The Savannah morning news., 1904-06-26
DeVlin'S Last Deal
BY w. PORTER. HAMILTON.
Copyright, 1904 by w. Porter Hamilton.

undHCiSEs turning IOr moment from
the stock ticker to address his Junior
partner, things seem to be coming
our way this morning"
1t was the great Devlin who spoke
the man whose very name was ter
ror to the street, and he was speaking
of the deal which he meant should be
his last. He was an old man now, but
he felt unwilling to leave what had
been for him the scene of so many sue
cesses without one final and browning
effort, in the glory of which he might
retire triumphant, to be forever re-
membered in the pit.
Yes" he continued speaking al
most as much to himself as to the
man beside him, II think she'll close
at 40 to-day. Tomorrow she'll go still
higher"
His partner nodded. He was a man
of few words.
AT no." the broker repeated. But
she'll be 100 before I'm through with
her. Thirty points net gain for Dew
lin & Co., eh?"
Again his partner nodded. He was
counting up the probable profits, fig
uring with his finger in the air
1t was a shrewd game that old
Devlin had been playing Kenawha and
western presented good target, for
1t was security so large a part of
which lay in strong hands-hands
which had no intention of releasing it
that any heavy buying of the floating
stock was sure to be felt sooner or la
ter in the market. 1t was a move, also.
10 circulate the rumor, shortly before
the kenaWhas last quarterly dividend
mad been declared, that the directors
would decide it best, owing to the
heavy outlay required for contemplat-
ed improvements, to reduce it from one
and a quarter to one per cent, and
would likewise request the stockhold-
ers to authorize a new bond issue. The
report caused the security to go off :
points, and it was then Devlin placed
the majority of his orders. although
he had been accommodating Kenawha
quietly for weeks.
Finally the dividend rumor was en-
phatically denied from a seni-official
source, and Kenawha rallied in con-
sequence. Still Devlin continued to
buy 1t had only been yesterday
however, that at o'clock. just after
Stock Exchange closing hour, the di-
the same dividend as in the past, put
a quarter of l per cent. additional The
mornings quotations had shown the in
Simultaneous effect, Influenced as well
by the fact of Devlin's corner.
Weymouth was moving about the
private Office restlessly. The strain of
the last few days was beginning to
tell upon him. He lacked his chiefs
iron nerve.
Ar lan1th with a boIf-Tp+aIIi er;I.I .
excuse. he opened the door and went
out, passing into the adjoining room,
reserved for customers. There was
an air of suppressed excitement, which
is never wholly lacking even among
veteran operators. Weymouth Joined
group of three or four who were
discussing the financial situation. Il
only hope the old man will hold on
long enough" was what he kept say
ing to himself.
Meanwhile Devlin sat in his office
alone. He was happy-happier than
he had been for months. He felt the
old grip on things again-knew him
self perfect master of the situation.
And yet his face wore the same hun
cry, lonely expression which his
clerks had learned to recognize so
well.
At half-past eleven precisely Wey-
illumine the atmosphere with a smile.
It's at 10S," he cried gleefully.
The shorts are on the run. The
stocks scarcer than cocktails at a
prayer meeting. By tomorrow we
can make our own terms"
For the first time in his history,
Devlin almost laughed.
1t would be a great week, and when
it was over. and he had safely I'M
LEI sv,,Y, ,Lo hill
ings, he would be pointed out as the
man who, single handed, had put
through one of the most successful
corners ever known in the Street.
Just then his office boy entered.
"A lady to see you SIR he said.
Old Devlin glanced up. Tell her
I'm busy. Let her see Mr.. Wey-
q mouth" he said testify.
81 did. sir. but she wants to see
you particular, if you please, sir"
"Show her in, then and be quick
If she's got to come" growled the
financier.
The office boy beat hasty retreat.
In a moment more a lady had en-
tered unannounced. The banker,
startled, rose from his chair.
"Ah, good morning. Mrs. Merring-
ton" he began, with much ceremony.
There was panied look in the new
Corners eyes.
Father"
do me the honor of being seat
ed" he remarked with crushing
courtesy.
She seated herself on a large leather
sofa, while Devlin, dropping into his
revolving desk chair. wheeled around
and faced her steadily.
"Well?" he said.
Father" she said, 'is that all you
have to say to me?"
"AIl?" he broke out. "All? Isn't
It more than you deserve? Didn't l
tell you that If you married Merring-
ton / didn't want to see you again?
But still you did it-you married him
married one of my clerks I'm a
man Of my word. l don't forget"
Devlin could hear vaguely the
sounds from his cashiers office, and
the cries Of stock, stock. Devlin!"
as the runners from the various bank
ing houses delivered their Kenawha
and Western. II was coming in fast.
HIS hunor grew a whit the pleasanter.
But in spite Of MIR. Merrington's
attractions, you had TO come back at
last"
She assented. humbly.
II wonder why? Maybe you've tired
Of him"
"oh. no." she said quickly NO
n wasn't that"
Not that I had hoped II was.
Then aren't you going 70 tell me
She raised her white face to his.