The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-08-26
THE THREADOF FATE


door was opened
ANY money for MOP" no asked lam
guidly Of tho head clerk.
mo, but wo shall want little if we
are to carry yesterdays purchases for
you any longer. sir.
The clerk handed out slip. The lit
tic man took it, glanced ut it and then,
putting the paper down, drew out his
oheckbook.
''The stock is bound to rise before the
day is ovorp" he asked as he pushed the
check through tho clerks wicket
Cant say. SIR
but what do you think?"
II don't think, sir. It's ono of tho
rules of tho house that mono but tho
partners may give advice or information
to tho customers"
EITHER partner about?''
mot just Mt present, sir.
please have mo notified as soon as
it touches tho figure 1 mentioned I
will sell out promptly when it reaches
tho right figure neod tho money by
this afternoon. "
Mr.. Wheaton has your instructions,
sir, and he will follow thom faithfully"
Tho little man sauntered out, entered
a nearby cafe that is famous among
Wall street men, ordered q champagne
cook and light breakfast and lei
surely disposed of it. Then he lighted
a cigar and smoked 1t refiectivcly for
awhile.
"Blcss me, it's 1890 alrcady!" he
murmured, coming to himself and pull
ing out his watch. II must get back to
tho broker. Daro say he's sold my little
Investment for me. In that case I'll
have the money all right before noon. ;"
The same clerk was still ut the little
window.
"Well?" asked tho little man.
More margins, said the clerk.
'"That stock is going down.
"Why, yes, indoedl" murmured the
plunger. This is really a heavier mar
gin than | paid an hour or two ago"
But he took out his checkbook There
was not the sign Of cloud on his face
as he wrote the figure+s3, 600.
Hero you arc. he said, passing in
the check. II wish you'd ask Mr..
Wheaton If he can't hurry up the deal
Il beliove he called it that-for this
affair is getting decidedly expensive A
few moro such drafts upon mo will ex-
haust me. -
The clork paid little attention to this
remark. He was accustomed to such
phrases. They were q part of his daily
life
Tho little man went out again. On
tho ci1Qxxro1l- no
lutely about him.
Wonder what 1 can do to kill timer"
he thought. People who spend all
their time around Wall street must find
1t terribly hard to kill time day in and
day out. It's kind of monotonous to
pass all the time i'll that cafe, but
don't sec any way out of it. Pm very
sure that 1 couldn't become habituo
Of Wall street. l should die Of ennui.
However, haven t timo to go up town
l must be on hand to receive the money
that this investment is going to bring
me-"
So he wandered back to the cafe. 1t
was too hot to eat, and besides he WASH t
hungry. He ordered small bottle and
tried to drink it, but met with only IN
different success
Yet no managed to put in an hour at
the cafe. Then no rose and went back
to the office
AS he entered his eye frightened and
no FASTENED his step, for he saw Mr..
Wheaton i'll his private office
"Well, what news?'' he asked.
"Havo you sold out for me?"
sfrTbo o1orlr ho, .o,<.oll:.-
Wheaton replied.
mot another assessment, I hope2''
"1'm sorry to say it is The little
man walked rather hurriedly out to the
clerks desk, drawing out his oheckbook
as he went
He merely glanced at the slip and
then wrote out tho check, but there was
cloud on his face
II hope tho tide'll turn soon, he
said. "1'vo only got S9. 100 left, and
And then?" the clerk repeated
well, perhaps you don't know what
Ii means to me-
Tho olerk didn't even tako tho trouble
to ask. Hard heartfelt Woll, brokers'
clerks don't attempt to shoulder the
troubles Of the world.
when things get to this PITCH"
murmured the little man to himself
Il suppose it's the proper thing to
watch the stock ticker. I'll be blessed.
though, if know how to do it"
He confided his difficulty to tho clerk
who obligingly explained to tho neo-
phyte what the seemingly oabalistic
characters OH the tape were really in.
tended to show
Il think understand now, )" said tho
little man. IF you don't mind, III