The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-08-15
THE THREADOF FATE


speech might have called him toy
man. He strolled into a down town
brokers' office two minutes after the
door was opened.
ANY money for me?" he asked Ian
guidly of the head clerk.
mo, 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.
1.-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"
Il don't think, sir. It's one of the
rules of the house that none but the
partners may give advice or information
to the customers.
Either partner about?'
mot just at present, sir. 3"
please have me notified as soon as
it touches the figure | mentioned.
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 champagne
cocktail and light breakfast and lei
surely disposed of it, Then he lighted
a cigar and smoked it reflectively for
awhile.
"Bless me, it's 1920 alreadyn' he
murmured coming to himself and pull
ing out his watch. Il 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, 4" said the clerk.
THAT stock is going down.
"Why, yes, indeed!' murmured the
plunger This is really 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 figures-$3, 600.
Here you are, " he said, passing in
the check Il wish you'd ask Mr..
Wheaton if he can't hurry up the deal
i 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 a part of his daily
life.
The little man went out again. On
the sidewalk he paused, looking irreso-
lutely about him.
Wonder what 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 l couldn't become habitue
of Wall street. | should die of ennui.
However, haven 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
| tried to drink it, but met with only in
! 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.
Have you sold out for me?''
''The 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. Tive only got SIS, 100 left, and
''And them" the clerk repeated
"Well, perhaps you don't know what
it means to me"
The clerk didn't even take the trouble
to ask. Hard hearted? Well, 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 confded 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.
Il think | understand now" said the
little man. IF you don't mind, I'll
stay right here beside it. -
1.-The tape is for the convenience of
our customers, replied the clerk and
went 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.
Its going down gradually he
murmured. "'There'll be another assess
ment soon. Why can't the wretched
stock go up?'
Even while he was propounding this
conundrum to himself the clerk ap-.
preached with another of those Hateful
slips