The news & observer., 1903-12-13

and ceiling of the gambllLg-hell. EVERY
one had begun to assure every one else
that good times were coming, when
every one would say in chorus that he
believes the price of real estate IS going
| up, and by fiat of lies would increaes
| it's value and make something out OF
nothing.
Lisle Prankerd was one of those whom
the last division of savings had made
happy When he said that good times"
were coming his words were banded
| from mouth to mouth, and every one who
heard them, instead of being nationally
sorry and Tightening his purse atring1.
was rrationaly glad. This cheerful un-
reason in a community IS called a spirit
OF business enterprise. When it was
known that he had bet good times" We're
coming and had staked almost all he had
realized on his interests in the bank oi
the Occident-that he had quietly bought
options on bits. of town and suburban
property for which there had hitherto
been no market-the cheerful unreason
became more cheerful and there was en-
instant disposition to back his bet.
What checked their cheerfulness for a
moment at least was not that they per-
ceived its unwisdom and that backing
Prankerd's bet was precisely the way to
make him win it and win it from them
selves, it was that Parlby had made
bet on the other side. He had for a long
time bought in whatever realty was OF
fered at forced sale in and about the
city and was become the largest holder
in the county. When the spirit of bust
ness enterprise" stood erect because OF
Prankerds investments Parlby reduced It
at stroke to a state of limp dubiety
and surmise; he began to offer his hold
ings for sale at any price, at whatever
he could get. Prankerd was admitted to
be shrewd, but it was just possible he
was closing his grip" it was quite cer-
tain Parlby had done him in the matter
of the Bank of the Occident.
Lisle Prankerd did not waste the prop
erty which Parlby offered; that was why
he bid it in. 1t was also why Parlby Oh
fered more and yet more for sale, and why
Prankerd continued to bid it III; until
it became plain that if the good times
really did not come, and that suddenly,
the last man that any one need wish to
become would be Lisle Prankerd.
When matters were in this posture
card was brought one morning to Prank
erd at his office.
yes. it's me-" said Pcggie entering;
always on hand when I'm wanted. and
sometimes when I'm not. I've come TO
talk business and you can send away
that young man if you don't want HIM
yourself as a protection or a witness;
want to place some dough; ] want to
know on the level what all this hindy
means between you and Parlby. The
towns a good town, an / believe in 1t.
want to buy some lots
and you come to me for advice? L
ADVISE you to hold off. The boom's com
ing all right; but it won't come till
Parlby wants it to. Parlby's got me
treed.'
You mean it's just a case Of freeze,
out?" Prankerd laughed.
You speak as if a case of freeze-out
we're easy. Yes, it's just case of freeze
out
Damn Parlby," said Peggie.
Gust my sentiments, only much more
elegantly expressed" said Prankerd.
"All right; guess l know all 1 want
to-" aid Peggie.
so do l." said Pankerd.
Eyes. / guess you do; but l give you
pointer. 1 don't know whether I'm
gcing to take hand in this game or
not 1 don't mostly tell what I'm going
to do beforehand, it mightn't be conven-
lent; but just you don't cash IN your
chips before you have to-
And with this oracular metaphor she
started to take her leave. She paused
at the door.
II owe that Parlby one from way back;
it's about time his luck took a tumble
Immediately after Peggie's interview
with Prankerd there was a second fund
in the market to oppose Parlby; Peggie
had strained her credit, which was con-
siderable, to the utmost and became
reckless buyer of options.
A few days later a rumor ran like mad
through the town, in especial through
the Under World, that the Bank OF the
Occident was not safe, and depositors
in passion of haste to withdraw their
accounts fought on the bank floor for
priority The story ran that the bank had
been robbed in open day: the story was
scoffed at in the streets and in the CLUBS;
the deliberate opinion was that Parlby
had overreached himself, and that the
robbery was a fake" and the deliberate
opinion was confirmed when it came tic
be understood that after a hasty meeting
of the directors Parlby was held to have
overdrawn his personal balance, and was
in the opinion of his associates discredlt-
ed. Parlby, the deliberate opinion was,
had been sacrificed, justly enough be-
cause of his private ventures, to save the
bank. After day or two a definite
account was made public, but the ac-
count was too sensational to obtain
immediate belief. What had happened in
the Occident was this.
On the morning OF the day when the
panic had occurred, low, thick-s set man
with shaggy whiskers and hand bag en-
tered the Occdent as if it belonged to
him and demanded to see the president
The presidents sactum in those days was
a space apart walled off by slabs of plate
glass a quarter of an inch thick and
screened from vulgar gaze by silk cur
tains in baby blue. The visitor annouG-
ced that he had business of Importance
to both of them and requested Mr.. Parlby
as they entered the sanctum to give or
ders that they might be uninterrupted.
When this order had been given and the
door of the sanctum was closed the Wis
itor dropped his hand bag In front OF
his chair and with one hand covered
Parlby with a revolver in excellent con-