The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-31
MAGNATES LIKE PIE
JOHN w. GATES TELLS ODD STORY
OF REWARD OF ga. G.
FYMACHER"
STIMULATED ON THE PASTRY
In Testimonial to Wife of One MIL
IiOnaire That Cooks Delicious
Pastry, Others Make Her
GOOdIy Sum in Stocks.

It may no longer be said that John w
Gates and his fellow millionaires from the
West are devoid # sentiment and the finer
feelings, or that they are not possessed OF
gratitude Like other men, their hearts
and their pockets are to be reached
through their stomachs, and it is best
done by means of pie which must be Of
the good old home made variety.
Mr. Gates prides himself on being
good judge Of pie, as he is of ether things.
He knows good pie when he tastes it,
and he is ready to reward the maker. A
check was recently drawn for a sum that
represents a small fortune and it was in
payment for two pies. The transaction
probably stands unique, and the highest
price ever paid for pie is represented by
that check. But had the turn of a coin
been different the check would have been
drawn for about $4,000, the profits result
ing from a deal in Northern Pacific
securities.
Although the check was recently drawn,
the pie was eaten last May, but the mem
DRY of it still fingers to make the mouths
of the eaters water. The history Of the
pie and the check was related yesterday
by one of those interested with Mr. Gates
in the speculations of last spring.
j. f. Harris, now head of the firm of
Harris, Gates & CO., then had an office
at No. II West Thirty-third street Dur
ing the days when the New York stock
market seemed to have gone crazy Mar.
Harris office was occupied every after
noon by number Of gentlemen from the
West whose interests We're common EN-
plOyed there then was J. E. Kane teIe-
graph operator, whose duty it was to keep
close watch of the market and post the
spectators on every turn. When the eX-
element was at it's height Kane was told
to take his luncheon at the Waldorf
ACtN rio
ployer, who was Cesirous that he should
be out of the office as short a time as
possible
No offence is meant to any person when
it is said that Mr.. Kane found the food
provided for MIN by Oscar a trifle too
rich for his digestion. so he arranged to
have a luncheon sent to him from his
home.
No offense is meant to any person when
that there was lull in speculation and
the operator was permitted to eat without
Keeping one hand on the telegraph key
lie had just prepared to bite into thick
piece of lemon pie when the office man
ager, Mr. r. NJ. Rogers, now general pas
senger and freight agent of the Cincinnati
Richmond & Muncie railroad, entered the
room. He was hungry and the pie at
trac6ed his attention. Hints that were
not to be misunderstood were made and
the pie was divided into halves
Best pie ever ate" said Mrs Rog-
ers, with his mouth full. "Whered you
get it?''
wife made it." responded Kane. with
his mouth equally full.
The Inspiration That Paid.
Then Rogers was struck by an inspira-
ton He remembered that Mr. Harris
had invited some friends to have luncheon
with him in the office the next day, and
he planned surprise for them.
DO you think that your wife would
make pie like that for me tomorrow,
if ! would send the porter up for it?'i
he inquired
Sure she would" replied Kane. who
was proud TO have his wfe's cooking
appreciated.
And 50 it was arranged. The next day
there was spread a lunch table in that
office, with big, gorgeous lemon pie
as the centerpiece and gathered around
1t were John w. Gates, J. f. Harris,
George f. Randolph, now connected with
the Baltimore & Ohio l.. N. Hueston,
a chicago capitalist and T. P Shonts
president of the Indiana, Iowa & Hi
nois railroad
All Of the other food was sighted and
those at the table exhibited a wiling
ness to reach the pie stage as early as
possible. 1t was a large pie and it
looked good, and there was plenty of it.
By agreement it was divided into four
pieces, and proceedings continued
Just like mother used to make" said
Mr.. Gates, who was the first to speak.
w must 90 something to immortal
ize this pie and the maker" was the
comment of Mr.. Shonts.
Mrs. Kane Is Startled.
There was a repetition of the luncheon
the next day. and there was another pie
Then the four gentlemen instructed Mr.
Rogers to buy 100 shares of Northern
Pacific stock. for which they stood re-
Sponslble, and turn the profits over TO
Mrs Kane 1t was done, the stock be-
ing purchased in the name of A. G.
Pymacher, which is easily translated into
a good plemaker. The securities were
bought at 113A, and the very next dav
the sensational advance in Northern Pa
cifc began.
BY leaps and bounds the price Of "Nip-
per went up. From 1881 it rose to 100
and the next day it was selling around
10 Mr.. Kane was ,perceptibly nervous.
lie did not like to suggest selling out
put the profits on two pies seemed to
MN 70 be something remarkable. Then
Mr.. Rogers pointedly called his attention
TO the fact that Northern Pacific might
have a tumble.
We'll, said the fortunate husband Of
the maker of pies, 81 will toss a quarter
Heads we sell. tails we hold on
1t came heads and the stock was sold
That night there was ALMOST a panic IN
Northern Pacific. and the stock brought
any price that holders demanded The
next day sales were made at $1.G0O a
share. Had the 100-share lot been held
for the top figure there would have been
a profit for "a. G. Pymacher'' of SSS.
675 less the brokers' commission. AS il
was, the advance was sufficient to make
Mrs. Kane start when the check was
placed in her hands.