The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-15

FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
1t seemed to Fullerton f. Colwell of the
famous Stock Exchange house of Wilson x
Graves that he had lone his full duty by
his friend Harry Hunt. His partner left n
great deal to him.. and even the clerks In
the office ungrudgingly acknowledged that
Mr.. Colwell was the hardest-worked man
in the place, barring none" Possibly the
important young men who bore witness TO
Mr.. Colwell's industry so cheerfully did so
because Mr.. Colwell was ever inquiring
very courteously, and. above all. sympa-
thetically, into the amount of work each
man had to perform. ana suggesting, the
next moment. that the laborious amount
in question was indisputably excessive. Also
1t was he who raised salaries. OF his part
ners, John G. Wilson was a consumptive.
forever going from one health resort to an
other. George B. Graves was a dyspeptc,
nervous, irritable. and to boot. penurious:
a man whose chief recommendation was his
cheerful willingness to do all the dirty
work. Frederick r. Denton was busy in
the board room"-the Stock Exchange-ali
day, executing orders. keeping watch over
the market behavior of the stocks with
which the firm was identified. and from
time to time hearing things not meant for
his ears. being the truth regarding Wilson
& Graves.
But Fullerton +. Colwell had to do every
thing-in the stock market and in the Of
flee. He conducted the manipulation of the
Wilson & Graves stocks. took charge of the
unnefarious part Of the numerous pools
formed by the firms cuStOmers-Mr. Graves
attending to the other d~etails-and had a
hand In the actual management of various
corporations. Also. he conferred with a
dozen people ~daily-chiefy big people," in
Wall street parlance-who were about to
put through" stock market deals. He had
devoted his time. which was worth thou
sands. and his brain, which was worth mil
lions, to disentangling his careless friends
affairs, and when 1t was all over and every
claim adjusted. and he had refused the ex-
ecutors fees. 1t was found that poor Harry
Hunts estate not only was free from debt,
but consisted of $4,000 in cash, deposited In
the Trolleyman's Trust Company. subject
to Mrs. Hunts order. and drawing interest
at the rate of 2E per cent per annum. He
had done his work wonderfully well, and,
in addition to the cash. the widow owned
an unencumbered house Harry had given
her in his lifetime.
Not long after the settlement of the estate
Mrs. Hunt called at his office. It was a very
busy day. The bears were misbehaving.
Alabama Coal and ron-the firms great
specialty-was under heavy fire from Sam
Sharpe's Long Tom as well as from the
room traders Maxims. Colwell was himself
at that moment practicing that peculiar
form Of financial Discrimination which
mounts to singing blithely at the top of
your voice when your. beloved sackful of
gold has been ripped by bear paws and the
coins are pouring out through the rent. Ev-
cry quotation was Of Importance; a half
inch of tape might contain an epic Of dis
aster.
Good morning. Mr.. Colwell."
He ceased to pass the tape through his
fingers, and turned quickly, almost appre-
hensively.
"Ah, good morning. Mrs. Hunt" he said.
very politely, Il am very glad indeed to
see you. And how do you do?" He shook
hands and led her. a bit tremendously, to
a huge armchair. His manners endeared
him even TO the big Wall street operators.
of course you are very well, Mrs. Hunt,
Don't tell me you are not"
"Ye-e-s." hesitatingly. las well as I can
hope to be since-since- s.
Time alone. dear Mrs. Hunt, can help
US"
Yes. I Know" she sighed. 81 suppose I
must"
There was a silence. He stood by, defer
entially sympathetic.
'Tickty-ticky, ticky-tick,' said the ticker.
What did 1t mean in figures? Reduced TO
dollars and cents, what did the last three
brassy taps say? Who was winning? A
spasm as of pain passed over Mr.. Fullerton
F. Colwell's grave face. But the next mo-
ment he said to her. slightly Conscience
stricken, as IL he reproached himself for
thinking of the stock market in her pres
ence: You must not permit yourself to
brood. Mrs. Hunt. You know what 1
thought of Harry, and l need not tell you
how glad l shall be to do what l may for
his sake. Mrs. Hunt. and for your own"
MISUNDERSTANDING" repeated the
ticker.
Believe me. Mrs. Hunt he went on, At
shall be only too glad to serve YOU
You are SO kind, Mr.. Colwell.' muir
INJURED the widow: and after a pause, Il
came to see you about that money"
Yes"
'They tell me in the trust company that
II / leave the money there without touch
ing 1t I'll make s79 a month"
Let me see; yes; that is about what you
may expect"
well. Mr.. Colwell. 1 can't live on that.
Willie's school costs me $50. and then there's
Edith's Clothes" she went on, with an air
which implied that as for herself she
wouldn't care at all. "Of course, it's a
blessing we have the house; but taxes take
up so much: and-isn't there some way of
investing the money so it could bring
moreT"
II might buy some bonds for you. But
for your principal to be absolutely safe at
all times. you will have to invest in very
high-grade securities. which will return TO
you about 81 per cent. That would mean,
let's see. $40 a month"
"And Harry spent 10000 a year" she
murmured, complainingly.
Harry was always-er-rathe extrava-
CANT
well. I'm glad he enjoyed himself while
he lived" she said. quickly. Then, after a
tired OF the bonds. could 1 Always get my
money back?"
for them. YOU might sell them for a little
more or - little less than you paid"