Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-10-15
THE REFoRMER RRATTLEBoRo VT. TUESDAY OCTOBER
FOR DICKS ACCOUNT.
A STOCK SPECULATION THAT WAS
MADE ON SMALL MARGIN.

How n BOotbIncIs Came to leave On
shoe of n Broker unshincd an
Why the Wall street Man FINISHED
the Job Himself.
When Long Branch was not sprea
out as 1t Is now, and the shore line o
hotels and cottages was not as closet
woven, the steamboat trip from TIL
rickety long pier at Port Monmouth
was good starter for n day IN the cit
with such men as Addison Cammacii
Harry Camblos, Orlando w. Joselyr
Charles Deylln, Hugh Hastings, BIZ.
Ienriques, John Hoey, and others. Th
theatrical people and the actor folk hat
their favoritc sitting places under cove
on the starboard side of the boat
Lester Wallack. tall, sedatc. and al
ways courtly without being condos
cending: Edwin Booth. always will
the inevitable pipe and strong tobacco
Edwin Adams, restless and jovial. ant
| Paddock, Maggie Mitchell's husband
story teller worth listening to, hat
| their pleasant times. while the Wal
| Street men chose the forward deck
each with his own camp chair, and The
bootblack of the boat, bright faced lit
tie Dick. was a favorite.
Money was easy and spirits were
generous. and it was always quarter
sometimes half dollar, for shine
without the boy asking for it, and Dick
hn a
with his customers.
one day broker who has since
counted his millions had one foot on
the box. Dick had finished one shoe
and the other foot was just being
brushed clear of dust when Joselyn
quietly said:
Give you dollar not to black it,
Dickr
The boy hesitated. There was an all
around laugh, and the broker said, in a
quiet voice 1.-TWO dollars to black it
Dick"'
oh 20 on, Go on, Dick" said Cam
bios, giving another sidewise tip to this
soft hat Somebody else wants q
chance"
give dollars, no black" came from
the edge Of the circle of chairs.
Dick looked up, and was about to put
on the backing, and then, at the cry
of "No black" stopped.
Ten dollars, Dick" said the one
shoeblacked broker. what do you dc
with your money, boy"
Give it to my mother. sir!'
Fifteen dollars, no black-youl
mother wants the money, Dickw again
from the Otter circle.
Then competition ran high. A new
source of merriment had broken out
and the broker with his foot on the boz
saw the offer and went s. better. IL
was miniature stock board scene fol-
few minutes The offer to black and
not to black ran up till $i5 was bid tc
black the shoe.
Fifty dollars for your mother, Dick
Don't black it. Don't black IT." came
in a subdued voice. and the lad seemed |
nervous. If not frightened.
Get the money. Dick" said the bro |
kerr still holding his foot on the box;
then, standing up and pointing TO the !
last speaker. Hand it over."
The money was Forthcoming; Dick
took it. slowed it away in his pocket |
and the man with the unblacked shoe
stopped low, got on one knee. and be
gan to black his own shoe. He made o
good job of it, and, refusing offers &c
black other brokers boots, tossed box
brushes. and backing into the bay.
But this wasn't the end of it. Every
man in the crowd was Il spectator
Many share of stock was bargained
for during the morning trips, and the
victor in the joke asked Dick for the
money. Dick hesitated, then slowly
handed 1t over. and in whimpering
voice said, IL thought you was in ear
nest"
"Nevcr mind the earnest, Dick" sale
Cammack. ri put it into stock fol
your mother. It's margin to sell on"
But | haven't any stock and | don't
want any. You can't sell what you
haven't got, mister, can you?'
The query was poser. Cammack of
fered fifty shares of an active stock to
any one that would take it. A hand up I
from another Spectator closed the
deal. and the transaction for the ac. ,
count of Dick" was closed out by cover. ;
Ing at profit next day, and 500 III
gold found its way to Dicks mother
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