The man could do calculus in his head and anything could be done with his slide rule, but no job. They sunk all that they had to by a muffler shop

You overheard him solve for 2 + 2 and he came up with 4 and you were mystified, right?
This should have been a dead giveaway to:
that had been losing money and he turned it around. I quit my job as a young attorney to save the business after his third hear attack. They eventually sold it, but his medical expenses ate up the bulk of their money.
Why do I even read these anymore......

A hear attack.

A common LIbEral condition.