The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-04-14
FEATHERS COMMON


 made up their minds to buy, and when
 he declared himself bear the 'trall-
 CTS" couldn't sell out fast enough. Ills
 market opinion was eagerly sought pS
 hundreds of people who admired ms
 great success and blindly imagined that
 in the matter of buying and selling
 stocks he could make no mistake ne
 was besieGed at his office, in the street.
 at his club and in his home and almost
 everywhere by people who wanted nm to tell them how to make money Wlth-
 out working for it.
 1 But with all his sharpness the 'Old
 Man" went wrong on the market once
 in a while, and it happened throush some slip in his information or ms
 judgment that he found himself loaded up with Feathers common after the market, for it had flattened out and there was no chance to sell The stock had looked to him like aw inner, put
 the fellows who had been booming It managed to get it up to good ngure and get out, leaving the "Old Man high and dry with big block Of shares.
 He was a little piqued over being "done by parcel of infants but he felt confident that something would turn up to enable him to unload at profit.
 The opportunity came sooner than he expected. The very evening after he found himself Hong" several thousand more shares of Feathers common that he cared to have anyone know he own ed he went with his wife to social function at the house of one of the leaders of society, we'll prepared to be borded for three or four mortal hours. The "Old Man" was not fond of his so- eial obligations, chiefly for the reason that going to other peoples houses put him within easy ranch of the tip" seekers.
 On this particular evening he man aged to stave them off pretty well till refreshment time came, and he found himself planted in the dining room next to a gushing old dame. who bounced on him at once for information on the mar ket
 "Oh MT. Ambrose she began. "I wish you would tell me a stock to buy, so l can make some money"
 It was the same old request that came to him everywhere and it made the "Old Man" feel pretty weary.
 T wish I could, Mrs Babbngton," he replied, trying to look amiable, but I don't know a stock, that would make you any money. Besides, I make it rule never to give tips on the market People don't thank me when they turn out wrong"
 But everyone says you know just what stocks are going up and what | ones are going down." persisted Mrs. l and I don't see why you can't help me to make some money. | You could do it easily"
 "I should like to, certainly" respond | ad the "Old Man" with a sigh. Moth | ng would give me greater pleasure, i out"
 He paused for a moment, apparently at having to refuse the re- 1uest of a lady, but he was thinking ike lightning, and when he looked up tgain his face wore the expression of nan about to do a generous deed.
 "Tn tell you a stock to buy" he re- tuned in confidential undertone, but must request you not to say word r lbout it to a living soul
  Mrs. Babbington, enthusiastically. It's swfully good of you
 Don't mention it. was the "Old Mans" gentle protest. T esteem, it a pleasure, I assure you. Of course. I ant guarantee, you understand, that 'ou will make money. but if you will 'uy hundred shares of Feathers com- non I will see that you don't lose any hing But, remember, Mrs Babbing- on, not a word to anybody about it. 1um's the word"
 Mrs. Babbington renewed her ex- ressions of gratitude effusively, and yhen the "Old Man moved away he as chucklng to himself contentedly. That's better than getting a good . hing into the newspa pers,' he nut ( cred to himself with satisfaction, And
 d-d sight more people will know bout it. That woman was never nown to hold her tongue In five min tes she will have told three or four of CT cronies, and between them they will { ave every fellow in the house thinking f nat I am going to run Feathers up out 6 sight" Feathers common was very active on le stock exchange the next morning ith a better demand than there had cen for some time. Early in the morn g 'the street. had tip that it was | ue for a rise, and it was astonishing . ow general this impression seemed / be. 'I hear good things about Feathers some of the brokers were tying to groups of customers who ,, ood around the different offices watch g the quotations chalked up on the c ackboards "I happen to know that '. g people are buying it. and that the . ice is going a good deal higher" Y, The "sitters" in the various offices e, gan to circulate the profits they a ould make if they only had the cour- [, se to buy. The man who peddles flow o s from one brokers office to another ;+ as telling everyone met to "get into n gathers common. It's cinch for ten ints" o The little fellow who peddles diamond z. imcracl1s and fattens his purse out of h Q winnings of successful spectators, h as touting Feathers, too. You want Ir get rich?" he would ask 'If you do < ust buy some Fedders common" ir Everybody was talking about it, ard f. SpppDa6 to want Tn oot i,,