The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-11-02

IN value took place. Many unpr1nclpleC
men fabricated such falshoods, and thor
bought in large sums in the stocks, giving
bills of three days date. Long before
the three days had expired, the excite
meNt was over, and the stock so purchas-
ed sold an an enormous premium; and
thus, without one farhing Of capital,
many realized very considerable fortunes
though in some cases the imposture was
detected, and the offenders brought to
justice.
Smith x Green being large money
dealers. these transactions were well
known to their clerks, and were often dis
gussed among them. One day, many
months after Franks arrival, his cousin
asked him, Just before they left the office,
whether he would 90 with him to his
lodgings and dine. There was, he said,
q capital piece at Drury Lane Theatre,
little quiet could go TO bed at reasonable
hours.
Frank readily agreed. The dinner was
excellent. The play was extremely en-
tertaining. The supper was well served.
In those days eople did not smoke SO
much as now. Neither Of the young men
smoked, but both of them ''snutfed," and
after supper, while Frank was recon-
mending peculiar sort which he had
mixel himself, Robert proposed that for
once they might indulge in bowl of
punch before he went to bed. Frank
made no difficulty, and the punch was
soon brewed, and they began to enter
into lively conversation. Suddenly
Robert assumed serious air, and said
There is something | should like to
tell you, Frank but if so, you must swear
to be secret"
Frank was i'll the very state to agree to
anything, and so readily swore eternal
secrecy as to what his cousin might say,
of whatsoever nature the communication
might be. ! shall here only state the
substance, and not the words of their
conversation.
Robert stated that friend of his who
had some dealings with seamcn, had in
formed him of certain transactions on the
French coast, which would probably be
known in day or two in London. News
then travelled very slowly, and the man
himself did not know the value of his
communication Robert argued that di
rectly the matter was made public, the
funds, which were then pretty high,
would fall immenselv-ten twenty, pei
haps thirty per cent A day OF two after
they would rise again, it might be even
higher than at present.
''Now,N he said Il have had my eyes
open, and Just now there is 2 peculiar
opportunity, if two people-you and |,
for instance-could buy i'll when the funds
fell, paying down about five or six thou
sand pounds, and give a note for the re-
mainder, we could sell out III few days
and each of US realize a very handsome
fortune, and then good bye 10 the drudgery
of the office forever! Only, situated as
$4,000. DO you understand Frank"
''No," said Frank. Fl do not quite see
clearly. | don't doubt what you say, but
although we both have a very fair allow
ance, we neither of us have so much as
that wish we had. But what do you
really mean, Robert ?"
Il mean this" answered his cousin
holding up the key. ''Do you see now P"
Although he had been drinking pretty
freely, Frank did see, but he looked on
almost stupefied with the bare idea. A
long conversation then ensued, in which
both sides We're argued. and Roberts
statement as to the smallness OF the risk
and the certainty OF the success, ut last
prevailed The matter was settled.
The next morning the two young clerks
were ut their posts rs usual, only at a
rather early hour, and each wore look OF
anxiety which neither wished the other to
observe. Certainly they had n guilty
look when. the safe being opened with the
two KEYS, Robert transferred notes to the
amount of 10000 to his pocket book.
But the first step in the evil way was
taken, and the other steps appeared easier,
although both began to feel that the path
of those who dcviate from the way of
strictest honesty is not covered with roses,
but with bitter thorns. None OF the other
clerks noticed that anything was at all
unusual with either of the cousins, except
Ellwood, whose quick eye was ever upon
them, but even he had no idea of the
cause. He saw, however, that something
was amiss and watched them.
The business of the office went on rs
usual About midday the report-which
they had hardly expected quite so soon
arrived, and caused quite a sensation.
All men We're anxious. On the Stock
Exchange there was perfect panlc-con-
sternation everywhere. Not the least
anxious We're the cousins, as in those days
q breach of trust as they contemplated
was a hanging matter.
But Robert still held firmly to his first
views; and the news that stock had fallen
to an unprecedented extent only assured
him. At dinner time he fastened with
Frank to broker, whom both knew, and
speedily arranged with him.
1t was rare chance for speculation.
That same day the vouchers for stock to
an enormous amount passed into the
brokers' hands and We're placed to Robert
Browns account. 1t was paid for with
the money belonging to the firm and
Roberts note of hand. The cousins were
excited; but if they betrayed any anxiety,
every one was too much taken up with
the important business of the hour to
notice it. The next day no counter-rcport
had arrived, and the stocks even fell a
little lower.
Being fully involved, the cousins were
almost desperate. $4,000 more was alb
stracted and invested. 1t was ''neck or
nothing" to them now. If they succeed
ed, fortune was theirs. If they lost, the
gallows was their fate
Robert still argued that another report
must soon arrive. and all would be well.
But nothing could dispel their fears that
some call might be made upon the otlice
which would before then require more
than the small balance in their charge
still left in the safe besides which, it was
now Wednesday afternoon, and on Fri
day they always balanced accounts. And
even had not that been the case, the date
of Roberts note was fast running out.
Often that afternoon did the cousins
glance with fearful thoughts at the pistols
over the safe. Ellwood saw all. He did
not know what was wrong; but he sus-
pected that all was not right. He watch
ed them, and what he discovered we shall
presently see. 1t was nearly four O'Clock
closing time-that afternoon, when a
gentleman came in with bill for about
$4,000, and wanted it cashed The
cousins were in dispair. Of the f1O,00C
in their custody they had distracted they
said borrowed !"-f5,000 They had
paid away for the firm oyer fl 900. Only
less than f1, 900 remained! Their agony
may be supposed. Hardly knowing what
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