The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-10-16
THE THREADOF FATE

man. he sGroIle0 into q down town
brokers Office two minutes after the
door was opened
ANY money for me?" he asked Ian.
guidly Of the head clerk. .
"No, but we shall want o little if We
are to carry yesterdays purchases 70,
You any longer, SIR"
The clerk handed out o slip. The lit,
tie man took il, glanced ut it and then,
putting the paper down, drew out his
checkbook.
1.-THE stock is bound TO rise before the
day is over?" he asked as he pushed the
check through the clerks wicket
Cant say, SIR"
"But what do you Think"
81 don't think, sir. It's one of the
rules Of the house that none but the
partners may give advice or information
to the customers.
Either partner about?''
"Not just at present, sir"
please have me notified a soon ac
il touches h figure I mentioned. !
will sell out promptly when Ii reaches
the right figure. I need the money by
this afternoon"
"Mr. Wheaton has your instructions,
sir, and he will follow them faithfully. >
The little man sauntered ont. entered
a nearby cafe that Ia famous among
Wall street men, ordered q champagne
cocktail and a light breakfast and lei
surely disposed of it Then he lighted
a cigar and smoked it ref1ectively fol
awhile.
"Bless me, it's 1890 already" ht
murmured, coming to himself and pull
ing out his watch. IT must get back II
the broker. Dare say he's sold my little
investment for me. In that case III
have the money all right before noon
The same clerk was still at the littl,
window.
"Well?'' asked the little nan
"More margins" said the clerk
THAT stock is going down"
"Why, yes, indeedr' murmnred th'
plmger. This is really q heavier mar
gin than ! paid an hour or two ago"
But he took out his checkhook. Their,
was not the sign of a cloud ON his fac
as he wrote the fgures-$3, 600.
Here you are, " he said, passing IL
the check. 1T wish you'd ask Mr.
Wheaton IL he can't hurry mp the dea
Il believe he called 1t that-for thil
affair is getting decidedly expensive. A
few more such drafts upon me will ex
haust me-"
The clerk paid little attention to thil
remark. He was accustomed to sucl
phrases. They were a part Of his dali,
life.
The little man went out again. Oh
the sidewalk he paused. looking irreso
lutely about him.
Wonder what I can do to kill timer
he thought. People who spend al
| their time around Wall street must find
it terribly hard to kill time day in and
day out It's kind of monotonous tc
pass all the time In that cafe, bat ]
don't see any way out of it I'm very
sure that / couldn't become q habitus
Eof Wall street. / should die Of ennui.
However, ! haven't time To go up town.
/ must be ON hand to receive the money
| that this investment Is going to bring
me.
So he wandered back to the cafe. II
| was too hot to eat, and besides he WASH
hungry. He ordered o small bottle and
tried TO drink it, but met with only In
differentsuccess.
Yet he managed to put in an hour al
the cafe. Then he rose and went bach
to the Office.
As he entered his eye frightened and
he fastened his step, for he saw Mr.
Wheaton in his private office.
"Well, what news?" he, asked
Have you sold out for me?'
1.-THE clerk has something for you,
Wheaton replied.
mot another assessment, / hopper"
I'm sorry to say it il" The httl.
man walked rather hurriedly ont to th,
clerks desk, drawing out his checkbool
as he went.
He merely glanced at the slip and
then wrote ont the check, but there wa
q cloud ON his face.
"I hope the tide'n tERn soon, ;" hi
said. 1--WE only got IS, 100 left, and
4 TNGnS-
"And them the clerk repeated.
well, perhaps you don't know VIVA
it means TO me-
The clerk didn't even take the troubl'
to ask. Hard hearted? Well. brokers
clerks don't attempt to shoulder th,
troubles OF the world.
when things get to this pitch, I
murmured the little man TO himself
II suppose it's the proper thing i
watch the stock ticker. Ill be blessed
though, If 7 know, how to do it.
He confided his difiorlty to the clerk
who ~obligingly explained to the neo
phyte what the seemingly cabalisti,
characters ON this tape were really in
tended To show.
II think / understand now. " said th,
little man. IF you don't mind. II
stay right here beside IL
THE tape Is for the convenience d
.onr customers. replied the clerk ami