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

sanction unless by the last of next month
you can show me balance at your
bankers of 60, 1000, or securities in your
own name to that value"
"But, Mr.. Seymour, where do you
think l am going to get $4,000 from in
less than a month? Nellie and l are
both young and can afford to wait for
better times. am confidential clerk to
one of the best firms of stockholders,
and have every reason to believe l shall
one day become a partner. My salary
from them is e250, and my uncle allows
me e400 year and looks upon me as his
heir. What more can you want?'
at is of no use prolonging the discus
sion, Mr.. BARLEY. 1t is for your own
sakes l do this. When my daughter
marries l shall settle 10000 upon her,
and think her husband aought to have
at least $4,000. If, as 1 said before, you
have that sum by the first of April next,
1 will sanction your engagement. Ifnot,
l shall use every means in my power to
bring about her marriage with Captain
Tredegar, and in the meantime shall
send her off to my sister in Scotland out
of your way"
With these words he touched the lbell,
thus intimating that the interview was
at an end.
Mr.. Seymour was chief partner in the
firm of Seymour, Giveless IL Co., stock
brokers, and was reportad to be worth a
million, but there were city men who
whispered that he was in rather shaky
state Just now owing to heavy specula-
lions on his own account, and that ne
would probably be in want of a few
thousands before the next settling day.
When l left Mr.. Saymour's office in
Victoria street, l wandered about for
two hours, hardly knowing where
l was going. l was unable to concen-
trate my thoughts upon anything detfin-
ite. All could think about was $4,000.
Everything around me seemed to say the
same thing. felt that must have the
money if committed crime to obtain
it.
At last called cab and drove to my
chambers. When l was seated in an
easy chair by the side of bright fire and
my pipe in full swing, tried to think
the matter over calmly. The only hope
1 could think of was my Uncle John, but
it was like depending on broken reed,
indeed. He had always cautioned me
against getting married, and pointed to
himself with pride as one who had next
to nothing to do with women all his life;
but before went to bed had made up
my mind to run down to Ethan on the
morrow and see him.
| wrote note to the Office saying that
/ felt rather indisposed that evening
(which was quite true) and should prob
ably not be in the city in the morning.
Next mording, after a restless night,
the chance of my uncle acceding to my
request seemed smaller than ever, but
there was no other hope, and l must face
him and make the best of it. At break
fast took up the paper,a as was my wont,
and glanced down the money articles.
Suddenly IN idea flashed across my mind.
Being on the stock exchange l knew
that fortunes were made and lost every
month; why shouldn't l try and make
$4,000 by specializing in some stock?
The more thought of it the better
liked it.
OF course / knew it was risky; could
not do it in my own name without it
coming to the knowledge of my firm, and
they wouldn't tolerate that sort of thing
for moment, and whatever plan 1
adopted / knew that if things didn't go
as l wished, should be ruined. But
life without Nellie wasn't worth living,
and l must have her at any cost.
The first thing to decide was the best
stock in which to speculate. The mar
kets were very quiet just now, with the
exception of the South African Mining
market, in which there had been lately
quite boom.
One company in particular had caused
a great sensation. This was the Great
Cumberland Diamond mines, whose ten
pound shares were quoted at twenty-five
pounds. The company was supposed to
have most valuable property in South
Africa, and although only started six
months previously had already paid a
dividend of 20 per cent, and the future
dividends were expected to be as high as
80 or As per cent That they had paid
the 20per cent. dividend was quite true,
as had received that on the few shares
l held myself; but whether it was paid
out of the profits or otherwise did not
know.
What 1 did know was that if any adj
verse reports of the mine came over, the
price of the shares would inevitably
drop quicket than it had risen. l there
fore determined to confne my operations
to Great Cumberland. Of course it
would be sheer speculation, and there
are people who say that is no better than
robbery, and although can't say quite
agree with them, don't in any degree
uphold the practice. 1t is one of the
greatest evils of the age, but in my case
felt the end would justify the means.
But how was 1, alone and unaided, to
affect the market?
What wanted was some startling in
formation, damaging to the prospects of
the mine, to be communicated to the
London financial papers. Any one who
knows anything about stock exchange
business knows that in some stocks the
most trivial telegram will Immediately
cause a rise or fall of several points. 1
had fixed upon the great Cumberland
company because l knew that shares
were held principally by dealers and
spectators and not by the outside pub
lie. My conscience thus was easier.
After breakfast / settled to go off at
once to Ethan and see my uncle, and
if, as l expected, he would not give me
the money. would write to my friend,
George Whymark, in Cape Town, tell
him how was situated and ask for his
help. knew that George would do any
thing in his power to help me. We had
been school-fellows together and always
firm friends, and a year previously he
had gone out to South Africa, partly on
account of his health and partly to make
his fortune-if he could. We had no
secrets and had sworn to help each other
whenever the help was asked for, even at
our own personal inconvenience and loss.