The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-16

some moments. When he went on he
spoke more slowly:
Il have often thought that If we had ie-
NAMED away another day or two my
whole life, void have been changed. Mrs.
Johnson, the wife of my host, had invit-
ed a very charming young lady, IN fact
the sweetest woman il has been my for
tune to meet, and l must admit that her
influence on me was very great, in spite
of our young friends cynical judgment Of
me. l won't describe her, gentlemen, but
l had not been without experience in the
world, and l believe you will give me
credit for not being easily smitten. l GER
tainly was in a bad way, and l had gone
TO bed the night before we landed with
the determination to play my trump card
in the morning. and, if ii won her, to sell
out and quit the street for good. 1 rarely
make decision of such solemn nature,
for life is too short for man like me to
be very serious. but when l do 1 never
break 1t. I'am too good a gambler to fly
in the faceHOf fate.
when L walked down the gangplank
that morning with her at my side, l was
resolved to settle matters before we went
back to the yacht. We strolled not far
behind; and I began the game with her.
l won't weary you with a description of
the way the hands were played, but she
was a very bright woman, and 1t was not
her. 1 was doing very well, however,
when Johnson called out to me to step
up to one of the hotels with him.
L guess youll want to see the ticker
he said slyly. Jones & Co. have a branch
Office here, and the ladies. will enjoy
walk on the piazza while we are looking at
the quotations.
Il could have cursed Johnson with great
pleasure for the untimely interruption, but
to refuse meant possible betrayal of my
purpose and so 1 acquiesced.
oh, can not go with you?' asked my
lovely friend. L have always wanted to
know how you men do business in Wall
street, and perhaps you will be kind
enough to explain it to me-
"Of course I assented gladly and she
went into the office with US. Before look
ing at the tape 1 gave her a general de-
scripton of how the ticker worked, while
Johnson was talking with the manager of
the office. In the midst Of my explanation
1 happened to glance at Johnson and no
ticed that he had turned very pale. He
was quite agitated. While 1 was wonder
ing what was up he rushed over to the
ticker and caught hold of the tape. He had
hardly glanced at it before it slipped
through his fingers, and it was all that he
could do, although he usually kept a stiff
upper lip to avoid making a scene OF
course that prepared me for something I'M
usual, and perhaps it was that that saved
me when l picked up the tape.
There had been a terrible slump in the
market the day before and as l looked
at the quotations 1 saw that 1 was a
goner l can remember the scene as
though 1t was before my eyes. had taken
the very stock in which I was interested to
illustrate my explanation to my companion
and continued to use it as 1 showed her
the tape.
" There said I. you see the quotation
was 106 when we left New York. If a man
had 5000 shares of that on a margin of 10
per cent? had to put up pretty stiff
margins in those days. conference.-the
would now have lost $4,000, for YOU see
it is down to 100, and every point it goes
down means the loss of $1,000 to himr
she was quite excited. oh, the poor
fellow! she exclaimed. Isn't it terribIe?'
johnson told me afterward that wore
as pleasant a smile as he ever saw on
my face. The ticker moved again and
there was my stock at SO. I looked at tho
clock, which gave New York time. 1t
wanted five minutes OF 5. In those five
minutes the stock dropped two points
more. Then the ticker stopped. The ex
change was closed for the day and I was
$4,000 poorer than when l had left the
city. My dream was over. / was too poor
now to indulge in sentimental fancies
l don't suppose she ever understood the
change in my behavior toward her, but
johnson had been hit hard, too, and we
excused ourselves that night and took the
hrst train back to the city. while she re-
NAMED with the yachting party. PERHAPS
Mrs. Johnson told her. Anyhow, l have
never seen her since, and only know that
she is married to devilish rich fellow
who isn't in the street."
lie pulled again, but his cigar was ont
The young speculator got up and put his
hand gently on his shoulder
m deviiish sorry l spoke" he said
Come let's have a cold bottle"
me veteran smiled and let his chair
sink back to its normal position.
Ihat's all right, old fellow he said
pear no grudge. It's time to so home
me-" "'s OH