The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-06-10

getler IN accordance WIN Jne law, d.
though believe things like it are done
very often in the world of specula-
ton. told George that left the mat
ter in his hands, but asked him for the
sake of our great friendship to help me
if he conscientiously could.
1t would take three weeks for the let
ter to reach George. 1t was now the End
of the month, and the last settling day
was on the 30th, so if George did as l
asked him as soon as he got my letter it
would leave about five days for the OPP
erations, lived in a state of feverish
excitement for the next fortnight or so.
| knew that if George was unable to
help me, or if the market did not go as l
wished, should be ruined for life, and
have to relinquish all hope for Nellie.
had not seen her since the interview
with her father, but received note
from her three days after, saying she
was that day starting for Scotland
and would be away about six weeks.
She told me to cheer up, as she knew all
would come out right in the end. l
wished l could haYe felt as sanguine.
On the morning of the 18th the senior
partner of my firm came to me with an
open letter in his hand.
"Here is a letter from a Mr.. Duncan,
asking us to sell 1000 shares in the
Great Cumberland mine for the next
account. He mentions your name as a
reference. Do you know anything about
him?"
l knew all about the letter, as it was
one l had written myself and posted
from Ethan.
''Oh! yes" said, "that's all right.
He is friend of my uncle's. He men
toned the other evening that he wanted
to deal in Great Cumberlands, and adj
vised him to do business through u.s."
"Well, you had better see to it, as l
have to attend to two meetings this
morning."
During the day managed to dispose
of 1000 shares at prices ranging from
tract notes made and posted to W. Dun
can, ESQ.,, Castle hotel, Ethan, the pro-
prietor of which | knew very well, and
with whom had arranged to have any
letters so addressed forwarded to my
self. On Wednesday, the 23d, received
a telegram from George, with the two
words "On Friday" Words cannot ex-
press how relieved felt l knew that
George would do nothing by halves, and
felt almost sure of success.
That afternoon left the office early
and went down to Ethan and dined at
the Castle hotel. After dinner 1 wrote
a letter, which I addressed to my firm,
Messrs. Pritchard & Co., and arranged
with the landlord to have it posted on
the morrow, in order to be delivered in
the city first post on Friday morning.
On Friday | seized the paper and
glanced hurridly down the money arti-
Gle. Yes! it was there sure enough.
''We received communication last
evening to the effect that the Yaranga
River district in South Africa was flood
ed and that great damage had been done
to the Great Cumberland Diamond
Company's property. The mine was
flooded and it was feared 100 workmen
were drowned. The loss to the Compa
ny was believed to be irretrievable."
This knew was bound to make the
shares fall. You may be sure felt in a
great state of excitement, but tried to
look as unconceTned as possible when
arrived at the postoffice.
About 1890 Mr. Pritchard came to me
with a letter.
Here is another letter from Mr.. Dun
can asking us to buy in the 1000 Great
Cumberlands for him. l suppose he is
all right, but it looks very much like
speculation. see there is very bad
report of the mine in the paper this
morning, so he will get them cheap.
One would think he knew something
about the telegram. However, that has
nothing to do with us. Don't be in too
great hurry to buy; the price is sure to
crop"
On my way to the Stock exchange 1
called at the Office of the Great Cumber-
land Company and asked if they knew
anything about the telegram published
that morning. They said they had re-
ceived the same information, but thought
there was some mistake. They were
taking steps to have it confirmed.
When arrived at the exchange went
straight to the mining market, and, as
expected, found it in state of the wild
est excitement. Every one was asking
questions about the Great Cumberlands.
All the dealers were sellers. "Great
Cumberlandsr' "Great Cumberlands!"
[ sell at 100 at %; sell 200 at 22i. Any
buyersp" and such like.
l waited and watched closely. The
price went down every minute, until
presently l heard man offer 300 at 81.
l bought them. noticed several deal
ers eyed me suspiciously, and one asked
me if l knew anything. l answered,
mo, but we have an order from a client
to buy" Presently dealer offered a
parcel of 500 at 19t. l took them at
once. The other 200 had no difficulty
il obtaining in small lots at GIG to SO
los. l went back to the office and re-
ported to Mr.. Pritchard that Great Cum
berland had dropped five or six points,
and told him l had bought 1000 shares
for Mr.. Duncan at an average price of
about 20.
had thus gained my end. On set
ting day it would only be necessary to
pass on the names from the firms l had
sold to to the firms had brought from,
and post check for the difference to
Mr.. Duncan, which of course was the
same as posting it to myself.
The next morning a telegram was
published by the Company notifying
that the information published the day
before was exaggerated. The Yaranga
district was flooded, but their property
had not been touched. On the strength
of this the shaI es in few days regained
their former quotation.
wrote to George, told him of my
success and thanked him for what he
had done.
On the first of April 1 called on Mr..
Seymour. He seemed rather surprised
to see me, but was very polite.
Mr.. Seymour" l said, "when / asked
you for your daughters hand a month
ago you would only give your sanction
on condition that nv to dav I xUas xuorfb