Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-04-01
81 AM AN ASS. -

~ 'HaaT
81 AM AN ASS"
For his part the broker idly threaded
the ticker tape through his hands, glanced
at the quotations and listened hopelessly
to the rush of feet along the hallway.
He hardly expected any one to turn the
knob and enter. No one was giving him
business, and that undertaken on his own
account had turned out badly. The men
in the ''street" liked him. They said he
was a 'good fellow" and always had a
cordial greeting. But they placed their
orders elsewhere.
Why?
John Quarles was hoodoo.
All thought so, from the president of
the exchange down to the smallest mes
senger boy. How the impression first
gained currency no one knew, but it was
matter of record that everything
Quarles went at proved unlucky. He
lost his own money, and if friend spec
ulated on his advice disaster also fol-
lowed. Custom dropped away, disap-
peared, and he was simply "Hoodoo"
Quarles. a "rattling good fellow" but a
''sure JONAH"
"May as well go home and take the
old lady for ride he unused. "Pll try
and get little comfort out of life if l
can't get any cash out of business. Sam"
to the boy-"close up at o'clock. If
any one comes in tell him-oh, tell him
what you like"
"Yessir," responded Sam. "G'night,
SIR"
Quarles strolled up Broadway in an
absent mood, and, before he was aware
that he had gone that far north, stood at
the corner of Park row. He was called
by name He looked around and saw
approaching Gen. Boomer, chief editor
of The Daily Plunger and man of
might in the newspaper world. Boomer
walked rapidly, and did not lessen his
pace on reaching Quaries.
"Come," he said. Cant stop; going
to lunch; want to talk with you; chat
and eat at same time; save few min
utes."
There was no chance to protest or
query. Boomers force and asserhveness
overbore everything, and, without exact
ly knowing why or how, Quarles soon
found himself seated in a restaurant OPP
posite his friend.
"How's business, JohnT
mot very good"
Keep your seat in the exchanged"
Eyes"
"Want place on The PlungerT"
"What to do-run the elevator
"No; elevator would break down first
trip; will give you job to write daily re-
view Of stock market; pay you $40 a
week; more if you're worth it; come
round tomorrow forenoon and report
for duty. What do you say-yes, or nor"
Eyes, but I'm afraid
Never mind your afraid II you
don't suit in the street I'll try you on
some other line; If no good, bounce you.
Needn't stop longer now; be at the shop
10 sharp; good day"
Quarles thought he'd better go home.
Il was sufficient to meet one man day
with the vitality and snap and energy of
Boomer. So, in due season, he was de-
failing to the cold lady," otherwise his
pretty and affectionato little wife, the
story of his engagement as reporter.
ii.
Now it CHANGED that on the morning
Of the same day-March 81 to be exact
another man was idly lingering the ticker
tape In his private Office, and, between
clicks, looking out upon tho sullen
storm. This man was not 'hoodoo."
He was q Midas Everything touched
by Henry Irvington changed to gold,
and his opinion carried the greatest
weight whenever expressed, which was
rarely. II he mentioned casually that
Erie looked well or that Wabash prom
ised better things, the hearer would slip
away, dash into q brokers' or into the
pit" and "play the pointer" for all he
was worth.
~ rather think" chuckled the great
speculator, ''Hnat it's about time to put
on tho screws"
For some weeks the bears had been
''having fun" with one of Irvington's pet
stocks. When nothing else occupied
their attention they would hammer
I
down Mohawk for the sake OF annoying
the "old man." as they dubbed the king
of the street. Irvington evidently didn't
like it at first, but after three or four
days his countenance took on grin of
malicious enjoyment whenever the bears
attacked Mohawk. It afterward devel-
oped that he had seen a chance to make
a good thing. His confidential brokers
had bought as fast rs offered all the cash
Mohawk in the market and numerous
sellers options, until they controlled,
eithe: actually or by contract, every
share of the stock in existence. To avert
suspicion they then sold block of shares
for cash to some of the bears, and imme-
diately repurchased it on buyers option
at ten days. The bears placed their cash
stock on the market. and it was privately
rebought by Irvington's agents.
Many Of the sellers options were about