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


ance on his face rs he returned to the
instrument that was slowly, relentless
~ grinding out the serial story OF for
tunes won and lost.
DR. Darcy, friend of Wheaton s,
was in the office with the broker.
I've been studying that little fellow
out there. p" said the medical man. HE
is a good illustration of the crying evils
of your line Of business. -
The broker smiled carelessly, then
yawned as if either the heat of the day
or the turn of the conversation rendered
him sleepy.
1.-The little fellow hasn't dropped all
of his pile yet" he remarked. Hes
pretty near the bottom, though-of his
pile. / mean-and he's OH losing stock
too. -
"Then, why not warn him in timer"
queried the doctor
"What would be the use?" counter
uueried the broker. 1T wouldn't do
any good, aud it's no business of mine,
anyway.
Wheaton, surely you are not utterly
heartless!' cried the doctor. He was an
enthusiastic man when he got started
on some pet idea. II repeat why not
warn this young man in time? tell
you, Wheaton, that he has neither
much mental nor bodily stamina, and
if YOU permit him to be ruined he is
likely to go insane-perhaps commit
some violent crime-fOr which you,
Wheaton, who permitted him to go to
his ruin, would be responsible i'll the
eye of heaven, even if not in the minds
of men. Remedy your terrible work, |
say, or you may have to answer to your
own conscience for crime that | would
not have Oh mine.
Wheaton smiled again and repeated
his query, "What would be the use of
it?'
''Then 1 will go to him myself" ex-
claimed the man of medicine. Il will
warn him before it is too late.
"And get yourself kicked, perhaps,
for meddling in another mans affairs. -
II shall speak to him, anyway, and
at once.
darcy, you will do nothing of the
sort You are always welcome in my
office, but you must not feel called upon
to interfere.
Dr. Darcy arose and began to pace up
and down the little private Office, keep
ing his sympathetic gaze riveted all the
time upon the hapless Spectator.
Finally he exclaimed:
"There's the poor little chap signing
another check.
81 dare say, - replied the imperturba
BILE broker His stock has been falling
down stairs all day long. and | am con-
fdent that tomorrow it will go down
another flight of stairs. y
DR.. Darcy gazed contemptuously at
the cold hearted broker who would
knowingly permit such an idiotic squan-
dering Of fortune.
At last the closing came. The little
man took look at the last quotation.
Then he bounded into the private Of
fee, shouting:
Wheaton, it almost closed me out.
But it has stopped going down for to-
day, and I've got $500 left. p"
"And sense enough into the bargain
to let it alone and keep hold of your
balance, | hope" roared DR.. Darcy.
''That stock is one of the biggest swim
dies in the market.
Wheaton smiled He had been filling
out document, which he now signed
and handed to the little man.
Thanks, - said the latter, pocketing
the paper, with look of supreme salts
faction Its a nice little profit
enough to keep me in Europe for year
or more"
With these words he was gone. DR..
Darcy turned upon the broker and de-
handed:
Wheaton, what the deuce does that
little snip mean? Here he has been
| squandering money on margins all day
long, and now he says that the profits
will keep him in Europe for a year. -
cit means, replied the broker, that
this little fellow belongs to one of the
wealthiest families in New York He
and another very rich young fellow
made a bet last night as to whether
1000 shares of that stock would eat up
more than $l5, 900 in margins today.
Each put up half of the money to be
used and besides that wager of $50, :
900 side. Our young friend who has
just left won by a balance of $500. So,
you see, it was a very lucky investment
for him. "
The doctor looked as if he didn't feel
well. At last he blurted out:
Wheaton, you made a fool of me in
the most approved fashion. Of course
you'll dine with me tonight, and We'll
wipe out this score in the best wine
can buy. New York Journal