The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-03-24

price of the shares woulti inevitably
drop quicker than it had ri:l. 1 there
fore determined to con1irc my opera
tions to Great Cumberland. Of course
it would be sheer speculation, and there
are people who say this is no better than
robbery, and although I can't say quite
agree with them, don't in any degree
uphold the practice. It is one Of the
greatest evils Of the age, but in my case
I felt the end would justify the means.
But how was /, 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. J.
had fixed upon the great Cumberland
company because knew the shares were
held principally by dealers and specu-
lators and not by the outside public.
My conscience thus was easier.
After breakfast settled to go off at
once to Ethan and see my uncle, and
If, as 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
anything in his power to help me. We
had been schoolfellows and always firm
friends, and year previously he had
gone out to South Africa, partly on &C
count of his health and partly to make
his fortune-if he could. We had no
secrets and had sworn always to help
each other whenever the help was asked
for, even at our own personal inconven-
fence and loss.
Invent down to my uncle's place, put
the whole matter before him, and asked
him to lend me the $4,000. AS ex-
pected, he was very angry at first and
tried to persuade me to let the whole af-
fair drop. He said if didn't get the
money Mr.. Seymour would withhold
his consent. This wouldn't be my fault,
and I could thus withdraw honorably.
OF course, scornfully rejected such adj
vice.
"Well, Harold" he said, 81 am very
grieved to think that after all my advice
you have made a fool of yourself at
twenty-six years of age. But it shall
make no difference in the future, my
boy. l shall leave you all my money.
Butat present, even if would, couldn't
realize $4,000 without great loss, as all
my capital is locked up in various specu-
lative undertakings, and l must say that
for your own sake I am glad that you
can't get the money"
l thanked him for his kindness and
went back to town.
That evening wrote long letter to
George Whymark and told him every
thing and asked for his help. told him
l wanted a telegram dispatched to some
leading paper in London, saying that
things were decidedly wrong with the
Great Cumberland Diamond mines, or
something to that effect. This seemed
very simple. but didn't disguise from
George that it wasn't altogether in &C
cordance with the law, although be-
ieve things like it are done very often
in the world of speculation. told
George that left the matter in his
hands, but asked him for the sake of our
great friendship to help me if he con-
scientously could.
It would take three weeks for the let
ter to reach George. It was now the I'd
of the month, and the last settling day
was on the 3Oth, so if George did as I
asked him as soon as he got my letter it
would leave about five days for the op-
erations. I lived in state of feverish
excitement for the next fortnight or so.
I knew that if George was unable to
help me, or if the market did not go as
l wished, l should be ruined for life, and
have to relinquish all hope of Nellie. l
had not seen her since the evening of
the interview with her father, but re-
ceived a 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 right in the end.
l wished could have 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 letter from q Mr.. Duncan,
of Ethan, asking us to sell 1000 shares
in the Great Cumberland mine for next
account. He mentions your name as
reference. Do you know anything about
him?'
knew all about the letter, as it was
one I had written myself and posted
from Ethan.
"Oh! yes," said, "that is all right.
He is friend of my uncle's. He men,
toned the other evening that he wanted
to deal in Great Cumberlands, and I adj
vised him to do business through u.s."
"Well, you had better see to it, as I
have to attend two meeting this morn