The herald., 1894-09-17
THE THREADOF FATE

guidly of the head clerk.
"No, but we shall want little if we
are to carry yesterdays purchases for
you any longer, sir. -
The clerk handed out slip. The lit
tie man took it, glanced at it and then,
putting the paper down, drew out his
checkbook.
"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?"
'I don't think, sir. It's ono of the
rules of the house that mono but the
partners may give advice or information
to the customers
EITHER partner about?"
"Not just at present, SIR"
"Please have me notified as soon as
it touches the figure ! mentioned. l
will sell out promptly when it reaches
the right figure. need the money by
this afternoon.
''Mr. Wheaton has your instructions,
sir, and he will follow them faithfully" !"
The little man sauntered out, entered
a nearby cafe that is famous among
Wall street men, ordered a champagne
cocktail and q light breakfast and lei
surely disposed of it. Then he lighted
O. cigar and smoked it refectively for
awhile.
"Bless me, it's 1890 already" he
murmured, coming to himself and pull
ing out his watch. II must get back to
the broker Dare 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 at the little
window.
"Well?'' asked the little man.
"More margins" said the clerk
''That stock is going down"
"Why, yes, indeedl" murmured the
plunger. "This is really heavier mar
gin than paid an hour or two ago"
Rnt he took ont bis checlyhnnlS. Thare
was not the sign of a cloud on his face
as he wrote the figures-$3, 000
Here you are" he said, passing in
the check "I wish you'd ask Mr..
Wheaton il he can't hurry up the deal
Il believe he called it that--for this
affair is getting decidedly expensive. A
few more such drafts upon me will ex-
haust me- %
The clerk paid little attention to this
remark. He was accustomed to such
phrases. They were part of his daily
life.
The little man went out again. On
the sidewalk he paused, looking irreso-
lutely about him.
wonder what I can do to kill timer"
he thought. people who spend all
their time around Wall street must find
it terribly hard to kill time day in and
day out It's kind Of monotonous to
pass all the time in that cafe, but !
don't see any way out of it. I'm very
sure that couldn't become habitue
Of Wall street. I 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. 1t
was too hot to eat, and besides he WASH t
hungry. He ordered small bottle and
different success.
Yet he managed to put in an hour at
the cafe. Then he rose and went back
to the Office
As he entered his eye frightened and
he fastened his step, for he saw Mr.
Wheaton in his private Office.
"Wcll, what news?" he asked.
'tThe clerk has something for you,
Wheaton replied.
''Not another assessment, hope?"
''I'm sorry to say it is. The little
man walked rather hurriedly out to the
clerks desk, drawing out his checkbook
as he went.
He merely glanced at the slip and
then wrote out the check, but there was
a cloud on his face.
81 hope the tide'll turn soon, he
said. "I've only got SO, 100 left, and
them
"And them" the clerk repeated.
"Well, perhaps you don't know what
it means to me.
The clerk didn't even take the trouble
W ask. IldIu ueSsIteu! well, DrOkeLS
clerks don't attempt to shoulder the
troubles of the world
"When things get to this pitch" {"
murmursd the kttle man to himself,
II suppose it's the proper thing to
watch the stock ticker. I'll be blessed,
though, II know how to do it.
He contided his difficulty to the clerk,
who obligingly explained to the neo-
phyte what the seemingly cabalistic
characters on the tape were really in
tended to show.
II think understand now, " said the
little man. "If you don't mind, I'll
stay right here beside it. /"
"The tape is for the convenience of
our customers" replied the clerk and
ent back to his absorbing task over
the books.
For the next hour the little man stood
by the ticker reading the occasional
quotations Of his stock.
''It's going down gradually" he
murmured. "There II be another assess
ment soon. Why can't the wretched
stock go up?''
Even while he was propounding this