct answer. It was a question he probably should not have asked. After all, he was used to Harrison changing his plans and his secret ways.

“Got some errands to run, gifts to buy, and...stuff. Say, why don’t you book yourself on that flight, too? Do you have anything you want to do in New York? Either way, I have some things you can do for me. Besides, it’s fairly quiet right now,” Harrison asked.

“I can always find something to do in New York. I haven’t seen any of the new shows for over a year,” Marvin replied.

“Good, I’ll do my thing, you can do yours. I’ll take my usual return on Wednesday, next week. You come back when you’ve had enough. Take as much time as you wish. No hurry,” Harrison said.

“Thank you, sir. I’ll see to it right away.” He was out the door. Marvin was not married, so plans could be altered easily. He also knew that Harrison would cover all of his expenses. He was a fastidious assistant, well-groomed, slightly built, and a nice-looking man. Harrison had never seen him with a date that he could recall. He wondered if Marvin even liked women.

“He should have a ball in New York either way,” he mused.

Harrison dialed the phone. It rang. “City Morgue,” was the answer.

“Marie Andrews, please,” Harrison requested.

“Please hold.” The phone went silent for what seemed forever.

“Just a minute, please,” the voice came back to say. More waiting.

Matherly hated “hold” and “E-mail.” His pet phrase for “hold” was “ignore.” E-mails are only good for transferring facts. They’re no good for real communication.

“Hello, this is Dr. Andrews.” Marie finally came to the phone.

“Hi, sweetheart.” Harrison said softly.

“Hi, Daddy. Where are you?” Marie asked.

“In Denver, but I’m leaving for New York tomorrow if my flight is confirmed.”   

“You’re early, our dinner isn’t until next week.” Marie was concerned, “Everything all right?”

“Just fine, Marie. I just had some things I needed to do in there, so I thought I’d slip in early,” was his reply.

“OK, I hope your have plenty to do. I sure do. I’m up to my you-know-what in work. There must have been a full moon this week. Everyone’s killing each other.”

“I won’t be in the way. I’ll stay at the Wall Street Holiday as usual and I’ll see you at Josephine’s.” He had hoped she would have been available to do other things but the notice was short.

“Sorry, Daddy. You know I want to be with you, but....” Marie was truly disappointed.

“Don’t worry. See you at our regular,” Harrison said.

“You can count on it. I love you, Daddy.”

“Me too, sweetheart.” He could never bring himself to say the words, but he did love her very much, and she knew it.

Marvin knocked, responded to the “Come in,” and said as he returned into the room,

The Matherly Fund’s offices are located in Denver, Colorado. If you didn’t know where you were going you’d never know that they were offices. The building appears to be a large home, not an office at all. It was large enough for his immediate staff requirements.

It was often said that Harrison Matherly, its founder and the brains behind one of the largest funds in the country, sleeps there in his office. That was a standing joke in the industry before his wife died, but it is more truth than fiction now. To be one of the most successful fund management companies, the company has the most modest of locations.

The older neighborhood was full of large houses, mostly built before 1940. It had once been one of Denver’s finest residential neighborhoods, but increasing traffic and encroaching commercial activities had crowded out the elite of Denver, who had moved to newer neighborhoods south and east in the Cherry Creek area. The house, or office building, is located near a busy corner. The company is low-key because the genius behind its success is low-key and he wants it that way.

Harrison Matherly still is the fund’s manager. He has been extremely successful, and is extremely wealthy. He is often listed in business publications as one of America’s wealthiest. He manages a financial empire second, or third, only to none other than Bill Gates. There is a big gap, but in the top ten isn’t a bad place to be.

The Matherly Fund is nearly unique in the financial industry. Most mutual funds distribute their capital gains, dividend and interest income at the request of the shareholder. But the Matherly Fund always reinvests any gains or income and the shareholder does not have the option to choose otherwise. This limitation is fully disclosed in the fund’s prospectus. It is not