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

A SPECULATION.
II tell you, sir, will not give my
sanction unless by the 1st of next month
you can show me a balance at your
bankers of e5 900 or securities in your
own name to that value"
"But, Mr.. Seymour, where do you
think I am to get $4,000 from in less
than a month? Nellie and I are both
young and can afford to wait for better
Zines. I am confidential clerk to one Of
the best firms of stockholders, and have
every reason to believe shall one day
become partner. My salary from
them is e250, and my old uncle allows
me e100 year and looks upon me as his
heir. What more can you want!"
ut is of no use prolonging the dis
cussion, Mr.. BARLEY. It is for your own
sokes do this. When my daughter mar
nes I shall settle 100000 upon her, and
I think her husband ought to have at
least IS, 900. If, as I said before, you
have that sum by the 1st of April next,
I will sanction your engagement. If
not, I shall use every means in my power
to bring about her marriage with Cap
tain Tredegar, and in the meantime
shall send her off to my sister in Scot
land out of your way"
With these words he touched the bell,
thus intimating that the interview was
at an end.
Mr.. Seymour was chief partner in the
firm of Seymour, Giveless & Co., stock
brokers, and was reported 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-
tions on his own account, and that he
would probably be in want of a few
thousands before the next settling day.
!, When I left Mr.. Saymour's Office in
Victoria street I wandered about for
20 hours, hardly knowing where l was
hg. was unable to concentrate my
thoughts upon anything definite. All !
could think about was $4,000. Every
thing around me seemed to say the same
thing. The very sound of the wheels of
the omnibuses and cabs seemed to sug-
gest, "e5, 900, or Nellie is lost" I felt
that must have the money if commit
ted crime to obtain it.
At last called a cab and drove to my
chambers. When I was seated in an
easy chair by the side of bright fire,
with my pipe in full swing, tried to
Hhink the matter over calmly. The only
hope l could think of was my Uncle
John, but it was like depending on a
broken reed, indeed. He had always
cautioned me against getting married at
all, and pointed to himself with pride as
one who had had next to nothing to do
with women all his life; but before l
went to bed I had made up my mind to
run down to Ethan on the morrow and
zee him.
Iwrote 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 morning, after a restless night,
the chance Of my uncle acceding to my
request seemed smaller than ever, but
there was no other hope, and must face
him and make the best of it. At break
fast I took up the paper as was my
wont, and glanced down the money arti-
Gle. Suddenly an idea flashed across my
mind. Being on the Stock exchange I
knew that fortunes were made and lost
eHery month; why shouldn't try and
III axe $4,000 by specializing in some
\ !; ,ck? The more I thought of it the bet
sehl liked it.
OF course I knew it was risky; I
coSldn't do it in my own name without
1t coming to the knowledge Of my firm,
and they wouldn't tolerate that sort of
thing for moment, and whatever plan
I adopted l knew if things didn't go as I
wished I should be ruined. But life
without Nellie wasn't worth living, and
Unjust 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 q "boom."
One company in particular had caused
. great Sensation. This was the Great
Cumberland Diamond mines, whose ten
pound shares were quoted at twenty-five
pounds. The company was supposed to
!. ave a most valuable property in south
Africa, and although only started six
months previously had already paid
dividend of 20 per cent, and the future
dividends were expected to be as high as
80 or IS per cent. That they had paid
the 20 per cent. dividend was quite true,
6 7 had received that on the few shares