Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-02-23
A High-Priced Wink,

A writer in the Golden Days tells true
story" of one Mr.. Blank, who occupied a
confidential position in great railway
corporation. 1t was rumored that the com
pany was about to assume charge of
languishing railroad. If so, the stock of
the latter would rise in price. Now, one
bold speculator-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 informa.
tion on the subject, 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 knew
that the transaction which it is rumored is
about to take place in few days were 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 or not 2" 81 cannot saw"
Mr.. Blank replied. "But a word" the
broker persisted; g it shall be share and
share alike" cannot say" Mr.. Blank re-
peated, as before. "You need not speak,
then,' the broker said, exctedly. lift
your arm, nod your head, lift your eye
calmly as was possible. "Do you not un-
derstand your own interests 2" the broker
put forth hotly. "Mr. Blank, you are a
poor man Now, if you will only heed
me, you may become rich man in day.
Are these reports true? If so, | can clear
three hundred thousand 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 is posi-
BILE for you to make one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars, sir, by simply winking the
eyel" How vast sum to Mr.. Blank, who,
though entrusted with grave secrets, was
still only a clerk, receiving but moderate
salary He was staggered for moment,
but soon regaining his composure, he looked
the eagerly expectant broker in the face,
and answered " | cannot do it !" and left
the room instantly. The broker went away
crestfallen. In the absence of all definite
information he feared TO take the great
risks which always attend speculating 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 smarting keenly under the feeling that
an enormous gain had slipped through his
fingers, just for the want of a word, he
rashly upbraided Mr.. Blank for what he
called his "obstinacy." Mr.. Blank, like all
men of true power, kept his temper, and
turning to his rash reviler, he said "The
temptation with which you assailed me was
great, indeed, but had trust to fulfill,
and my honor is beyond price, The world
is full of winking and squinting-of signs
and grips and cheats and ciphers and hy-
pocrisies, and man can make himself a ras-
cal by wink or nod, as well as by for
gerry or falsehood Thank the Lord, an
honest man can do his business without
winking about it; and a 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.