The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-01


TT think I'd like to take them
back"
Certainly, Mrs. Hunt. I'll find out
how much they are selling for" He
summoned a clerk to get quotation on
Manhattan Electric IS. The bonds could
be bought at 961a. $50 you see they are
practically where they were when you
bought them before
She hesitated. "I-I-didn't want you to
buy them from me at SO? I'd like to buy
them back at the same price l sold them
to you"
mo, Mrs Hunt" he said: 81 bought
them from you at So.
"Rut the price was SO. Don't you re-
member it was in all the papers?''
Eyes, but l gave you back exactly the
same amount that / received from you.
They stand on our books as having cost
me g."
But couldn't you let me have them
at 93?' she persisted
I'm very sorry, Mrs Hunt but l
don't see how l could. If you buy them
in the open market now, you will be IN
exactly the same position as before you
sold them. Let me buy them for you at
S6k'
AT SO, you mean" with tentative
smile.
cat whatever price they may be sell
ing for" he corrected, patiently.
why did you let me sell them, Mr..
Colwell?" she asked, plaintively.
'tBut, my dear madam, if you buy
them now you will be no worse off than
if you had kept the original lot
hny ic
have to pay 96h now for the very same
bonds l sold last Tuesday at SO.
But, my dear Mrs. Hunt, you are eX-
actly where you were before you bought
any.
I'm willing to buy them she said
resolutely, Eat 49,"
Mrs Hunt, 1 wish I could buy them
for you at that price. But there are none
for sale cheaper than 9615
ooh why did 1 let you sell my bonds!"
she said disconsolately.
"Well. you worried SO much because
they had declined that
Eyes, but didn't know anything about
business matters. You know l didn't,
Mr.. ColWen.
He smiled in his good-natured way,
Shall buy the bonds for you?" he ask
ed He knew the plans of the syndicate
in charge and, being sure the bonds
would advance he thought she might as
we'll share in the profits. At heart he
felt sorry for rer.
She smiled back. YES" she told him,
"at 93'
But how can I, if they are 96h?"
"Mr. Colwell, it is SO or nothing" She
was almost pale at her own boldness.
Then l very much fear it will have to
be nothing
''Er--good morning, Mr.. Colwell," on
the verge of tears.
"Good morning, Mrs. Hunt" And be-
fore he knew it, forgetting all that had
gone before, he added: Should you
change your mind, | should be glad to-"
II know I wouldn't pay more than SO
if l lived to be a thousand years old"
She looked expectantly at him, and she
smiled-the smile that is Woman's last
resort, that says, almost articulately: Il
know you will. 1 know your nobility, and
fear not" But he only bowed her out,
very politely.
On the Stock Exchange the price OF
Man. Elec. I. II. and P. Co. SIS rose
steadily. Mrs. Hunt too indignant to feel
lachrymose, discussed the subject with
her Cousin Emily and her husband.
Emily was very much Interested. Be-
tween her and Mrs. Hunt they forced
the poor man to make strange admissions
and, deliberately ignoring his feeble pro-
tests, they worked themselves up to the
point of believing that, while it would
be merely generous of Mr.. Colwell TO let
his friends widow have the bonds at 90,
it would be only his obS2ous duty to let
her have them at 961a. The moment they
reached this decision Mrs. Hunt knew
how to act. The next morning she called
on her late husbands executor and
friend.
81 came to find out exactly what you
propose to do about my bonds" Her
voice conveyed the impression that she
expected violent opposition, perhaps even
bad language, from him.
Good morning, Mrs. Hunt Why,
what do YOU mean?"
Instead of buster he was using
finessee!
Il think you ought to know, Mr.. Col
WELL" she said, meaningly.
well, L really don't l remember you
wouldn't heed my advice when [ told
you not to sell out and again when
advised you to buy them back"
eyes, at 96h," she burst out, indig-
nantIy.
Well if you had, you would today
have profit of over $1,000"
and whose fault is it that l haven't"
She paused for reply. Receiving none,
she went on: but never mind; 1 have
decided to accept your offer" very bit
terly, as if poor widow could not afford
to be a chosen: "I'll take those bonds at
961a" And she added, under her breath:
Although it really ought to be 49,
But Mrs Hunt said Colwell, in
measureless establishment you can't do
that you know. We can't buy them for
you now at 061a Really, you ought TO
see that"
Cousin Emily and she had gone over
dozen imaginary interviews with Mr.
Colwell-of varying degrees of Storm
ness the night before, and they had, in
An idle moment, represented Mr.. Coiwell
as taking that identical stand. Airs.
Hunt was, accordingly, prepared to show
that she knew both her moral and techi-
cal rights. So she said in Voice so
ferociously calm that it should have
warned any guilty man: MIR. Colweu