The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-10-02

you please
"I'll do anything you ask, Elinor.
'Then let me say good-by now
He stood watching her until she disap-
peared at turning, never looking back;
then he hailed trolley car, sprung on
board, and was jolted swiftly to the bust
ness portion of the city
1t was old Grimwood himself who began
hostilities next day on the floor of the
stock exchange. He wanted to sell wheat,
it seemed, and the moment that was APP
parent no one wished to buy except How
ard, who announced himself ready to take
all there was on the market Frantic
kilograms were hurled at Chicago, beseech-
ing reliable information, the one thing of
all others Chicago was unable to supply.
No one was buying but Howard Those
who did any business followed the lead Of
old Grimweod and sold, Just as timid play
ers at Monte Carlo put their money on the
color of the man who has broken the bank
At last even Grimwood began to wayer,
and finally ceased to offer further lots,
while Howard, in stentorian voice and up
lifted right hand, looked like a modern
Ajax defying the lightning, which every
one knew was bound to strike somewhere,
and that soon, for the financial sky was
becoming exceedingly lowering.
II want wheatr' he roared Wheat!
! Wheat! All done at that Who's got
any? Mr. Grimwood, did | have nod
from you p
II hope you Il be able to pay for what
you We got, muttered Grimwood, but he
did not offer to sell.
Come, Mr.. Grimwood, surely you can
shake another $40, 600 out of your sleeve
at least I'll jump the price point if that
will be of any assistance. .
There were no more offers.
No one knows who was the first to get
the truth from Chicago but kilograms be
gan to pour in The name of Hutchin
son--''Old Hutch thrilled the crowd
ike an electric shock The biggest,
strongest, and most unbreakable wheat
corner the United States had ever known
had been formed, with Old Hutch at the
head of it. Wheat went up like a balloon,
and the price of the poor mans loaf was
raised throughout all the land, so that
group of Chicago spectators might become
rich.
The moment Howard saw the cereal cat
was out Of the bag all his excitement van
ished, and he thrust his hands in his
pockets, casting quick glance at the tel
egraph He was millionaire now
if the corner jheld which, as every one
knows, it DID
Grimwood Was hard hit, but no emotion
showed itself on his face. He approached
Howard with something almost like a smile
lowering about his lips, and said in
squeaky whisper
''You seemed to be very sure of your
information Mr.. Howard. thought we
had kept the secret better. =
eve? Are you in that deal ?
Eyes. Didn't you know it? Then
YOU weren' so well informed as | thought.
My agents were buying elsewhere, while
was selling here. | tell you this 50 you
may not waste any sympathy on me. Be
sides, you'll lose all you I've gained before
long, anyhow. I've seen many plunger
in my time.
II may lose the money, Mr.. Grimwood,
but it won leak into your pockets. Did
you ever hear of the Niger who got relig
ion in the midst of the poker game? No!
Well, he did. He won 5000 and then
suddenly realizing the beauty of better
life he announced his conversion and fed,
before his comrades got at their razors.
L m like that niger, Mr.. Grimwood. I'm
going to quit, and as soon as you and the
rest Of the boys walk up to the Captain
Office and settle I'm off to Europe on my
wedding tour
''Then she didn' t tell you :?
''Who didn't tell and what didn't she
tell q
~ thought, perhaps, you might get
hint from the pretty telegraph operator,
but Judge you didn' t.
Howard took step forward and his fists
involuntarily clinched. He spoke 50 low
there was no chance of his words being
heard by any one hut the man he was adj
dressing.
'If you 80 much as mention her name
IN throw you out of the window into the
alley and say we quarrelled on the wheat
deal. SO you've been up to your old
tricks, have you? Getting bogus kilograms
sent you in the hope she d tell me. Well,
we Il both forgive you, because of your
lavish generosity. I'll take an amount out
of the sum you pay me equal to her father
fortune and give it to her as a wedding
present GoOd-by
The room was now almost empty.
Howard crossed rapidly to the telegraph
counter. EIinor had her hat on, and was
ready to leave.
.'Will you send despatch forme, Miss
McClintoch q
oh, certainly, she answered.
He wrote the message and she took it,
turning toward the instrument.
But read it first, he cried.
She looked at the paper.
Dear Mr.. Sandys," it ran, 81 beg to
resign my position as telegraph operator.
| am to be married shortly and am going