The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-04-03


" " rushing crowd filled the
sidewalks. The middle of
the road was reserved by common con
sent for those who had TO run The
faces of the passers-by were firmly set.
They had the air Of men whose des-
tiny IL Is ever to tramp up an untiring
treadmill. They seemed to feel that
they must keep their footing on the
dizzy wheel or be thrown violently
down among the wreckage below. Al
times they appeared to be debating
whether il would not be the lesser evil
10 be thrown.
Important bank clerks scurried along
with large bill books chained To their
waists. Office boys dashed about as
though millions depended upon their
breathless haste Exchange brokers
rushed from their Offices TO their tenn
porary quarters in the Produce Ex-
change. Even the policemen seemed
to have caught the infection Of restless
activity. They pounced around with
implacable speed and prodded all the
pushcart peddlers into very frenzy OF
motion.
Above, the sky was blue and the sun
shone brightly. Below, BucknaIl, the
great market manipuator stood on the
steps OF the Mills building and impas-
sionately cursed the directors OF the Il
and NJ. X. X. Co. In general and Samuel
Ripley in particular. At times Buck
nall talked out loud 10 himself, but no
one had time TO notice IL. Every one
on Wall Street worth mentioning
talked out loud to himself, and II was
therefore nobody's business.
The directors of the l.. and M. were
large holders OF It's stock. They gener.
Ously desired to have the stock more
widely held. At the same time they
naturally wanted TO make profit. I'm
fortunately for them the quotations OF
the stock had been very erratic. For
this reason the banks Stunned IL as
collateral. As showing the lack of in
dependent thought in the human race
Il is a sad fact that when bank turns
up Its nose at a stock the public at
large turns up all its features in sym
pathetic unison.
Taking these things into consldera-
ton, the directors of the l.. and NJ. had
engaged Bucknalrs services to see that
the price of the stock never fell below
seventy-five. Bucknall had discovered
that the Chairman of the Board OF Di-
rectors was privately unloading his
holdings. Bucknall made n few burn
ing remarks. shook his fist a number
OF times with certain graceful mo-
tion, and retired with dignity. The di-
rectors then called In the services OF
Samuel Ripley, another manipulation.
to continue Bucknelrs work. Ripley
was Bucknall's pet aversion. There.
fore Bucknall stood on the steps of the
Mills building and relieved his mind of
a few passing thoughts.
"Ripley keep l.. and NJ. above seven
ty-hveW he concluded He? Rip
ley2 Why. I'll knock that stock down
to ten in less than week, and they'll
never know who did it. Ripley?
Ratsv'
Bucknall smiled at the beauty of his
eXtemporiZed ALTERATION. He felt that
I'm this subtle manner fate was already
playing into his manipulative hands.
Jim Hardy was a young chap who
pined for things to do. His glance was
keen. His chin was pointed. His nose
was set slightly askew. This gave him
al inquiring cast of countenance and
encouraged strangers TO open their
minds TO him. He delighted in wear
ing his hat little bit on one side. He
regarded hesitation as a vice. He took
things for granted. He was always on
the spot, and from his indomitable fac
ulty of rapid action he was generally
coincident with the spot. Incidentally
he was curbstone broker.
Hardy snapped open the door of
Bucknalrs office. He nodded pertly 10
clerk who came for his card and
smilingly pushed past him into Buck.
nails private Office.
"0h, yes" said Bucknall, looking up.
81 asked you to call" He picked UP
letter opener and twiddled ii thought
fully as he sat back in his chair. "Oh.
yes" he repeated. lie gazed at Hardy
inquiringly. How'd you like seat on
the Stock Exchangey" he asked.
"Going to get one as soon ms my un.
clc's will becomes operative" replied
Hardy. Bucknall raised his eyebrows
"My uncle is Jacob Hardy" responded
Hardy. Hes i'm Europe now. you
know. for his health. We aren't very
friendly, but he's told me that I'll come
In for everything"
well. now. Hardy" said Bucknall
after another thoughtful pause. look
here. I'm getting old an~ want some
one 10 break into my,business l make
pretty good thing ont of 1t, you know
that. Suppose bought you n seat and
started you along. Don't you think the
experience would be a mighty big help
20 your
There's seat TO be sold TO morrow =
said Hardy promptly. You can buy
that. Then I can start I'm Monday
morning. WHAT'S the first thing on the
programT
Bucknall smiled approvingly. "You
get along pretty fast" he remakhea