The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-04-03
jim HARDY'S COUP D'EFAT: :
: A WALL STREET EPISODE.
The Story of BucknalPs Revenge, Hardy's Co-opera.
tion, and a Sensational Move In Stocks.

| He picked up his letter opener again
"We'll start In with big raid on l.
and NJ. stock" he said gently. II want
that stock hammered down below ten
And / don't want any one to know
that I'm interested in II. YOu'll do tho
work. III give the advice and pull tho
wires. When the stock touches ten tho
seat Is yours. But mind, you're not tC
speculate cent, or everything's Off
said Bucknall comfortably.
IL might he remarked that Hardy
| dreamed that night that his Stock Ex
change venture turned out disastrously
| When he awoke he murmured TO him
self that dreams went by contrares
ard he contentedly turned over on the
other side and tried to dream ID again
How peurilc ana Intellectual is til,
| scope of the mind OF man!
The campaign against l.. and NJ. II
H. preferred and common was short
| and merry one. Bucknall, from his
former experience OF the stock, knew
all It's strong points. He avoided them
He also knew all It's weak points and
smote them viclously as with a sand
bag.
At first the downward movement was
a mere prophetic trembling A few
faint hearts sold out. But old Sam
Ripley was there. lie bought up their
holdings, rallied his forces and prodded
deserters with the sharp point OF his
sword. Then the trembling became an
ague, and Ripley tried the regular no.
moeopathic remedies. The ague con
tinued, however. and all the small hold
ers were shaken out. Ripley didn't
like the looks Of things. lie looked at
his patients tongue and felt its pulse.
He became seriously alarmed and tried
allopatby. In vain.
The ague became n palsy. A storm
cloud appeared on the financial horizon.
The Wall Street news agencies fore
casted cyclones and heavy winds, ac.
companied by sleet and rain. Substan-
tial holders of l.. and NJ. decided to
get out of the wet. They fell over each
other In their desperate endeavor to
find dry place, and stood there pant
Ing. But II cost them very dear.
Down, down came the stock. First n
gentle descent. Then landslide. And
finally reverbcratinC avalanche. car
rying before IL everything that stood
in It's path. The Exchange was panic.
stricken. IL was a battlefield, with all
nf hn oh 70
and groans of the wounded. Hardy,
leading the victorious forces. stood on
the floor, cool and alert. his inquiring
nose intelligently following every move
OF the fight. He was cooler than faro
dealer. He was quicker than wink
The directors of the road began to
crumble up. They privately attempted
to unload their holdings. and publicly
accused each other of not standing
firm. When the stock reached fifteen
n thundcrbolt fell upon the floor of the
Exchange in the shape of block of
10000 shares, crying piteously for some
one To buy them for any old price at
all. That was the delicate little bit OF
slclght of hand that did the trick. Har.
dy cheercd Ironically as the lot aver.
aged about $40 share. The directors
resigned. A receivership of the road
was arranged. and the stock sullenly
stayed down ut about ten. awaiting
the receiyership report.
Then the Board of Governors Of the
Exchange took action. They looked
into Hardys Napoleonic methods
They whistled in amazement ut what
they found and alphabetically expelled
him from the Exchange.
Then old Jacob Hardy took action.
He died in little Swiss village, and
the news OF his death was cabled TO
New York.
IL might he stated that Hardy
dreamed that night that he was rich
and famous. Did he cons!rue this 10y
contraries? Not. bit OF IL. On the
contrary he swore Justify at the bell
hoy who knocked at his door and
awoke him out Of this beautiful vision.
Whenever n client entered the law
offices OF Wills x Bristol he invariably
hlu lNO llEN ht SNNIllfh VAN
ing full breaths and next he wondered
how many family skeletons were roost.
ing in cramped positions in the little
pigeonholes.
The Office boy had the important
face of one who could tell many an In.
tcrestlng tale II he felt SO inclined.
The stenographers often seemed 10 be
wagging their heads at their machines
I'm painful sorrow at the things they
were trahscribing. The managing
clerk. prematurely old. was apparently
bowed down by the matters that had
been confided To him in the course OF
his professional duties.
In the private office. Mr.. Wills. the
senior member OF the firm. was closet.
ed with Hardy. Outside the clerks
were discussing with admiration IIar.
dys' great raid on l.. and VI.
Yes" remarked Wills to Hardy. 81
am one Of the executors Of your ua.
cles will lie leaves everything 10
you"
Hardy neatly expressed sorrow at
his uncle's death and satisfaction at the
happy disposition Of his property.
"Quite so.' said Wills slowly. quite