The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-01
THE WOMAN AND HER BONDS
By EDWIN LEFEvRE.
Copyright, 1902, by Mcclure, Phillips & Co.


fuu dutv bv his friend Harry Hunt. His
ne.rtners left a great deal to him, and
even the clerks in the office ungrudging-
acknowledged that Mr.. Colwell was the
hardest worked man in the place, barring
none" Possibly the important young
men who bore witness to Mr.. Colwelfs
industry so cheerfully did SO because Mr..
Colwell was ever inquiring very courte-
ously. and, above ALL sympathetically,
into the amount of work each man had
to perform, and suggesting, the next
moment that the laborious amount IN
question was indisputably excessive.
Also it was he who raised salaries. OF
his partners, John CT Wilson was con-
sumptve forever going from one health
resort to another; George b. Graves was
a dyspeptic, nervous, irritable, and, to
boot, penurious; a man whose chief
recommendation was his cheerful willing
ness TO do all the dirty work; Frederick
r. Denton was busy in the Board
Room"-the Stock Exchange-all 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 Will
son & Graves.
But Fullerton +. Colwell had to do
eVerything-in the stock market and IN
the office. He conducted the manipnla-
tion of the Wilson & Graves stocks, took
charge of the unnefarious part OF the
numerous pools formed by the firms GUS
tomers-Mr. Graves attending to the
other details-and had a hand in the
actual management of various corpora
tions 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
thousands, and his BRAIN which was
worth millions, to disentangling his care
less friends affairs, and when it was all
over and every claim adjusted, and he
had refused the executors fees. it was
found that poor Henry Hunts estate
not only was free from debt, but con-
sisted of $685. 900 in cash, deposited in the
Trolleyman's Trust Company, subject to
Mrs. Hunts order, and drawing interest
at the rate of 21a 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. 1t
was a very busy day. The bears were
misbehaVing. Alabama Coal and IrOn-the
firms great specialty-was under heavy
fire from Sam" Sharpe's Long Tom as
well as from the room traders Max inns
Colwell was himself at that moment
practicing that peculiar form of financial
discrimination which amounts to singing
blithely at the top of your voice when
your beloved sackful of gold had been
ripped my hear paws and the coins are
pouring out through the rent. Every
quotation was of Importance; 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 ap-
prehensiyely.
"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, bit cere-
moniously, to huge armchair His man
ners 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-es," hesitatingly. LAS we'll as
can hope to be since-since-"
Thine alone, dear Mrs. Hunt, can help
us
Yes, know" she sighed. Il suppose
l must"
There was a silence He stood by, de-
ferentially sympathetic.
"Ticky- ticky- tickytick said the
ticker
What did it mean in figures? Re-
duced 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. Colwells grave
face But the next moment he said to
her. slightly conscience stricken, as If he
reproached himself for thinking of the
stock market in her presence: You
must not permit yourself to brood, Mrs,
Hunt You know what l thought OF
Harry and 1 need not tell you how glad
! shall be to do what | may, for his
sake. Mrs. Hunt and for your own
''Ticky-ticky- ticky-tick!" repeated the
ticker.
believe me, Mrs. Hunt" he went on,
Il 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 if 1 leave the money there without
touching it I'll make $79 month.
Let ME see; yes; that is about what
you may expect
Well Mr.. Colwell. / can't live on that
Willies schools costs me $50, and then
there's Ediths 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-isnt
there some way of investing the money SO
it could bring more?"
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 VIII re-
turn TO you about 31a per cent. That
would mean, let's see S110 a month.
And Harry spent $4,000 year." she
murmured, complainingly
Harry was always-er-rather, eX-
travagant.'
Well I'm glad he enjoyed himself