Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-07-12
corner. wouldn't miss that spot for

all the wheat in America-unless you
went the other way round, as you have
done. But tell you it was day to be
remembered and yet nothing to what
tomorrow will be. Wheatl I'll fairly
bristle with wheat tomorrow. I'm 60
ing to buy all in sight and out Of sight.
You can hear the rattle Of wheat in my
pockets now. but just wait till tomor-
rowl It's make or break with me; in
fact, I'm up to the neck as it Is, but
there's plunge coming that will aston
ish the natives, especially my Christian
friend, old Grimwood
The girl drew long, quivering sigh
as the jubilant, enthusiastic young
man, the excitement Of the day still
upon him, gesticula lated and poured forth
the torrent of words
"Warn himl Warn himr' said her
heart
Remember your promise, said her
conscience.
81 would rather, she spoke slowly
and with effort-"I would rather be the
poorest laborer in the poorest cottage on
this street than live such life"
$50 would 1, but I'm not going to
live it. quit tomorrow night-a rich
man or dead broke No half measure
for me, no hanging on year by year to
be smashed at the last. Elinor
voice lowered-"I don't care that for
riches on their own account"
raised his hand and snapped his fingers,
the gesture she had seen when he bid
for the 10000 bushels-'but I want
them to bring comfort and luxury to
to some one else. "
"Tell himl Tell him'' said her
heart. "What is all the world to you
compared to this man9'
"You gave your word Of hon6rp'
said her conscience.
They stopped at cross street to let
the rocking, bounding Car go swiftly
past. Secrecy, secrecy, secrecyr' hiss
ed the runner on the overhead wire,
spasmodicaly squirting electricity. Eli
nor spoke. not daring to raise her eyes
to his:
"Please don't come any farther. I
want to go home alone"
"Why, Elinorl My dear girl, you're
looking white! What's the matters"
81 am a little tired It has been a
hard day for me too"
"Of course 1t has I'm brute to
have babbled about my own affairs
when-but all the more reason should
see you home.
"No. no. I want to be alone Won't
you please
"In do anything you ask, Elinor."
"Then let me say goodby now"
He stood watching her until she dis
appeared at a turning, never looking
back Then he hailed a trolley car,
sprang on board and was jolted swiftly
to the business portion Of the city.
It 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 apparent no one wished to
buy except Howard, who announced
himself ready to take all there was on
the market. Frantic kilograms were
hurled at Chicago, beseeching 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 Grimwood and sold, just as timid
players at Monte Carlo put their money
on the color Of the man who has broken
the bank.
At last even Grimwood began to
waver, and finally ceased to offer fur
ther lots, while Howard, in stentorian
voice and uplifted right hand, looked
i, like q modern Ajax defying the light
ming, which every one knew was bound
to strike somewhere, an6 that soon, for
the financial sky was becoming exceed
ingly lowering.
"Iwant wheat' he roared "Wheatl
Wheat All done at that. Who's got
anyP Mr.. Grimwood, did have nod
from your
II hope you'll be able to pay for what
YOU N6 SOG, LuuooOAO0 StAAAA "SSN' Wv
he did not offer to sell
"Come, Mr.. Grimwood, surely you
can shake another $4,000 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 tele-
grams began to pour in. The name of
Hutchinson - "Old Hutch" thrilled
the crowd like 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
ND like balloon, and the price Of the
Door mans loaf was raised throughout
all the land, so that group of Chicago
speculators might become rich.
The moment Howard saw the cereal
cat was out of the bag all his excite
ment vanished, and he thrust his hands
In his pockets, casting quick glance at
the telegraph Office. He was million
aire now if the corner held. which. as
every one knows, it did.
Grimwood was hard hit, but no
emotion showed itself on his face. He
approached Howard with something al
most like smile lowering about his
lips, and said in a squeaky whisper:
"You seem to be very sure of your
information, Mr.. Howard. I thought
we had kept the secret better.
ever Are you in that deal2"
eyes. Didn' you know it2 Then you
weren't so well informed as thought.
Nv ooents were buying elsewhere