First published in 1908, this comedic novel follows the exploits of Wallingford, a charismatic and cunning businessman who, through a series of elaborate scams and get-rich-quick schemes, builds a fortune only to see it slip away due to his own greed and mismanagement. Despite his ignominious downfall, Wallingford remains a lovable rogue who embodies the American spirit of optimism and opportunism. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.