Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-03-09
A High-Priced Wink.

A writer in Golden Days tells "a true
story" of one Mr.. Blank, who occupied
confidential position in great railway
corporation. 1t was rumored that the
company was about to assume charge of a
anguishing railroad. If so, the stock of
the latter would rise in price.
Now one bold specuator-or OPERATOR
as they are called in brokers' parlance-
was an intimate friend of Mr.. Blank.
After long reflection. he came to the
conclusion that the best thing he could do
was TO call on Mr.. Blank, ask in confidence
for some definite information on the sub
ject. and offer to share with Mr.. Blank the
profits of any venture that he might make
on points" given him. This he did.
Mr.. Blank, said he, " if l knew that
the transaction which it is rumored is
about to take place in few days we're
really to occur, could. by buying up the
stock of the company that is now in the
market, make both you and myself rich
men. Can you not, by word, say whether
the rumor will be realized ornotP"
II cannot say" Mr.. Blank replied.
But word, -" the broker presisted "it
shall be share and share alike"
| cannot say" Mr.. Blank repeated, as
before.
You need not speak, then" the broker
said. excitedly. Lift your arm, nod your
head, lift your eyebrows"
IL cannot" said Mr.. Blank, as calmly
as possible.
Do you not understand your own in
terests" the broker put forth hotly. "Mr.
Blank, you are poor man! Now if you
will only heed me, you may become
rich man in day. Are these reports
trueP If so | can clear three hundred
thousand dollars at a stroke! The half of
that sum shall be yours. do not ask you
for word; you need not open your
mouth. Only wink your eye! 1t it pos
sible for you to make one hundred and
fifty thousand dollars, sir, simply by wink
ing the eye"
though entrusted with grave secrets, was
still only clerk, receiving but u moderate
salary!
He was staggered for a moment, but
soon reganing his composure, he looked
the eagerly expectant broker in the face
and answered,
- cannot do it," and left the room in
stantly.
The broker went away crestfallen. In
the absence of all definite information he
feared TO take the great risks which
always attend specularing in the dark, and
did not invest any of his money. In a few
days, however, the whole matter was
settled. The great company really did
take in the smaller, and the stock almost
doubled in value.
A few days after that, the broker met
Mr.. Blank on the street, and smarlng
keenly under the feeling that an enormous
gain had slipped through his fingers, lust
for the want of word, he rashly upbraid-
ed Mr.. Blank for what he called his
"obslinacy," Mr.. Blank, like all men of
true power, kept his temper. and turning
to his rash reyiler, he said:
1.-The temptation with which you assai.
ed me was great indeed but had trust
to fulfill, and my honor is beyond price"
The world is full of winking and
squinting-or signs and grips and cheats
and ciphers and hypocracies, and man
can make himself rascal by wink or
nod as we'll as by forgery or falsehood
Thank the Lord an honest man can do his
business without winking about it, and
man who sells his winks for money may
find that he has sold his reputation and his
soul also, and has made a poor bargain,
even if he has received high price.